Most Wins by a Woman in the "Forbidden Zone" of Horse Racing
Renowned for Tenacity and Diligence
Retires as Jockey, Now Training 26 Racehorses as a Trainer
Since her debut in 2009, jockey Kim Hyesun, affectionately nicknamed "Super Peanut" by fans, has recently embarked on a new challenge as a horse trainer. The Korea Racing Authority announced on the 17th that Kim, who set the record for the most wins by a female jockey in Korea with a total of 467 victories, has started a new chapter as a trainer.
In March, the British weekly magazine The Economist published its "glass-ceiling index," in which Korea ranked 28th out of 29 countries surveyed. Sweden took the top spot, followed by Iceland, Finland, and Norway. Korea, along with Japan and T?rkiye, remained at the bottom of the rankings. Although there have been positive changes and progress, it is still true that women in our society face significant hurdles to overcome.
On October 31 last year, jockey Hyesun Kim, who participated in the President's Cup, is taking a commemorative photo with the racehorse "Global Hit." Korea Racing Authority
The sports sector is no exception. In particular, horse racing, where men and women compete under the same conditions, was considered a de facto "forbidden zone" for women up until the 1990s. The physical demands and strength required made it difficult to imagine female jockeys. A Korea Racing Authority official explained, "Lee Okrye, known as Korea's first female jockey, was licensed in 1975, but retired early due to injury, reinforcing the perception that horse racing was an especially challenging field for women. In reality, it was not until 2001 that Lee Geumju and Lee Shinyoung, who can be considered the first true female jockeys, emerged. Lee Shinyoung successfully completed her 10-year career as a jockey and has been active as Korea's first female horse trainer since 2011."
Kim Hyesun emerged as the next-generation female jockey to follow in the footsteps of Lee Geumju and Lee Shinyoung. Debuting in 2009 with a petite stature of 150 cm, Kim earned the nickname "Super Peanut" and the love of fans, relying on her tenacious spirit and diligence as her strengths. Over approximately 17 years, she competed in 5,129 races and claimed victory 467 times, setting the record for the most wins by a female jockey. Even compared to male jockeys who debuted around the same time, her skills were never lacking.
In particular, she secured victories in major races such as the Korean Derby, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Cup, and the KRA Cup Classic, earning her the reputation of being both "the first" and "the strongest." She rose from "Derby Girl" to "Queen," and last year, in the Grand Prix (G1) race that capped off the year, she became the first female winner in the 102-year history of Korean horse racing, ascending to the true "throne."
Kim continued her career as an "active ace" right up to her retirement. Despite already reaching the top in Korea, she challenged herself at the Dubai World Cup Series, one of the world's premier horse racing events, in March of this year, finishing third in the Al Maktoum Classic, the second qualifying round. On that day, the name "Korean Jockey Kim Hyesun" resonated throughout Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Kim's retirement race took place on the 21st of last month in the second race at Busan-Gyeongnam. After her final race, she expressed her aspirations for her second life, saying, "I want to return the support I received as a jockey with even greater ability as a trainer." With Kim's retirement, the number of active female jockeys in Korea is now nine, including those in Seoul, Busan-Gyeongnam, and Jeju.
Kim excelled in both the written and practical portions of the trainer qualification exam, which covers horse racing regulations, equine science, personnel management, and labor relations. She has now taken charge of 26 racehorses and leads the "Busan-Gyeongnam Stable No. 5" as a newly appointed trainer. Currently, there are only two female trainers in Korea: Lee Shinu (formerly known as Lee Shinyoung) of Seoul Stable No. 14 and Kim of Busan-Gyeongnam Stable No. 5. The trainer's role is akin to that of a "director," responsible for devising training plans for racehorses, communicating with owners, and incorporating feedback from jockeys, horse caretakers, veterinarians, and other experts into stable management. This position requires a broader perspective and stronger organizational management skills than those of a jockey.
A Korea Racing Authority official stated, "Many female athletes face difficulties in continuing their careers due to injuries, physical limitations, or career interruptions caused by marriage or childbirth. Kim Hyesun's career transition is significant in that it presents a sustainable career model for female athletes. There are high expectations for what Kim Hyesun's second act, now at a new starting line, will bring to Korean horse racing."
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