You’re staring at the screen. Your horse girl is tired. The "Secret Notebook" pops up in the Uma Musume Pretty Derby interface, and honestly, if you aren't playing the Japanese version or keeping up with the latest Cygames patches, it feels like a total mystery. It’s one of those items that players either hoard like digital dragons or burn through without thinking.
The secret notebook uma musume system is essentially a specialized resource mechanic designed to boost specific stats or provide "Hint" levels for skills. It isn't just flavor text. It’s the difference between a Rank S+ run and a tragic failure at the Arima Kinen.
Most people mess this up. They think it's a generic level-up item. It isn't.
What is the Secret Notebook anyway?
Basically, notebooks are the lifeblood of the "Aoharu Hai" and "Grand Masters" scenarios, though their utility has shifted as the game evolved into the 2024-2025 seasons. In the context of the game's item economy, these represent a horse girl's "study" or "notes" on a specific tactical style or distance. You’ve got notebooks for Sprint, Mile, Medium, and Long distances, alongside those for specific running styles like Runner (逃げ) or Betweener (差し).
When you use them, you’re looking to increase the "Hint Level" of skills. If you have a Level 3 hint, the skill costs way less Skill Points (PT) to acquire. That's the gold mine. You save points on the cheap stuff so you can afford the expensive "Gold" skills like Maestros or Arc Mana.
Cygames hasn't made it easy. You can't just buy infinite notebooks. You earn them through Legend Races, Daily Races, or by participating in limited-time events like the Champions Meeting.
The connection between Notebooks and Factor Inheritance
Let’s talk about something most guides ignore: the way secret notebook uma musume items interact with your long-term "Factor" (Blue/Red/White stars) farming. If you are trying to build a "god-tier" parent for inheritance, you need high skill levels. Using notebooks to max out a specific distance skill before the final training evaluation increases the chance that the skill will become a "White Factor" on your character's soul.
It’s a snowball effect. You use the notebook. You get the skill cheap. You pass that skill down to the next generation. Suddenly, your entire stable is faster because of one little book.
Why you're probably wasting your items
Stop using notebooks on 1-star Uma Musume you're just using for fodder. Seriously. It’s a waste of a rare resource.
The math is simple. The higher the base rarity and the better the support card deck, the more value you get from a notebook. If your support deck is weak, a notebook won't save a bad run. But if you have a top-tier deck—think Kitasan Black or the newer 2025 meta-defining cards—the notebook acts as a multiplier. It bridges the gap.
The Distance vs. Strategy Dilemma
If you have a Mile notebook and a Lead (先行) notebook, which do you pick?
- Check your support cards.
- If your cards already give "Lead" hints, don't double dip.
- Use the Mile notebook to cover the gaps.
It’s about coverage. You want a diverse "knowledge base" for your Uma Musume. If she only knows how to run but doesn't know the track, she’s going to lose to a girl with lower stats but better tactical "knowledge" derived from those notebooks.
The Evolution of the Secret Notebook in 2025
The game changed. Recently, the "Secret Notebook" items were integrated more deeply into the "Skill Evolution" system. In the newest scenarios, having a high hint level—facilitated by these notebooks—is sometimes a prerequisite for evolving a Gold Skill into its "Pink" or "Platinum" variant.
If you haven't been farming these, you're going to hit a wall in the higher tiers of the Romani or Masters tracks.
Honestly, the grind is real. But the payoff is a horse girl who can trigger her "Ultimate" skill with a 40% discount on the cost. That's massive. That's "top 100 in the world" massive.
How to optimize your Secret Notebook usage right now
You need a plan. Don't just click buttons.
First, identify your "Main" for the upcoming Champions Meeting. Is it a Long Distance track? Then start hoarding Long Distance notebooks three weeks in advance. Don't spend them on your daily missions. Save them for the "Perfect Run" attempt.
Second, pay attention to the "Limited Exchange" shop. Sometimes, they swap out low-tier shoes for Secret Notebooks. This is a trade you should make every single time. Shoes are easy to get; knowledge isn't.
Third, use the "Preview" function. The game actually shows you the potential PT savings before you commit the notebook. If the savings are less than 20 PT, hold off. You want those big 50-80 PT swings.
Practical Steps for Your Stable
- Audit your inventory: See how many secret notebook uma musume items you have for each distance. If you're heavy on Sprints but only run Long, you're imbalanced.
- Target Legend Races: These are the most consistent way to get notebooks without spending real money. Even if you lose, the participation rewards often include notebook fragments.
- Focus on Skill Evolution: Check the requirements for your favorite Uma Musume's evolved skills. If she needs "Level 3 Hint for [X] Skill," use your notebook to force that level before the final training gate.
- Save for Meta Shifts: When a new scenario drops, the value of certain notebooks skystrikes. Keep a "reserve" of at least five for each major distance.
The secret notebook uma musume system is a layer of strategy that rewards the patient. It’s not about flashy speed stats; it’s about the quiet efficiency of the library. If you treat these items as secondary, your win rate will reflect that. Start treating them as a primary resource, and you'll see your Rank jump faster than a Gold Ship on a winning streak.
Prioritize the notebooks that align with your strongest Support Cards to maximize "Hint" stacking, and always ensure you are trading up in the event shops whenever Distance-specific notebooks are available.