Episode 1

Gate of Dreams! (夢のゲートっ!, Yume no Gēto!) is the first episode of the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby anime.

Summary
On route by train to Tracen Academy, Special Week is excited to start her first semester at the prestigious academy. Arriving at the train station, Special learns that she got off the wrong stop. The conductor there suggests that she take a look around the race track. Recalling mother telling her to be at the academy by 6:00pm and not to be late, Special decides to go there. Although warned that the race track is at a far distance from where they're at, Special details that she loves running. At the race track, where the Twinkle Series is held, Special is amazed by all of the food stalls there and is left speechless by the race track. From there Special watches as Silence Suzuka is introduced and her legs are groped by a male pervert. Briskly dealing with the pervert, Special is then asked a series of questions by the man, but refuses to answer any of his questions and leaves the scene.

The host to the next race Akasaka introduces herself and her analyzer Junko Hosoe. As Special waits for the race to begin, the pervert approaches Special Week again. They then briefly talk about the promise Special Week made to her mother to become the best race horse in Japan, before the race begins. Suzuka takes a far lead at the start of the race and the pervert notes how Suzuka followed his advice, while her personal trainer Hana Toujou notes how she didn't follow hers. In the end, however, Suzuka wins the race. Awe-stricken by Silence's win, Special's legs are once again felt by the pervert and he's dealt with again by Special. Right as Special was going to walk away, the pervert suggests that Special stay and watch Suzuka on stage for what's called the "Winning Concert".

Later that night, the Winning Concert takes place on a big stage in front of a massive audience, with Suzuka taking the front stage. Although mesmerized by the performance by Suzuka, Special recalls her curfew and rushes to the Academy at top speed, and once she arrives there bangs at the door pleading to be let in.

The next morning, Secretary of the Chairman at Tracen Academy, Tazuna Hayakawa guides Special to her class as she laments her tardiness the night before. Thankfully, Special is let in by another student named Fuji Kiseki. At the classroom, Special tries to not make a fool out of herself when she introduces herself. However, she fails by stammering her words, followed by tripping and falling on the ground. Another student by the name of Haru Urara extends her hand to help Special up and then introduces herself and another student named Seiun Sky. Two more students by the names of El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder then approach Special and are introduced by Haru. After the brief introduction with each other, Haru leaves the classroom once the bell rings. Soon the homeroom teacher gives a lecture pertaining to the rank system in the school.

During lunch, Special eats at the same table as Grass, Seiun, and El Condor where they discuss Special's background and her reason for transferring to the academy. When asked what team Special wants to be on, she replies that she'd like to be on the same team as Suzuka. Grass then details that there's an entry test for the team she's on and Seiun states that Grass is on the same team as Suzuka. El Condor then states that she wants to be on the team too as Team Rigil is the best team. She further states that Special and her will be rivals as there's only one open position for the audition.

That afternoon at the school race track, Special and Haru attend the entry test. After registering, the Rigil Trainer Hana asks the applicants their goals, and when it's Special's turn, she answers her goal is to be the best horse girl in Japan. This response makes most of the applicants chuckle, making Special look flush. Unbeknownst to Special the pervert, with a pair of binoculars observes her from afar. The race later begins where Special makes a late start, but manages to catch up. As the race goes on, Air talks with Grass about the applicants, mainly El Condor and Special. Seeing Suzuka from the sidelines gives Special a power boost and has her neck to neck with the person in the lead. Making it past the goal line, Special believes she got first place, but as it turns out El Condor is the one who got first place and is accepted into team Rigil.

Afterward, Special parts ways with Haru by the entrance of the academy, she then bumps into a trio of masked horse girl assailants whom capture her. They take her to the Team Spica base where the pervert she encountered the day before is introduced as Trainer and is informed that she has been recruited into their team. As it turns out, Suzuka also recently transferred from her former team Rigil to Team Spica because her former team didn't understand her running skill. Trainer then chimes in recalling Special's dream and the horse girls of Team Spica state their own dreams and Suzuka's dream is to help people's dream come true. Stating how they didn't laugh at her dream, Special proclaims she'll do her best for the team. After Special introduces herself, Trainer announces that next week, Special will make her debut.

Characters

 * Special Week
 * Special Week's Mother (Flashback)
 * Trainer
 * Silence Suzuka
 * Misato Akasaka
 * Junko Hosoe
 * Hana Toujou
 * Fuji Kiseki
 * Tazuna Hayakawa
 * Fuji Kiseki
 * Haru Urara
 * Seiun Sky
 * El Condor Pasa
 * Grass Wonder
 * Vodka
 * Moosuke
 * Oguri Cap
 * Fuji Kiseki
 * Maruzensky
 * Taiki Shuttle
 * T.M. Opera O
 * Air Groove
 * Narita Brian
 * Hishi Amazon
 * Symboli Rudolf
 * Gold Ship
 * Daiwa Scarlet