Uma Musume Pretty Derby (TV)

The storyline of season 1 is inspired by the career of racehorse Special Week (1995-2018), who won 10 out of 17 races from 1997 to 1999.

While nearly all of the uma musume are named after historical Japanese racehorses, Broye is based on Montjeu (1996-2012), an Irish-bred, French-trained thoroughbred that won 11 out of 16 races from 1998 to 2000.

The phrase "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere" in Symboli Rudolph's office refers to the legendary English racehorse Eclipse (1764-1789), who was undefeated in his 18-race career.

Former jockey and horse racing commentator Junko Hosoe voices a fictional version of herself in the series.

Special Week being raised by a human is based on the story of the real Special Week, who had to be hand-fed by stable staff after his mother Campaign Girl died shortly after giving birth. Her human mother is a stand-in for the stable staff and the draft horse that raised the real horse.

The colors and design of Special Week's racing costume pay homage to jockey Yutaka Take, who rode the real Special Week to multiple championships. The two Golden Glover medals represent the real horse's four G1 race wins.

Tazuna Hayakawa, who works as the director's secretary at Tracen Academy, has been suspected of being an uma musume herself. The art book for season 1 has a picture of her with horse ears, but this was never used in the anime. Furthermore, in the mobile game, Tazuna is able to catch Taiki Shuttle during curfew. Many of her characteristics were inspired by the legendary Japanese racehorse Tokino Minoru (1948-1951), from sharing the same birthday to her uniform using the green and black colors of Mitsumasa Iwashita, Minoru's jockey.

Haruna Ikezawa, who voiced Broye, previously appeared as an assistant on the TV program NHK Speaking in French, which prepared her for the character's French dialogue.

In real life, Gold Ship (foaled March 6, 2009) is a descendant of Mejiro McQueen (1987-2006); hence the unusual relationship of their anime counterparts.

Horse racing commentator Yutaka Take makes a cameo appearance as himself in episode 5.

In episode 5, Gold Ship ties a ribbon around Mejiro McQueen's tail. In horse racing, ribbons are used to warn people that the racehorse has a tendency to kick.

The race in episode 7 is based on the 1998 Autumn Tennō Shō, when the real Silence Suzuka suffered a compound fracture on his left leg while leading the race. After a veterinarian determined that the fracture could not be properly healed, officials set up a tent at the racecourse and euthanized the four-year-old horse.

The race in episode 12 is based on the 1998 Japan Cup. In the real race, Montjeu, who was the basis for Broye, not only lost to Special Week, but finished fourth.