'Korea Cup' Global Famous Horses Gathered... Elevated Status of K-Horse Racing

7th Korea Cup & Sprint Opens on September 8
Winning Horse Earns Entry to US Breeders' Cup
Racing Toward Goal of Becoming a Global Top 5 Horse Racing Power

The 'Korea Cup,' representing K-horse racing, will open next month. As an international race hosted by the Korea Racing Authority, the winning horse will be awarded not only prize money but also a spot in the world's top horse racing event, the U.S. 'Breeders' Cup World Championships.'

On the 28th, the Korea Racing Authority announced that the 7th Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, international invitational races, will be held on the 8th of next month at LetsRun Park Seoul located in Gwacheon.

A racehorse competing in the "7th Korea Cup" held at LetsRun Park Seoul last September is sprinting. Photo by Korea Racing Authority

An official from the Racing Authority explained, "Korea, aiming to become one of the global top 5 horse industry powers, is showcasing the presence of K-horse racing to the world through international invitational races. Since 2016, the Korea Racing Authority has been hosting the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint to invite famous overseas horses to Korea, assess the level of our racehorses, and provide opportunities for growth."

The 'Epsom Derby' in the UK, the birthplace of horse racing and the origin of the term 'derby' used for rival matches in various sports, boasts a history of 244 years. France's representative race, the 'Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,' also has a history spanning over 100 years. Besides these countries with history and tradition, there are nations that, based on strong financial resources and infrastructure, have turned horse racing events into their country's greatest festivals and economic revival platforms. Every spring, cultural, artistic, and sports celebrities naturally gather in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, where top marketing events are held to attract global attention. At the heart of this festival is the fierce competition among the world's strongest racehorses. Reflecting the wealth of the Middle Eastern hosts, the prize money for the winner of the main race reaches approximately 9 to 13 billion KRW.

In the previous six Korea Cup events, a total of 54 racehorses from eight countries including the U.S., UK, Ireland, Japan, and Hong Kong gathered at Gwacheon Plain to showcase their full speed. As a result, Japan demonstrated its strength by winning the Korea Cup four times and the Korea Sprint three times. Korea followed closely by winning both races consecutively in 2019 and 2022.

Despite its short history, the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint are building a global reputation as Korea's representative international races. Following the upgrade of the race level to IG3 last year, this year they achieved the distinction of being designated as a 'Breeders' Cup Challenge,' a qualifier for the world's top horse racing event, the U.S. Breeders' Cup. Accordingly, the winners of the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint will be granted entry to the Breeders' Cup World Championships held in the U.S. this November.

An official from the Racing Authority stated, "Gwacheon, where the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint are held, has become a gateway for the birth of world-class champion horses. The growing interest from global companies, such as the U.S. racehorse auction company OBS and Korea Brown-Forman, one of the world's top 10 liquor companies headquartered in the U.S., sponsoring the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, reflects the growth momentum of Korean horse racing."

The rapid growth of K-horse racing, once considered peripheral, is attributed to the 'live race broadcast export business.' Over the past 12 years, the Korea Racing Authority has developed this business by exporting live footage, broadcasts, and horse racing information of K-horse racing overseas. Especially this year, with market expansion into South America and Africa, K-horse racing has become K-content enjoyed live every weekend by horse racing fans in 24 countries across all continents. The Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, where one can see famous horses from various countries, are considered major events attracting significant interest.

Overseas participation of K-racehorses also contributes to expanding the scope of K-horse racing. Racehorses active at Seoul, Busan, and Gyeongnam racecourses have challenged the 'Dubai World Cup' since 2016. Although they placed third in the preliminaries in the first year, the following year, K-horse racing stars 'Triple Nine' and 'Power Blade' competed in the Dubai World Cup semifinals. In 2019, 'Dolkong' advanced to the finals, bringing global attention to K-horse racing.

An official from the Racing Authority said, "After losing both trophies to Japanese racehorses last year, K-racehorses are sweating daily on the racetrack to reclaim the trophies and uphold the pride of the host country. We ask for your great interest in the hottest two minutes of K-horse racing, which will kick off on the 8th of next month."

Meanwhile, the Korea Racing Authority plans to broadcast the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint races through mobile applications, YouTube, and television.