SARGA.CO – The wooden gate of the stable slid slowly to the side. Despite being supported by two small wheels underneath, the white-framed door looked quite heavy. From the far left, two men appeared, greeting the SARGA.CO team as they arrived.
“Hello, welcome to King Halim Stable,” said a man wearing a gray polo shirt, a matching cap, and black jeans.
The man was instantly recognizable in the horse racing world — Jemmy Runtu, the jockey who had recently guided King Argentine to a Triple Crown victory just months earlier.
That day, the SARGA.CO team was granted a rare opportunity: a visit to King Halim Stable in Pacitan, East Java, home to some of Indonesia’s top champion racehorses.
The visit began in the bridle room, where saddles and reins hung neatly on the walls. Three horse simulators stood nearby.
“They look like real horses, but they’re made of metal,” Jemmy explained. “(After training on the simulator) you get really tired — it’s a different feeling from riding a real horse.”
From the open-air building, the team could see a sight that would thrill any horse racing enthusiast — the well-kept stables of King Halim Stable.
The area felt cool and tranquil. Rows of tall, leafy trees shaded 14 horse stalls, all neatly arranged. The stable doors and fences were made of metal with wooden accents, and each door had an open section at the center. A low-voltage electric wire ran along the edges to prevent horses from biting the metal bars.
Every stall was designed with maximum comfort in mind — a true home for its equine residents. One such stall belonged to Prince Loupan.
A standout feature was the practical feeding system. The groom prepares the horse feed in a large aluminum pot attached to a wooden frame outside the stall wall. By sliding a latch on the left, the feeding tray could be rotated inward, making it easy for both horse and groom.
In the corner of each stall, a blue automatic water dispenser was installed. The horse could simply press a metal tongue-shaped lever in the middle to release water into the bowl.
To protect the horses from Pacitan’s tropical heat, ceiling fans were mounted above each stall.
For special horses like King Argentine, the Triple Crown winner, even more luxurious amenities were provided — including two air conditioners in the stall to maintain an ideal temperature.
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Besides King Argentine and Prince Loupan, the stable is home to Princess Gavi, Maxi of Halim, Vernon of K. Halim, War Kudeta, Queen Denova, Queen Thalassa, Queen Zedna, Lumière of K. Halim, Victoria of K. Halim, Fiona of K. Halim, Aurora of K. Halim, and Lady Arion.
“All of these horses belong to King Halim,” explained Andik, one of the grooms responsible for caring for them.
Like a devoted caretaker, Andik knows each horse’s personality by heart. One of the most talked-about is Prince Loupan, who drew attention during the IHR Merdeka Cup 2025 at the Legok Jawa Racetrack in Pangandaran, West Java.
Standing 131 cm tall, the chestnut-colored Prince Loupan last competed in the G/H class. During a race in Bantul, Central Java, Andik noted that despite facing taller rivals, Prince Loupan displayed impressive speed and agility.
“As a stallion, he can be a bit naughty,” Andik added with a laugh. “Sometimes he throws off his jockey when being led or trained. But in Bantul, he ran really well — his turns were smooth.”
Beyond the stalls, King Halim Stable also features a paddock area at the back — an open space where the horses can relax and move freely.
As a stable that regularly competes in major championships, they also have a starting gate for practice and a horse unloading platform, built at the same height as a truck’s rear door for easier transport.
Across the road from the main stable lies a spacious training track, where the horses are exercised daily. Occasionally, the horses are even trained on the nearby beach, just 100 meters from the racetrack — an ideal setting to build strength and endurance.
“Hopefully, Indonesia’s horse racing scene will keep improving,” Jemmy concluded. “I want to see more people learning, better facilities, and I truly hope PP PORDASI and race organizers can hold more world-class events. That’s the dream.”
With that hopeful note, the SARGA.CO team’s visit to King Halim Stable came to an inspiring close.
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