Nice Nature Explained

Horsename:Nice Nature
Sire:Nice Dancer
Grandsire:Northern Dancer
Dam:Urakawa Miyuki
Damsire:Habitony
Sex:Stallion
Foaled:April 16, 1988
Country:Japan
Colour:Bay
Breeder:Watanabe Ranch
Owner:Masao Toyoshima→
Taizo Toyoshima
Trainer:Matsunaga Yoshiharu(Rittō)
Record:41: 7-6-8
Earnings:623,585,600 yen
Race:Kokura Kinen (1991)
Kyoto Shimbun Hai (1991)
Naruo Kinen (1991)
Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1994)
Updated:May 30, 2023

Nice Nature (Japanese: ナイスネイチャ, April 16, 1988 – May 30, 2023) was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse. From his debut in 1990 to his retirement in 1996, Nice Nature had a record of 41 starts and 7 wins, including 4 major wins. With a long GI racing career and often placing third, Nice Nature gained popularity as the "Bronze Collector". Nice Nature consecutively placed third in the 1991, 1992, and 1993 Arima Kinen. Before his death, Nice Nature was the oldest living stallion to have a JRA major win.

Background

Nice Nature was born in 1988 at the Watanabe Ranch in Urakawa, Hokkaido. His sire, Nice Dancer, had six major wins in Canada, and his dam, Urakawa Miyuki, had three wins, including the 1984 open of what would become the Tulip Sho. Nice Nature's to-be owner Toyoshima Masao made a deposit at Watanabe Ranch.[1] According to the owner of the ranch Watanabe Kazuma, Nice Nature was average as a foal, nor did he stand out in the training ranch. However, Watanabe vaguely alluded that he felt that Nice Nature might be just as good as Nice Nice Nice, also out of Nice Dancer and the winner of the 1989 Kisaragi Sho and 1990 Kyōto Kinen.[1] Nice Nature's to-be trainer Matsunaga Yoshiharu quickly embraced the impression of a "good horse", saying that he felt that things were moving in a "good direction" as he looked at Nice Nature's growth.[2]

After reaching the racing age of three years in 1990, Nice Nature transferred to the Rittō Training Center in Rittō, Shiga under Matsunaga.[1] After Nice Nature's older sister suffered a career ending injury, Nice Nature was trained cautiously[1] and debuted relatively late in December.

Racing career

Nice Nature won 4 major races, the Kokura Kinen, the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, and Naruo Kinen, all in 1991, as well as the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in 1994. Nice Nature has also started in a total of 34 group races throughout his career, including 16 GI races, which was a record at the time.[3]

Post-retirement

Nice Nature was retired from racing in late 1996 in spite of initial plans to have the horse run in that year's Arima Kinen due to problems on his right forearm. The horse was sent to Hidaka Stallion Station to stand at stud, but retired in 2001 after siring a total of 17 registered horses.[4] Alongside standing at stud, Nice Nature also became the poster character announcing the introduction of Quinella Place betting in JRA races in 1999.

Nice Nature spent the remainder of his life pensioned at the Watanabe Ranch, the same farm where he was bred.[5]

Popular culture

Nice Nature was the inspiration for the character of the same name in the franchise Uma Musume Pretty Derby.[6] Consequently, players of Uma Musume have raised tens of millions of yen each year in celebration for Nice Nature's birthday donation.[7] [8] The developers of the Uma Musume game, as well as Kaori Maeda, who voiced Nice Nature in the franchise, were among those who sent their condolences upon Nice Nature's passing.[9] [10]

Death

Nice Nature died on May 30, 2023, at the age of 35.[11] [12] [13]

Racing statistics

Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search[14] and netkeiba.com.[15]

