'Global Hit' - Jockey Kim Hye-seon Shows Fantastic Synergy to Win Seventh Grand Prize Race
Jockey Kim Hye-seon, Who Showed Strong Closing Speed to Avenge Last Year's Runner-up... First Female Jockey in the Grand Prix
The first female Grand Prix winner in the history of Korean horse racing has emerged.
On December 1st, at LetsRun Park Seoul, in the 42nd Grand Prix (G1, 2300m, prize money 1 billion KRW), jockey Kim Hye-seon, riding ‘Global Hit’ (4-year-old stallion, trainer Bang Dong-seok, owner Kim Jun-hyun) from the Busan Racing Authority, surged explosively in the final stretch to outpace formidable competitors and claim a come-from-behind victory. This marked a new milestone as the first female Grand Prix winner in 102 years since Korean horse racing began in 1922 with the ‘Joseon Horse Racing Club.’
The race was unpredictable for everyone. Last year, jockey Kim Hye-seon and ‘Global Hit’ narrowly lost the Grand Prix to ‘Winners Man’ by a nose. However, this year, showing a more mature form and demonstrating their skills, they wiped away the disappointment of last year’s runner-up finish and proudly ascended to the throne of Korean horse racing champion.
Since debuting, Global Hit has partnered with jockey Kim Hye-seon in 17 races, achieving seven major race victories and earning prize money totaling 3.8 billion KRW. Notably, after winning the Korean Derby (G1) and the President’s Cup (G1), Global Hit secured a third Grand Prix (G1) victory, earning a reputation as unbeatable domestically.
Jockey Kim Hye-seon, who chose her profession out of love for animals, said, “Global Hit performs best when gently calmed rather than pushed harshly,” attributing their victory to ‘rapport.’ She added, “Because of his strong competitive spirit, if he expends energy early, he won’t have the stamina later, so I guided him to use his strength in the final stretch. That kind of connection brought the win. The exhilaration of drawing out a horse’s latent ability to the extreme and winning is hard to put into words.”
In fact, female jockeys face physical limitations compared to male jockeys. However, they have the advantage of understanding horses through delicacy and gentleness. Jockey Kim Hye-seon had been quietly struggling with the invisible glass ceiling in the male-dominated horse racing society. That is why she had been eagerly awaiting a major race victory.
In a post-race interview, jockey Kim Hye-seon said, “After finishing second in last year’s Grand Prix, I prepared with the goal of winning this year’s Grand Prix, so I am happy to achieve a good result. I am grateful to the owner, trainer, stable staff who have continuously trusted me despite being a female jockey, and to the horse racing fans who always support me.” She continued, “Thanks to my beloved son, I was able to achieve this good result, and I am truly thankful that he is growing up bright,” expressing her emotional victory message to her family.
Trainer Bang Dong-seok expressed gratitude toward the jockey in a post-race interview, saying, “I was worried early on because the horse was mostly not in good condition and faced a lot of pressure, but I believed that jockey Kim Hye-seon would do well.”
Global Hit, who ascended to the throne of racehorses this year, will participate alone in the 2025 Dubai World Cup alongside jockey Kim Hye-seon. Although top-rated horses have previously competed abroad, this is the first time a highest-rated champion will take on the challenge after the absence of the reigning champion.
This year, Grand Prix Global Hit jockey Kim Hye-seon is receiving a gift from a fan. Provided by LetsRun Park
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