Korea Cup and Korea Sprint Set to Light Up Seoul Racecourse Park
Anticipation is rising as Seoul Racecourse Park prepares to stage the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint on September 7th, 2025. Both contests, conducted by the Korea Racing Authority (KRA), are recognised as two of the country’s most prestigious fixtures, and each will offer the winners a free berth into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Korea Racing Authority and Venue
The Korea Racing Authority operates under the supervision of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Beyond organising races, it supports equestrian events that help to promote and develop the wider Korean horse industry. The KRA manages three racecourses: Seoul Racecourse Park, LetsRun Park Busan–Gyeongnam, and LetsRun Park Jeju.
Seoul Racecourse Park, which will host the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, has its own place in national sporting history. In February 1983, the KRA began construction of the venue as the Equestrian Park for the 1988 Summer Olympics. After the Games concluded, the facility was converted into a thoroughbred racecourse in September 1989, later renamed Seoul LetsRun Park, and is now more widely known as Seoul Racecourse Park.
The Korea Cup
The Korea Cup is a Grade 1 race run over 1800 metres on a left-handed sand track. It is open to three-year-olds and older horses, with a maximum field of 16 starters. The race carries total prize money of KRW 1,600,000,000, with the winner receiving KRW 800,000,000 and the runner-up KRW 320,000,000. Prize money will be distributed down to the tenth-placed finisher.
A Breeders’ Cup place adds further weight to the event: the winner of the Korea Cup will gain automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Challenge, a Grade 1 contest in the United States. Final declarations for the Korea Cup will be announced on September 3rd, 2025.
The provisional entry list has already attracted attention, led by Chancheng Glory, foaled in 2020 and trained by Francis Lui Kin Wai, representing Hong Kong. From Japan comes Diktaean, a 2018 foal prepared by Katsunori Arayama, alongside Dura Erede, foaled in 2020 under the care of Manabu Ikezoe. Adding further depth is Ramjet, the 2021 foal trained by Shozo Sasaki.
The Korea Sprint
The Korea Sprint is a Grade 3 race staged over 1200 metres, also on a left-handed sand track. Like the Cup, it is open to three-year-olds and above, with a maximum field of 16. The total prize money stands at KRW 1,400,000,000, with the winner awarded KRW 700,000,000 and the runner-up KRW 280,000,000. Prize money will again extend to the tenth position.
The race also provides international incentive, as its winner will receive automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Declarations for the Korea Sprint close on September 3rd, 2025.
Among the provisional entries is Self Improvement, foaled in 2019 and trained by Manfred Man Ka Leung, representing Hong Kong. Japan’s representatives include Chikappa, foaled in 2021 and trained by Kazuya Nakatake; Sunrize Hawk, a 2019 foal trained by Mitsunori Makiura; and Tagano Beauty, foaled in 2017 and prepared by Masato Nishizono.
Looking Ahead
The attention of racing fans is firmly fixed on these two events. Both the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint offer prize money on a significant scale, while also serving as qualifying races for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. On September 7th, Seoul Racecourse Park will take its place on the international stage once more, with the eyes of the racing world watching closely.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, visit RaceBuzz.com.
