Let's Run Park Yeongcheon draws 40,000 visitors within a month of opening

Crowds pack the grandstand to watch the races at Let's Run Park Yeongcheon. [Let's Run Park Yeongcheon]

Let's Run Park Yeongcheon, South Korea's fourth horse racing park, has surpassed 40,000 cumulative visitors within a month of opening, drawing attention as a family-oriented leisure and tourism destination representing Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.

According to the Korea Racing Authority, the park — which opened Sept. 11 — recorded 34,917 adult admissions and about 10,000 children, minors and family-group visitors in its first month, pushing the cumulative total past 40,000.

The park has averaged around 3,200 visitors per day, with crowds arriving as early as three hours before races begin. Interest has grown not only among local residents but also among visitors from neighboring areas.

The influx of families and younger visitors in particular has helped shed the traditional image of a horse racing venue, with the park increasingly regarded as a multi-purpose leisure space the whole family can enjoy.

A notable feature of the visitor breakdown is that roughly 10,000 people — children and others admitted free of charge — made up a significant share of the total. Average spending per visitor came to 31,496 won ($24), excluding refunds and taxes.

The Korea Racing Authority attributes the strong turnout to affordable admission, family-friendly programming and a responsible betting environment.

Adult admission is set at 2,000 won, with minors accompanying adults admitted free, reducing the financial burden on families.

The grandstand runs a standing "Beginner's Racing Class" to help first-time visitors understand race formats and how to read race cards. Bets start at as little as 100 won, making it easy for newcomers to participate.

The park has also strengthened systems to promote responsible racing culture.

It operates a gambling addiction prevention and counseling space called the "You Can Center" and has deployed a purchase-limit management feature through the real-name-based app "Derby On" to curb excessive betting.

Buoyed by these measures, the park continues to draw families and younger visitors not only from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province but also from nearby cities including Ulsan and Pohang.

Children and families pet miniature horses and interact with them through a hands-on experience program. [Let's Run Park Yeongcheon]

Hands-on programs offering interaction with horses have also proven popular.

Developed in partnership between Yeongcheon city and Seongun University, a horse-culture experience program called "Mal-rang Yeongcheon Playground" runs on weekends from Oct. 10 to 18. The program has attracted attention as a venue for children to deepen their understanding of animals and life.

Participating children can observe miniature horses up close, feed them and brush their coats — experiences that allow them to bond with the animals and engage firsthand with horse culture that is rarely accessible in everyday life.

Expectations are also growing for the park's contribution to the local economy and regional fiscal revenues.

North Gyeongsang Province and Yeongcheon city project that racing operations at Let's Run Park Yeongcheon will generate up to around 20 billion won in local tax revenue this year, including leisure taxes and local education taxes.

Since only 72 races across 12 weeks will be held from the September opening through year-end, the contribution to local tax revenue is expected to grow as racing operations expand.

"We will not rest on early success, but will broaden cooperation with local farms and small businesses while continuously strengthening family-friendly content," a Korea Racing Authority official said. "We aim to develop the park into a leading leisure and tourism landmark that residents of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province will cherish for years to come."

kbj7653@heraldcorp.com