Families enjoy children's bounce houses and play experience zones set up at the festival grounds at Let's Run Park Yeongcheon. [Let's Run Park Yeongcheon]
Families enjoy children's bounce houses and play experience zones set up at the festival grounds at Let's Run Park Yeongcheon. [Let's Run Park Yeongcheon]

Let's Run Park Yeongcheon, operated by the Korea Racing Authority, drew 27,122 visitors during its four-day opening commemoration festival held over two weekends from Sept. 12 to Sunday, the park announced Monday.

Children accounted for 7,029 of those visitors, with the crowd ranging from families with young children to couples seeking an autumn outing.

The most notable aspect of the festival was that Let's Run Park Yeongcheon functioned as more than a venue for watching races and purchasing betting tickets — it drew families and couples who stayed to enjoy horse culture, leisure activities and hands-on experiences, establishing itself as a multi-purpose recreational space.

In practice, visitors in their 20s and 30s and families with children made up a large share of opening week attendance, with many taking in not only the races but also the festival programs and park facilities.

The shift the park had been pursuing — from a racing-focused venue to a theme-park-style destination where visitors linger and explore — was evident from the very start of its opening.

On the track, the atmosphere of live racing added to the festive energy.

Cheers erupted from the stands each time the racehorses thundered past the grandstand along the nearby track. The opening commemorative race produced a particularly memorable moment, as Momentum, a three-year-old Korean-bred filly, surged from behind in the final stretch to claim victory and become the first winner of an opening commemorative race in the park's history.

Children and families pet miniature horses during an interactive equine experience program at Let's Run Park Yeongcheon. [Let's Run Park Yeongcheon]
Children and families pet miniature horses during an interactive equine experience program at Let's Run Park Yeongcheon. [Let's Run Park Yeongcheon]

Programs designed for first-time racegoers also proved popular.

A beginner's racing class at the grandstand walked newcomers through the basics — how races work and how to read a race card — lowering the barrier to entry for those unfamiliar with the sport.

Visitors tried predicting race outcomes with small wagers, experiencing the analytical and spectator appeal of horse racing rather than focusing on betting.

Horse experience programs for children were another draw for families.

At the Fantasy Horse Land zone, visitors could hand-feed miniature horses and ponies, and children took part in craft activities including making horse-shaped keyrings and lucky pouches.

As children made eye contact and bonded with the horses, the park began building a new image as a welcoming destination for families.

Let's Run Park Yeongcheon said it plans to strengthen its marketing efforts targeting visitors in their 20s through 40s.

"We will expand seasonal cultural events and horse experience programs, and activate rest and relaxation spaces — including walking paths, lounges and café-style areas — so visitors can spread their enjoyment across a variety of activities throughout the day rather than focusing solely on the races," a park official said. "Alongside this, we will continue efforts to prevent problem gambling, including operating a support center on-site, running responsible-purchase campaigns, expanding real-name purchasing and maintaining a purchase management system."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com