Korea Racing Authority, Korean Derby Girl Kim Hyesun Achieves 400th Victory Milestone

Six Grand Prizes and Victory with 'Yeonggwangui Prince'

The Perfect Partner: Racehorse 'Global Hit'

Korea's horse racing "Derby Girl," jockey Kim Hyesun (35), has achieved the remarkable milestone of 400 career wins.

On the 26th of last month, Kim Hyesun rode Yeonggwangyeprince in the 6th race at Korea Racing Authority's Let's Run Park Busan-Gyeongnam, demonstrating her seasoned skills and clinching a thrilling nose victory. With this result, she achieved her 400th win without any "curse of the nines" jinx, adding the record of being the "first female jockey" to reach this milestone.

Kim Hyesun, the jockey, is celebrating her victory in the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Cup and signing a commemorative autograph.

Now in her 16th year since debut, Kim Hyesun is currently the hottest figure in Korean horse racing. She has rewritten history by winning six major races?an achievement every person in the industry dreams of. Major races refer to the highest-level competitions with top-class horses and prize money, unlike regular races held daily.

For Kim Hyesun, who is aiming for the top spot, the title of "first female" has become almost outdated. Her accomplishments transcend gender, earning her recognition as a skilled jockey in her own right. In an industry that typically favors male jockeys for their physical strength, Kim Hyesun has competed under the same conditions regardless of gender, overcoming limits with perseverance and determination to become a beloved figure in horse racing.

Kim Hyesun's racing story was ignited at last year's Korean Derby (G1), which established her as the "Derby Girl."

At that time, the horse she rode, Globalhit, was ranked 9th in betting popularity, so expectations for victory were low. Kim Hyesun calmly guided Globalhit along the inside rail, drawing out the horse's potential and causing a major upset in the Korean Derby, where the nation's top horses and jockeys gathered. Riding this momentum, she proved her win was no fluke by claiming another victory the following month in the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Cup (G2).

In horse racing, a sport where horse and human work together, the harmony between jockey and racehorse is said to be more important than anything else.

If there is a partner with whom Kim Hyesun shares perfect synergy, it is the racehorse Globalhit. In 2022, she first teamed up with Globalhit, then a two-year-old, and the following year, in their first major race together in 2023, they immediately claimed victory. This win earned Kim Hyesun the honor of becoming the first "Derby Girl" in Korean horse racing history and gave Globalhit its first major race trophy.

Since then, Kim Hyesun and Globalhit have continued their winning streak, capturing trophies in the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Cup (G2), Herald Business Cup (G3), and YTN Cup (G3), totaling four major wins to date.

The story of "Globalhit," who is still only four years old, and Kim Hyesun is still ongoing.

Jockey Hyesun Kim is waving to the audience after finishing in the global hit.