South Korea plans to suspend night-time horse racing for the first time in nearly 20 years in order to cut down on electricity usage as oil prices set record highs, an official said on Friday.

“The government did not order us to make this decision but we felt the need do this because we have a social responsibility as a public institution,” said Park Sang-young, an official with the state’s Korea Racing Association (KRA).

Crude prices have surged seven-fold since the start of 2002 as supply struggles to keep up with demand from emerging nations such as China. South Korea, which imports nearly all of its oil, has been hit hard by record high prices.

The KRA planned to have night races on the weekends from mid July through August. It will start the racing day earlier during those times in order to complete a full card before the sun sets.
(Source: Guardian)