This month will see the start of the horse racing season for many renowned horses. Indeed, it will also be a fantastic opportunity for the jockeys and the trainers associated with these equines to test their capabilities ahead of a big campaign. Every year, fans of the sport enjoy a plethora of season-opening action at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, and this year is no exception.

Indeed, on Friday there will be a big race on the Middle Eastern track, and there will be many reputed horses to watch out for. However, a certain female jockey will be making history on the racecourse, as she and her horse are set to grace the Grade 1 Al Maktoum Challenge with a competitive lineup on the grid against them.

As reported by Dubai Racing Club on X, history will be made by jockey Hye Sun Kim, who will become the first Korean female jockey to ride at Meydan tomorrow when she rides Global Hit in the Grade 1 race. It will be a big moment for the racecourse, as well as the whole horse racing industry, as this is a statement that female jockeys are also fierce competitors compared to the males, and she will be an inspiration for more female jockeys who will like to race in the particular racecourse in the future.

However, who is Global Hit that she will be riding in the Al Maktoum Challenge? The five-year-old debuted back on September 10, 2023, in Seoul in the Grade 3 Korea Cup with the same jockey who will be riding him at the Meydan Racecourse on Friday. The horse raced two more races on the Korean racecourse, where he placed second and third on November 13, 2023, and September 08, 2024, respectively. Indeed, all of these races that he has run were under the command of the Korean jockey, and she will be looking forward to their career-first Grade 1 race. 

But the race won’t be a smooth ride for the equine, as they will be facing competitors like Clapton, Facteur Cheval, Kabirkhan, and Imperial Emperor. Out of these, Kabirkhan will be a horse to watch out for, as he won last year’s Al Maktoum Challenge to advance to the Dubai World Cup. But how’s the condition of Global Hit before the race? “Fortunately, he is in good form and shows great enthusiasm for the race. Although he drew gate number 12, which is on the outside, if he can get off to a strong start, there’s a good chance for success,” a local representative spoke of the equine’s form before the event.

For now, everything is looking great for the jockey and her horse. However, it remains to be seen what the jockey and her horse can accomplish at the Meydan Racecourse, as she is poised to set new standards in the race. This isn’t the first time that a female equestrian has broken the barriers and emerged as an example for the future generation, as a certain female horse racing trainer took the spotlight back in the 2023 Belmont Stakes.

Horse racing history made by a female trainer

The 2023 horse racing season in the United States saw many dramatic races, including the Triple Crown series. Indeed, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes were captivating spectacles, and the final race, the Belmont Stakes, was no exception. This was the race’s 155th edition, and it was about to be as dramatic as a Hollywood movie. With the pre-race favorite, Forte, in the field, the eyes of the crowd were locked on him, but the grid was competitive as National Treasure, the winner of the Preakness Stakes that year, was also present.

While the race start favored the battle between the favorites, in the final bend, Arcangelo surpassed the front runner and kept up with the lead. Forte did try to pass his opponent, but he was too quick for him. Ridden by Javier Castellano, Arcangelo finished the Belmont Stakes in 2 minutes, 29.23 seconds, defeating the pre-race favorite, Forte, by a length and a half, marking a significant victory for trainer Jena Antonucci.

Indeed, she became the first female trainer to win the Belmont Stakes in its 155th running. With a talented horse like Arcangelo and a fantastic jockey like Castellano, she was able to write horse racing history, and her motto, which was “never give up,” worked out and earned a significant amount of purse in prize money and a reputation where many young female equestrians will be looking forward to her.