S. Korea to host gathering of horse racing industry leaders from Asia in May

SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will host a gathering of experts from the Asian horse racing industry in May to discuss ways to facilitate information exchanges, promote friendship among them and develop the industry, the horse racing operator said Thursday. The Korea Racing Authority said the 37th Asian Racing Conference, the third of its kind to be held in the country following ones in 1980 and 2005, will run from May 13 through 18 and is expected to bring together 800 people from 30 Asian countries where horse racing takes place. The gathering will also provide South Korea with opportunities to highlight the country's racing industry and traditional culture, which will boost its national image in the international community. The authority estimated the economic impact of the conference at 5 billion won (around US$4.70 million) generated from the five-day visit by 600 participants from abroad. The conference is set to open at the Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul at 6:00 p.m. on May 14. Venues of the conference also include the Seoul Racecourse, with measures to fight against illegal betting and doping expected to top the agenda. Kim Nak-soon, chief of the Korea Racing Authority, expects that the conference will be a chance for the country to transform itself into a horse racing hub in the Asian region. namsh@yna.co.kr (END)