DateTrackRaceGradeDistance
(Condition)
EntryHNOdds
(Favored)
FinishTimeMarginsJockeyWinner
(Runner-up)
1990  - two-year-old season
Dec 2, 1990Kyoto2yo Newcomer1,200m (Firm)1133.9 (3rd)2nd1:11.90.0M. MatsunagaKoei Royal
Dec 15, 1990Kyoto2yo Newcomer1,400m (Standard)941.7 (1st)1st1:26.1-0.1M. Matsunaga(Prairie Love)
1991  - three-year-old season
Jan 5, 1991KyotoFukujoso TokubetsuALW2,000m (Firm)1526.3 (3rd)6th2:04.21.2M. MatsunagaSister Tosho
Jan 19, 1991KyotoWakagoma StakesOP2,000m (Firm)9718.2 (5th)3rd2:02.51.1M. MatsunagaTokai Teio
Jul 6, 1991ChukyoNadeshiko ShoALW1,800m (Good)1035.6 (3rd)2nd1:50.40.0M. MatsunagaShirokita Teio
Jul 28, 1991KokuraShiranui TokubetsuALW1,800m (Firm)1221.7 (1st)1st1:49.8-0.4M. Matsunaga(Pierre Marie)
Aug 10, 1991KokuraHazuki ShoALW1,800m (Soft)942.0 (1st)1st1:49.6-0.2M. Matsunaga(Second Caesar)
Aug 25, 1991KokuraKokura KinenG32,000m (Firm)1072.5 (1st)1st2:02.7-0.3M. Matsunaga(Nuevo Tosho)
Oct 13, 1991KyotoKyoto Shimbun HaiG22,200m (Firm)14113.3 (2nd)1st2:15.6-0.1M. Matsunaga(Ibuki Maikagura,
Shako Grade)
Nov 3, 1991KyotoKikuka ShoG13,000m (Firm)1855.2 (2nd)4th3:09.80.3M. MatsunagaLeo Durban
Dec 8, 1991HanshinNaruo KinenG22,500m (Firm)1181.9 (1st)1st2:36.3-0.1M. Matsunaga(Mr. Cyclennon)
Dec 22, 1991NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)1558.7 (2nd)3rd2:31.10.5M. MatsunagaDai Yusaku
1992  - four-year-old season
Oct 11, 1992TokyoMainichi OkanG21,800m (Firm)1123.4 (1st)3rd1:45.90.3M. MatsunagaDaitaku Helios
Nov 1, 1992TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)18113.9 (2nd)4th1:59.00.4M. MatsunagaLet's Go Tarquin
Nov 22, 1992KyotoMile ChampionshipG11,600m (Firm)1886.9 (4th)3rd1:33.70.4M. MatsunagaDaitaku Helios
Dec 27, 1992NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)16111.1 (4th)3rd2:33.70.2M. MatsunagaMejiro Palmer
1993  - five-year-old season
Jan 24, 1993KyotoNikkei Shinshun HaiG22,200m (Firm)1272.7 (1st)2nd2:14.10.1M. MatsunagaEl Casa River
Mar 14, 1993HanshinHanshin DaishotenG23,000m (Firm)1171.9 (1st)3rd3:09.40.2K. MinaiMejiro Palmer
Apr 4, 1993HanshinSankei Osaka HaiG22,000m (Firm)1652.4 (2nd)2nd2:04.10.8M. MatsunagaMejiro McQueen
Oct 10, 1993TokyoMainichi OkanG21,800m (Firm)13127.6 (4th)3rd1:45.90.4M. MatsunagaShinko Lovely
Oct 31, 1993TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)1775.6 (2nd)15th2:01.52.6M. MatsunagaYamanin Zephyr
Nov 28, 1993TokyoJapan CupG12,400m (Firm)161139.2 (15th)7th2:25.10.7M. MatsunagaLegacy World
Dec 26, 1993NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)141226.6 (10th)3rd2:31.60.7M. MatsunagaTokai Teio
1994  - six-year-old season
Jan 23, 1994NakayamaAmerican Jockey CCG22,200m (Firm)1473.9 (2nd)7th2:14.70.6M. MatsunagaMatikanetannhauser
Apr 3, 1994HanshinSankei Osaka HaiG22,000m (Firm)14114.6 (3rd)2nd2:01.80.6M. MatsunagaNehai Caesar
Apr 24, 1994HanshinTenno Sho (Spring)G13,200m (Good)11423.3 (7th)4th3:23.30.7M. MatsunagaBiwa Hayahide
Jun 12, 1994HanshinTakarazuka KinenG12,200m (Firm)14212.0 (3rd)4th2:12.41.2M. MatsunagaBiwa Hayahide
Jul 10, 1994ChukyoTakamatsunomiya HaiG22,000m (Firm)13128.5 (5th)1st2:00.7-0.1M. Matsunaga(Star Ballerina)
Oct 9, 1994TokyoMainichi OkanG21,800m (Firm)1144.5 (2nd)6th1:45.10.5M. MatsunagaNehai Caesar
Oct 30, 1994TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)13530.4 (6th)7th1:59.10.5M. MatsunagaNehai Caesar
Nov 27, 1994TokyoJapan CupG12,400m (Firm)141123.3 (11th)8th2:24.40.8M. MatsunagaMarvelous Crown
Dec 15, 1994NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)13946.0 (11th)5th2:33.31.1M. MatsunagaNarita Brian
1995  - seven-year-old season
Feb 12, 1995KyotoKyoto KinenG22,200m (Firm)867.7 (4th)2nd2:12.00.2M. MatsunagaWako Chikako
Oct 8, 1995KyotoKyoto DaishotenG22,400m (Firm)13113.0 (5th)8th2:26.00.7M. MatsunagaHishi Amazon
Nov 26, 1995TokyoJapan CupG12,400m (Firm)141546.9 (13th)13th2:26.21.6M. MatsunagaLando
Dec 24, 1995NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)12543.1 (10th)9th2:35.41.8M. MatsunagaMayano Top Gun
1996  - eight-year-old season
Mar 17, 1996ChukyoChukyo KinenG32,000m (Good)16169.8 (7th)4th2:02.60.4M. MatsunagaInazuma Takao
Apr 6, 1996NakayamaLord Derby ChallengeG31,600m (Firm)161630.3 (10th)6th1:33.80.4M. MatsunagaFujino Makken O
May 11, 1996KyotoKeihan HaiG32,200m (Firm)16410.8 (5th)8th2:13.60.8M. MatsunagaDance Partner
Oct 27, 1996TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)17293.6 (14th)10th1:59.71.0M. MatsunagaBubble Gum Fellow
Nov 16, 1996TokyoCopa Republica ArgentinaG22,500m (Firm)18217.5 (10th)15th2:34.02.2M. MatsunagaL-Way Win

