What Happens To Horses Imported To Korea?
Over the past few years, the Korean Racing Authority (KRA) has become one of the major purchasers at sales around the world, especially in the USA. In order to protect the Korean bloodstock industry, there is a legal limit on how much Korean buyers can spend on a single lot at overseas sales – $20,000 for a colt and $40,000 for a filly. The higher limit for fillies is with the intention that after racing they will become broodmares and help improve the domestic breeding stock. There is no limit on the amount that can be spent on stallions and broodmares.
At a two-year old sale, a horse will usually – although not always – be purchased by the KRA (or the Seoul or Busan Racehorse Owners’ Association) rather than an individual owner. A few weeks after the new purchases have been flown to Korea, they will go through the sales ring again, when they will be sold on to private owners. It is not uncommon for a horse to fetch many times his original value at this stage.
After this sale, the horse will now be with an owner. All owners are registered with the KRA and are usually attached to one or other of the two thoroughbred race courses in Korea; Seoul or Busan. While they may spend some time at the KRA’s training centre in Jangsu – or at a private farm if the owner has such facilities – most two-year olds join straight up with their assigned trainers at Seoul or Busan. Facilities at both tracks are first-class and comparable with the best in the world. They will spend their entire careers at the same track. Horses from Seoul and Busan only meet in the very biggest races.
The training process then begins and the horse will be listed in the Korean Studbook. In order to be eligible to race, a horse must take part in an official race and barrier trial. These take place at Seoul on Friday mornings and at Busan on Saturday mornings. The race trial involves parading in the paddock, going to the start, being loaded in the gate and then racing five furlongs in a competitive time. During the race-trial, they will be ridden by a professional jockey and assessed by the track stewards. So long as they pass, they are ready to race.
Click to go to the English language Homepage of the Korean Studbook
Racing: The majority of races in Korea are restricted to Korean-bred runners, Foreign bred horses may only run in “Open” races. There are usually two or three of these on each race day, depending upon the time of year. Open races are split into four different grades, with class 1 being the highest. All new horses enter at class 4 and as they win or place, accrue points which qualify them for the next level. At class 4, the win prize money is usually around $17,000. Because of the small number of races available, very few of these races are solely for two-year olds or restricted to fillies. Therefore, a two-year old filly can find herself up against a five-year old gelding in her racing debut.
The vast majority of class 4 races are between 1000 and 1400 metres. Once a horse has either won twice – or placed three times – they will qualify for class 3 where they will compete for higher prize money. Foreign-bred horses are not eligible for the three-year old Classics; the KRA Cup Mile, Korean Derby, Korean Oaks and Minister’s Cup are all restricted to Korean-bred runners as are a number of other Group races. However, the biggest races of the year – the Owner’s Cup at Seoul and the Metropolitan at Busan are open, as is the most prestigious race in the Korean calendar, Seoul’s Grand Prix Stakes, run in December each year.
Race Days: During 2011, there is racing at Busan on Fridays and Sundays and racing at Seoul on Saturdays and Sundays. Racecards for Busan are posted on the KRA’s website on each Wednesday evening and for Seoul each Thursday evening. Results are posted within a few minutes of the finishing order being confirmed. The horse’s individual Studbook page is updated a few hours later.
Click the image to go to the KRA's English langauge Homepage
Race videos: Due to strict laws prohibiting gambling in Korea, live streams are unavailable, however, the race video for every race is posted along with the result at the KRA’s website.
After racing: Almost all fillies are imported with a broodmare career in mind, which is why there is a higher price limit on them. Retirement and re-training facilities have had a bigger emphasis placed upon them in recent years. It is true, however, that just as in most racing jurisdictions, Korea has both good and bad owners.
Further Information: This blog tries its best to respond to all requests for information. If there is a horse you would like to find some information about, email hrikorea@gmail.com
