Lee Jonghun Named First 'Best Owner'
Spotlight on 300 Career Wins and Years of Dedication
The stars who thrilled the audience and heated up the track throughout the year gathered in one place.
Let's Run Park Busan-Gyeongnam of the Korea Racing Authority (headed by Um Youngseok) held the '2025 Busan-Gyeongnam Horse Racing Annual Awards Ceremony' on December 20, honoring horse racing professionals who contributed to the development of horse racing in the Busan-Gyeongnam region and excelled in their respective fields this year.
The Annual Awards Ceremony is an event that comprehensively reviews the achievements and contributions of the season, celebrating those who delivered outstanding performances.
Korea Racing Authority Let's Run Park Busan-Gyeongnam is holding the '2025 Busan-Gyeongnam Horse Racing Annual Awards Ceremony' and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Korea Racing Authority
This year's ceremony, which marks the end of the 2025 season, was a meaningful occasion that not only highlighted the fierce competition on the racetrack, but also shed light on the dedication and growth of those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
To further recognize the pride and contributions of horse owners, who are at the core of horse racing, a new 'Best Owner' category was introduced at this year's ceremony. Lee Jonghun was selected as the inaugural recipient of this award.
Lee Jonghun made history in Korean horse racing in 2025 by achieving an unprecedented record of 300 career wins, becoming the owner with the most victories in the country.
In addition to his numerically proven achievements, Lee is also known for his deep affection for each horse, often saying, "A racehorse is as fragile as crystal." This award is seen as recognition of both his record and his philosophy of 'loving horses.'
The winners in each category also drew attention. The 'Best Trainer' award went to Trainer Rice, who showed a remarkable upward trajectory by recording the most wins this year. In the 'Best Jockey' category, often called the highlight of horse racing, Seo Seungwoon received the honor for maintaining the top spot in wins in Busan-Gyeongnam with his consistent and stable performance.
The 'Fair Play Jockey Award' was presented to Jockey Tanaka, who set an example with fair and gentlemanly racing while achieving 200 career wins. In the 'First Win' category, which encourages promising new jockeys who will lead the future of Korean horse racing, Son Kyungmin and Nam Junghyuk were awarded commemorative plaques to celebrate their first career victories.
Um Youngseok, Head of the Busan-Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea Racing Authority, stated, "Today's event is not about singling out one winner, but about encouraging all those who have contributed to Busan-Gyeongnam horse racing," adding, "We will continue to foster an environment where horse racing professionals can take pride in their work through fair and thrilling races."
As the 2025 season draws to a close, this year's Annual Awards Ceremony served as a moment to reflect on values beyond records, highlighting both the journey of Busan-Gyeongnam horse racing over the past year and its future direction.
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