South Korea is set to inaugurate its fourth racecourse, LetsRun Park Yeongcheon, on September 13, expanding the country’s horse racing infrastructure with a new facility in the North Gyeongsang province. Located in Geumho-eup, the venue represents the Korea Racing Authority’s (KRA) latest investment in the industry, following existing tracks in Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
Constructed at a cost of approximately 180 billion won (around $170 million), the new racecourse spans 145 hectares and features a 1,700-meter-long, 25-meter-wide sand track. This development marks Yeongcheon as the second racecourse in the Yeongnam region, supplementing the established Busan track. Despite initial considerations to build a turf track—favored internationally for its association with premier racing—KRA officials cited local climate and soil conditions as prohibitive factors. The course’s design, therefore, relies on a single sand track system tailored for durability and maintenance efficiency throughout the year.
The surface consists of an 8-centimeter layer of sand atop 45 centimeters of decomposed granite, crushed stone, and gravel, supporting race distances ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 meters and beyond. The venue can accommodate up to 11 horses for most race lengths, with slightly fewer entries for 1,600-meter events.
Innovatively, LetsRun Park Yeongcheon introduces South Korea’s first regional rotating race system, modeled after systems in leading racing countries such as Japan and Hong Kong. This approach aims to maximize operational synergy with Busan’s racecourse by replacing Busan’s traditional Sunday race meetings with events held at Yeongcheon. Although Yeongcheon does not host permanently housed horses, it provides six stable blocks with 100 stalls to accommodate traveling horses transported primarily from Busan for race events.
To facilitate the movement of horses, KRA has introduced 13 specialized, vibration-free horse floats equipped with air-conditioning, automatic ventilation, GPS tracking, and custom partitions to ensure animal welfare during transport.
The racecourse’s facilities include a recently completed five-story grandstand capable of seating 5,000 spectators. Its official launch will feature six races on the opening day, followed by weekly Sunday meetings through December 6. Singapore Pools is participating in the new racing program, with events timed to coordinate with Singapore Standard Time and race cards labeled “Yeongnam,” specifying the exact venue.
Ahead of the opening, three trial race meetings were conducted in July to test operations, signaling readiness for full-scale activity.
Beyond racing, LetsRun Park Yeongcheon is designed as a multi-use leisure and tourism site aimed at revitalizing the regional economy. It is expected to gain further connectivity with the planned 2030 extension of Daegu Metro Line 1. To celebrate the opening, a horse-culture festival titled “Horses Run! Yeongcheon Gallops!” will take place from September 12 to 20, engaging local residents, small businesses, and visitors alike. Family-friendly attractions, including a horse-themed experience zone known as Fantasy Horse Land, will offer interactive activities such as miniature horse feeding and handicraft workshops.
KRA Chairman Woo Hee-jeong highlighted the project’s broader ambitions, emphasizing that LetsRun Park Yeongcheon aims to stimulate regional development, job creation, and economic growth by replicating proven successful models from other areas. The facility is positioned not only as a racing venue but also as a significant cultural and economic asset for the Yeongnam region.