Memorial Rites for Horses That Died Running... Busan Gyeongnam Racing Park Holds 'Horse Memorial Ceremony' and Safety Prayer Ceremony to Comfort Racing Horse Spirits

The scene of the horse memorial ceremony.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Did you know that there is a ritual to honor horses?

The "Horse Memorial Ceremony," a ritual to comfort the souls of horses that died during races and to pray for the safety of active racehorses, continues as a tradition in horse racing.

The Korea Racing Authority Busan-Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters held the Horse Memorial Ceremony and a Horse Racing Safety Prayer Ceremony on the 16th to console the souls of horses and pray for accident-free races.

The Horse Memorial Ceremony is an event to honor the spirits of racehorses who tragically died on the racetrack.

The ritual is conducted by a master of ceremonies and includes all eight stages: incense offering and spirit invocation (Bunhyang Gangsinnye), offering of fresh water (Chamsinnye), first offering of wine (Chohunrye), solo prayer (Dokchukrye), second offering of wine (Ahunrye), final offering of wine (Jonghunrye), farewell ritual (Mangyorye), and communal drinking (Eumbokrye).

About 20 related personnel attended the event, including Song Dae-young, head of the Korea Racing Authority Busan-Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters, Lee Kyung-hee, director of the Bukyeong Horse Owners Association, and Min Jang-gi, president of the Bukyeong Trainers Association.

The ceremony was held in front of the Horse Spirit Monument (Mahonbi) inside the racing park, where attendees lit incense, bowed, and prayed for the horses' repose.

The racing park officials stated, "We always feel grateful and sorry toward the racehorses. We hope that through the memorial ceremony, the horses' spirits will be comforted even a little, and we pray that this year's races will be conducted safely without accidents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.