Top Winning Jockey Da Silva, Top Trainer Koo Seungjun
The second half of the nighttime horse racing season at LetsRun Park Busan-Gyeongnam, managed by Korea Racing Authority (Director: Eom Youngseok), came to a close on the 15th.
This season, jockeys and trainers who had shown relatively lackluster performance in the first half made their mark with multiple wins, providing fresh excitement for fans.
Jockeys Seo Seungun and Choi Sidae, who have maintained a dominant presence in Busan-Gyeongnam racing, were unable to participate in races during the nighttime season in the second half due to injuries sustained in mid-August. As a result, a new era for foreign jockeys dawned in the jockeys’ division. In the trainers’ division, trainers who participated in relatively fewer races but displayed high efficiency vied for the most wins, bringing smiles to fans.
During the four weeks of nighttime racing held from August 23, foreign jockeys showcased their splendid riding skills with dazzling performances.
Jockey Dasilva (45, Ireland) claimed the top spot for most wins, achieving overwhelming results in both victories and win rate, continuing his upward momentum from the first half. Dasilva demonstrated remarkable stamina by participating in 36 out of 58 races held in Busan-Gyeongnam during the nighttime season. He recorded 10 wins and 4 second-place finishes out of 36 races, with a win rate of 27.8% and a quinella rate of 38.9%, nearly double his career win rate of 15.2%.
The second place for most wins went to jockey Tanaka (40, Japan), who participated in the most races during the period, recording 8 wins and 7 second-place finishes out of 47 races. Third place went to jockey Munro (57, UK), who moved his base to Busan in July this year, with 8 wins and 6 second-place finishes out of 34 races. Notably, Munro became the only jockey to win an open race in both Seoul and Busan-Gyeongnam during the nighttime season by winning the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor’s Cup (G3) held on September 7.
This summer was exceptionally hot, making it a tough season for racehorses as well.
Horse trainers, who play a role similar to coaches in other sports, devoted special care to managing racehorses during the summer, each employing their own methods to protect their horses, making for a fiercely competitive season.
The top spot for most wins among trainers went to Koo Youngjun (52, Stable 6), who recorded 6 wins out of 20 starts. The second place was shared by three trainers, each with 5 wins, reflecting the fierce competition. Among them, trainer Moon Hyuncheol (43, Stable 3) achieved the highest win efficiency with 5 wins and 4 second-place finishes out of 14 starts.
Additionally, trainer Kim Youngkwan (64, Stable 19), with 5 wins and 3 second-place finishes out of 25 starts, and trainer Lim Geumman (60, Stable 4), with 5 wins and 3 second-place finishes out of 27 starts, also ranked high in the nighttime season win standings.
Trainer Kim Hyoseok (46, Stable 5), who debuted last July and has been delivering consistent results, participated in 17 races, achieving 3 wins and 4 second-place finishes, with a win rate of 17.6% and a quinella rate of 41.2%, making a strong impression on the audience with his outstanding quinella performance.
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