Seoul Race Park
Encyclopedia
Seoul Race Park is a Korean thoroughbred racetrack in Gwacheon
, Gyeonggi-do
, South Korea
. It is host to many of Korea's most valuable thoroughbred horse races including the Korean Derby and Grand Prix. Seoul Race Park is located next to Seoul Racecourse Park Station
on Line 4
of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway
. It is operated by the Korea Racing Authority (KRA).
, which was in operation from the early 1920s until just after the Korean War
. Following the closure of the Sinseol-dong track, a new racetrack was constructed at Ttukseom, on the north bank of the Han River
In February 1983, after South Korea was awarded the 1988 Summer Olympics
, the KRA was given the task of organising the equestrian events. The Ttukseom Racetrack was inadequate; the KRA acquired a new site south of Seoul in Gwacheon Gyeonggi-do, where the equestrian
(except the individual-jumping final) and the riding portion of the modern pentathlon
events were held. After the Olympics, the KRA turned the site into a racetrack.
As of 2011 live thoroughbred racing takes place on Saturdays and Sundays all year, with 12 races each Saturday and 11 each Sunday. On race day, races are also simulcast
from the pony-racing track on Jeju Island and the thoroughbred track at Busan-Gyeongnam. Major races at the Seoul Race Park include the Korean Derby in May, the Minister of Agriculture Cup in October, the President's Cup in November and the season-ending Grand Prix in December.
In 2007, the Korean-bred J.S. Hold won the Korean Triple Crown (the Ttukseom Cup, the Korean Derby and the Minister's Cup) at Seoul Race Park. In 2008 the Ttukseom Cup was replaced as the first leg of the Triple Crown by the KRA Cup Mile, which is run at Busan-Gyeongnam Race Park on the first Sunday in April.
In 2009 the champion jockey
at Seoul Race Park was Park Tae Jong, who also holds the record for most wins in Korean racing history. The 2009 Korean Derby was won by a filly, Sangseung Ilro, who had previously won the KRA up Mile at Busan-Gyeongnam. At the end of each season, racing fans in Korea can vote for which horses they wish to take part in the traditional season-ending Grand Prix race. In 2009, the American-bred Dongbanui Gangja won the race for the second consecutive year.
Gwacheon
Gwacheon is a city in Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea. It lies close to Seoul in the heart of the Seoul National Capital Area, and also lies just east of Anyang...
, Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is host to many of Korea's most valuable thoroughbred horse races including the Korean Derby and Grand Prix. Seoul Race Park is located next to Seoul Racecourse Park Station
Seoul Racecourse Park Station
Seoul Racecourse Park Station is a station on Line 4 of the Seoul Subway. True to its name, it is located near Seoul Race Park, a horse racing venue. It attracts large volumes of people, particularly on weekends when thousands of Seoulites flock to the races to bet on their favorite horses...
on Line 4
Seoul Subway Line 4
Seoul Subway Line 4 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a long line crossing from the southwest to the northeast across the Seoul National Capital Area. The southern portion of the line is divided into the Gwacheon and Ansan Lines, but this does not affect the trains which run on it, most of...
of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Seoul Metropolitan Subway
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway or Metropolitan Subway in Seoul, in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world, with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's thirteen lines...
. It is operated by the Korea Racing Authority (KRA).
History
The current site at Gwacheon is the third home of Seoul Race Park. The first was at a track in Sinseol-dong, Dongdaemun-guDongdaemun-gu
Dongdaemun-gu is one of the 25 gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is located to the north of the River Han. Its district office is in Yongdu-dong where is close to the underground station of branch of Line 2....
, which was in operation from the early 1920s until just after the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Following the closure of the Sinseol-dong track, a new racetrack was constructed at Ttukseom, on the north bank of the Han River
Han River (Korea)
The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
In February 1983, after South Korea was awarded the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, the KRA was given the task of organising the equestrian events. The Ttukseom Racetrack was inadequate; the KRA acquired a new site south of Seoul in Gwacheon Gyeonggi-do, where the equestrian
Equestrian at the 1988 Summer Olympics
The Equestrian Events at the 1988 Seoul Olympics included Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions.-Medals:-Medallists:-References:*...
(except the individual-jumping final) and the riding portion of the modern pentathlon
Modern pentathlon at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Final results for the modern pentathlon at the 1988 Summer OlympicsIt was fought in five days on September 18 to 22, and individual results were also directly applied towards the team event ranking.This article describes the comprehensive record of the event...
events were held. After the Olympics, the KRA turned the site into a racetrack.
Present
The first race at the new Seoul Race Park was held on September 1, 1989. The track can accommodate more than 80,000 spectators; in 2003 a second grandstand, "Luckyville", was opened alongside the existing "Happyville". Races are run on an oval artificial sand-based track with a two-furlong home straight.As of 2011 live thoroughbred racing takes place on Saturdays and Sundays all year, with 12 races each Saturday and 11 each Sunday. On race day, races are also simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
from the pony-racing track on Jeju Island and the thoroughbred track at Busan-Gyeongnam. Major races at the Seoul Race Park include the Korean Derby in May, the Minister of Agriculture Cup in October, the President's Cup in November and the season-ending Grand Prix in December.
In 2007, the Korean-bred J.S. Hold won the Korean Triple Crown (the Ttukseom Cup, the Korean Derby and the Minister's Cup) at Seoul Race Park. In 2008 the Ttukseom Cup was replaced as the first leg of the Triple Crown by the KRA Cup Mile, which is run at Busan-Gyeongnam Race Park on the first Sunday in April.
In 2009 the champion jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
at Seoul Race Park was Park Tae Jong, who also holds the record for most wins in Korean racing history. The 2009 Korean Derby was won by a filly, Sangseung Ilro, who had previously won the KRA up Mile at Busan-Gyeongnam. At the end of each season, racing fans in Korea can vote for which horses they wish to take part in the traditional season-ending Grand Prix race. In 2009, the American-bred Dongbanui Gangja won the race for the second consecutive year.
Notable Races
| Month | Racename | Distance | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade I | |||
| May | Korean Derby | Dirt 1800m | Korean 3yo c&f |
| Nov. | Presidents Cup | Dirt 2000m | Korean 3yo + |
| Dec. | Grand Prix | Dirt 2300m | Mixed 3yo + |
| Grade II | |||
| Oct. | Minister of FAFF Cup | Dirt 2000m | Korean 3yo c&f |
| Grade III | |||
| Apr. | Ttukseom Cup | Dirt 1400m | Korean 4yo + |
| Jun. | SROA Chairman's Trophy | Dirt 2000m | Korean 4yo + f |
| Oct. | KRA Cup Classic (Handicap) | Dirt 2000m | Mixed 3yo + |
| Nov. | Breeder's Cup | Dirt 1300m | Korean 2yo c&f |