Seoul Race Park
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).
History
The current site at Gwacheon is the third home of Seoul Race Park. The first was at a track in Sinseol-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, 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[1]. 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.[2]
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[3].
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.
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 |
See also
References
External links
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- 1900: 7th arrondissement of Paris
- 1912: Fältrittklubben, Liljeholmen, Lindarängen, Östermalm Athletic Grounds, Stockholm Olympic Stadium
- 1920: Olympisch Stadion
- 1924: Hippodrome d'Auteuil, Stade de Colombes
- 1928: Hilversum, Olympic Stadium
- 1932: Olympic Stadium, Riviera Country Club, Westchester
- 1936: Döberitz, Mayfield, Olympic Stadium
- 1948: Aldershot, Empire Stadium, Tweseldown Racecourse
- 1952: Laakso, Olympic Stadium, Ruskeasuo Equestrian Hall, Tali Race Track
- 1956: Lill-Jansskogen, Olympic Stadium, Ulriksdal
- 1960: Piazza di Siena, Pratoni del Vivaro
- 1964: Karuizawa, National Stadium
- 1968: Avándaro Golf Club, Campo Marte, Estadio Olímpico Universitario
- 1972: Dressage Facility Nymphenburg, Olympiastadion, Riding Facility, Riem
- 1976: Olympic Equestrian Centre, Bromont, Olympic Stadium
- 1980: Grand Arena, Trade Unions' Equestrian Complex
- 1984: Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, Santa Anita Park
- 1988: Olympic Stadium, Seoul Equestrian Park
- 1992: Club Hípic El Montayá, Real Club de Polo de Barcelona
- 1996: Georgia International Horse Park
- 2000: Sydney International Equestrian Centre
- 2004: Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre
- 2008: Hong Kong Equestrian Venues
- 2012: Greenwich Park
- 2016: National Equestrian Center
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1912: Barkarby, Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, Kaknäs, Östermalm Athletic Grounds, Stockholm Olympic Stadium • 1920: Olympisch Stadion • 1924: Fontainebleau, Le Stand de Tir de Versailles, Piscine des Tourelles, Stade de Colombes • 1928: Amersfoort, Hilversum, Olympic Sports Park Swim Stadium, Schemzaal, Zeeburg Shooting Grounds • 1932: 160th Regiment State Armory, Los Angeles Police Pistol Range, Riviera Country Club, Sunset Fields Golf Club, Swimming Stadium • 1936: Döberitz, Haus des Deutschen Sports, Olympic Swimming Stadium, Ruhleben, Wannsee Golf Course • 1948: Aldershot, Bisley National Rifle Association Ranges, Royal Military Academy • 1952: Hämeenlinna • 1956: Oaklands Hunt Club, Royal Exhibition Building, Swimming/Diving Stadium, Williamstown • 1960: Acqua Santa Golf Club Course, Palazzo dei Congressi, Passo Corese, Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto, Umberto I Shooting Range • 1964: Asaka Nezu Park, Asaka Shooting Range, Kemigawa, National Gymnasium, Waseda Memorial Hall • 1968: Campo Militar 1, Fernando Montes de Oca Fencing Hall, Francisco Márquez Olympic Pool, Vincente Suárez Shooting Range • 1972: Messegelände Fechthalle 2, Olympiastadion, Riding Facility, Riem; Schießanlage, Schwimmhalle • 1976: Montreal Botanical Garden, Olympic Equestrian Centre, Bromont; Olympic Pool, Olympic Shooting Range, L'Acadie; Winter Stadium, Université de Montréal • 1980: CSKA Football Fieldhouse, Dynamo Shooting Range, Swimming Pool - Olimpisky, Trade Unions' Equestrian Complex • 1984: Coto de Caza, Heritage Park Aquatic Center • 1988: Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool, Mongchon Tosong, Olympic Fencing Gymnasium, Seoul Equestrian Park, Taenung International Shooting Range • 1992: Cross-country course, Mollet del Vallès Shooting Range, Palau de la Metal·lúrgia, Piscines Bernat Picornell, Real Club de Polo de Barcelona • 1996: Georgia International Horse Park, Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, Georgia World Congress Center • 2000: Sydney Baseball Stadium, Sydney International Aquatic Centre, The Dome and Exhibition Complex • 2004: Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre • 2008: Olympic Green Convention Center, Olympic Sports Centre, Ying Tung Natatorium • 2012: Aquatics Centre, Greenwich Park, Handball Arena, Royal Artillery Barracks • 2016: Deodoro Modern Pentathlon Park
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