Legend:

Pedigree

Family No.

F20-c

Inbreeding within 5 generations: None

Retrieved from Nice Nature's profile on JBIS (Japan Bloodstock Information Database)

Nice Nature's dam Urakawa Miyuki died on June 2, 2017, at the age of 36, making her the longest lived female thoroughbred in Japan to have been properly documented.[16]

References

Notes and References

  1. 『優駿』2003年8月号、p.57
  2. 『優駿』1999年9月号、p.94
  3. Book: 週間100名馬 Vol.41 ナイスネイチャ (Gallop臨時増刊) . . 2001 . Japan . 9–11 . ja . B00WCSBUJ8.
  4. Web site: Stallion Reports:Statistics Nice Nature(JPN) . 2023-06-08 . JBIS-Search . Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association . en.
  5. Web site: 渡辺牧場(引退馬の養老牧場) . 2023-06-08 . www13.plala.or.jp . ja.
  6. Web site: キャラクター一覧 ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト . 2023-06-08 . ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト . . ja.
  7. Web site: Loveridge . Lynzee . 2023-06-07 . Uma Musume Fans Pull Through, Raise US$329,000 for Retired Horse . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519223437/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-05-19/uma-musume-fans-pull-through-raise-usd329000-for-retired-horse/.172934 . 2021-05-19 . 2023-06-08 . Anime News Network . en.
  8. Web site: 2023-05-30 . 大往生ナイスネイチャ 集めた引退馬支援の寄付金は1億6000万円超 「ウマ娘」追い風に仲間救う . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530095551/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2023/05/30/kiji/20230530s00004048387000c.html . 2023-05-30 . 2023-06-08 . スポニチ Sponichi Annex . ja.
  9. Web site: 希望 . 本江 . 2023-05-30 . 有馬3年連続3着「ブロンズコレクター」ナイスネイチャ死す ウマ娘公式も反応 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531123220/https://www.sankei.com/article/20230530-XGKIYMM2VZD4HIELCX46PF773Y/ . 2023-05-31 . 2023-06-08 . 産経ニュース . ja.
  10. Web site: 2023-05-30 . 「ウマ娘」声優・前田佳織里がナイスネイチャ死亡を悼む「言葉では言い表せないほど私も大切に思っていました」 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608022413/https://hochi.news/articles/20230530-OHT1T51179.html?page=1 . 2023-06-08 . 2023-06-08 . スポーツ報知 . ja.
  11. Web site: 2023-05-30 . 訃報 ナイスネイチャ号 . 2023-05-30 . 認定NPO法人 引退馬協会 . ja.
  12. Web site: 2023-05-30 . ナイスネイチャ逝く 35歳大往生 有馬3年連続3着の個性派 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530074611/https://www.daily.co.jp/umaya/news/2023/05/30/0016413979.shtml . 2023-05-30 . 2023-05-30 . デイリースポーツ online . . ja.
  13. Web site: Cho . Uhyon . 2023-06-04 . 「ずっとそばにいてくれて、ありがとう」ナイスネイチャ35歳の大往生を見届けた渡辺牧場の思い…引退馬支援を支えた"共感を得る力" . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604071217/https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/857708 . 2023-06-04 . 2023-06-08 . Number Web . . ja.
  14. Web site: Race Records Nice Nature(JPN) JBIS-Search. 2024-04-17. JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  15. Web site: ナイスネイチャ (Nice Nature) 競走馬データ - netkeiba. 2024-04-17. netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd.
  16. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2017/06/02/kiji/20170602s00004048172000c.html ウラカワミユキ死す 36歳 ナイスネイチャの母