Let's Run Park Seoul, the grand prize and special race for the 4th quarter in advance

Sep 19, 2024

Winnersman and Seo Seung-woon jockey crossing the finish line of the 2023 Grand Prix. Courtesy of the Korea Racing Authority

With the Korea Racing Authority (Chairman Jung Ki-hwan) announcing the closure of Chuseok from the 20th to the 22nd, the green trees of Let's Run Park Seoul also seem to be taking their breath for autumn.

Let's Run Park has been loved as a unique tourist attraction for citizens in late summer and early autumn, when the night horse race, which was implemented only for summer until last year, was divided into spring and fall this year. In particular, it is said to be gradually reversing the atmosphere, such as the cherry blossom festival in spring and the Korea Cup, an international race in autumn, and the explosive increase in visits by customers in their 20s and 30s and families.

In addition to diversifying customer bases and festivalizing horse racing, the Korean Horse Association is focusing on changing the paradigm of horse racing, and the best glimpse into this is the grand race and special race, which is held about 50 times a year.

Unlike general races, which are conducted about 1,700 times a year throughout Seoul and Busan, Daesang and special races are likely to be selected as the best horse such as the annual representative horse due to their high prize money or points. In addition, since it is directly related to 'body value' when switching to a stallion after retirement, a large number of excellent racehorses always compete in the Daesang race to present a thrilling race. In particular, in the case of 'Korea Cup & Korea Sprint', which is held every September, the expedition of famous overseas racehorses causes a lot of attention from horse racing fans.

Global Hit and Kim Hye-sun, strong candidates for the 2024 race. Courtesy of the Korea Racing Authority

On a quarterly basis, the first quarter of the Seoul standard includes the first gate of the 'Queens Tour S/S' series, 'Donga Ilbo Bae (L)', which selects the best third-generation domestic horse by participating in both male and female competitions, 'Korean Derby (G1)', which selects the best third-generation domestic horse, and the final gate of the 'Triple T-ara' series with a pretty name 'Gyeonggi Province Governor Bae (G3)'.

In the third quarter, attention is drawn to the 'KRA Cup Classic (G2)', which selects the strongest Korean racers beyond production area, age, and gender, and the 'Korea Cup & Sprint (IG3)', which is a collection of the strongest players at home and abroad, and the 'Culture Daily Cup (L)', which is a second-generation horse that discovers promising players.

Then, what kind of grand prize and special race will be waiting for the remaining 4 quarters. There are the Presidential Cup (G1, October 13) and the Grand Prix (G1, December 1), which are the consecutive gates of the 'Korea Premier' series, which are directly connected to the selection of the year's representative horse. From 2015 to 2018, 'Triple Nine' became a legend, having kept the top spot in 'Presidential Cup' for four consecutive years. Considered the best honor of Korean horse racing, 'Grandfrey' has also produced numerous famous horses, from 'whaling ships' in the 1980s to 'companied strongman' and 'Sea of Impression'.

Global hit, which is being mentioned as a candidate for the 2024 year representative. Courtesy of the Korea Racing Authority

In particular, 'Grand Prix' has created an impressive story that will be engraved in the history of Korean horse racing along with the famous horse, such as a reversal drama in which it runs the longest distance of 2,300m and flips over the top spot.

Fans are expected to be paying keen attention to what kind of moves 'Winnersman', who became a legend last year by dominating both 'Presidential Bae' and 'Grand Prix', will continue this year, and whether racehorses that played a big role in the first half of the year, such as 'Global Hit', which ranks first in accumulated points in the Korean Premier, and the mare's strongest horse 'Happy Journey', will establish themselves as new champions.

It would be an interesting way to watch as well as test one's own 'Chok' with the mind of the other person discovering the soft super cotyledons that will also be the second gateway to the aforementioned 'Juvenile' series. Detailed schedule and winning horse information for each race and series, which will be held in the fourth quarter of 2024, can be found through the horse racing information on the Korea Racing Association website.

wman@sportschosun.com