The delayed 2020 Korean Triple Crown will finally conclude this weekend with the Minister’s Cup at Seoul on Sunday. Before that, things kick off with a 15-race behind closed doors Friday card at Busan from 11.30 to 18.00.


Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

A pretty average set of maidens to kick things off. (2) ROYALIST hasn’t exactly been quick across three starts so far but he has been consistent and he has shown he can run on pace. He led most of the way around before weakening to 5^th over 1300M two weeks ago and dropping back in trip today could be the one to beat. Of those who have tackled this distance before, (5) BEODEUL BARAM has recorded the fastest time. The track condition had plenty to do with that but she dead-heated for 3^rd that day so clearly knows how to race and can be a threat. (10) MOVIE BROTHER was a much-improved 2^nd on his latest start two weeks ago and while that was, if anything, an even poorer race than this, gives some confidence about another good performance. (1) THALE NOI and (7) NEW LUX are others who can improve.

Selections	(2) Royalist (5) Beodeul Baram (10) Movie Brother (7) New Lux
Next Best	1, 11
Fast Start	2, 8

Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Eleven maidens of which five are unraced will line up in the second event over the six furlongs. (11) CHOEGANG CUPID has had two starts to date and comes off a last start second when clocking a time that reads well for this assignment. He has sat on speed at both of his starts to date, expect Lee Hyo-sik to ask him to work forward as soon as the gates open. (5) TOP OF KOREA lines up for his second start after finishing fourth behind Geuma Bonny on debut. He was unable to reel in the leading division on that occasion, but he should take some improvement from the run. (7) COLOR WIND will line up for her second start after finishing midfield over the short course on debut. She clocked a time that with some improvement will see her figure in this event, as long as she can run the 1200m out strong at this point in time. (3) HAVE A GOOD TIME debuts after a fair trial and is capable of finishing in the minor money.

Selections	(11) Choegang Cupid (5) Top Of Korea (7) Color Wind (3) Have A Good Time
Next Best	9, 8
Fast Start	5, 8, 11

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(4) BARAMAUI YEOSIN beat a couple of these on her way to 2^nd place behind Eagle Star at this distance on August 7^th. There have been a couple of false dawns for him in the past but he won’t need to improve much on last time to be winning here. (9) GENERAL ANN ran well for 3^rd over 1200M earlier this month. She finished well and steps up to 1300M for the first time with solid claims to go close. Similarly, (5) DAEHO ARA was a solid 3^rd first-up just over a month ago. He too tries this distance for the first time and continue his positive momentum today. (8) YEONGGWANGUI EAGLE was 5^th behind General Ann last start and does have a runner-up finish to his name already. In this company he can get close. Three of the runners get to carry just 50kg due to having apprentice jockeys claiming the maximum 4kg. Of the three, (2) TWO TWO CHALLENGER, impressive in a trial earlier this month, is perhaps the one to look out for.

Selections	(4) Baramui Yeosin (9) General Ann (5) Daeho Ara (2) Two Two Challenger
Next Best	8,
Fast Start	2, 4

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

The fourth is an all-aged maiden for the Korean-bred gallopers. (6) DIVINE QUEEN looks hardest to beat in a weak affair. She improved significantly at her most recent outing when finishing third behind Echo Good. She normally jumps with them and should sit just behind the pace in the run. (2) JANGMI GONGJU is another galloper that improved last time out when finishing third behind Doctor Khan over the six furlongs. A similar performance to that of last start will see him as an each way chance in this assignment. (10) QUEEN FLYING looks the likely pacemaker and it will be a case of how long she can hold on. (9) FAMILY DANCER is first up after some reasonable performances earlier on in the year. She trialed up only fairly coming into this new preparation.

Selections	(6) Divine Queen (2) Jangmi Gongju (10) Queen Flying (9) Family Dancer
Next Best	7, 5
Fast Start	10

Race 5: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(1) ROCK PEGASUS significantly improved to finish strongly for 2^nd place over 1300M on July 31^st. It was a useful time albeit on a wet track, and the step up in trip to 1400M today may well suit. (10) MARK STAR has put in

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The beleaguered Korean racing industry was thrown a potential lifeline this week after local media reported that a group of fifteen lawmakers submitted a bill to the National Assembly seeking to allow the online sale of horse racing betting tickets.

The group, led by Representative Kim Seung-nam of the ruling Democratic Party, have proposed a partial amendment to the Korean Horse Racing Act which currently only permits wagers to be taken in person at a racecourse or off-track betting facility.

A spokesperson for Representative Kim said the group understood there are those who are concerned about the effects of legalizing online wagering but that “minimizing the damage to the industry while preventing the spread of the coronavirus is also needed. The bill allows for a temporary suspension of online wagering should the turnover exceed an acceptable level that is set by the government.”

Racing in Korea was suspended in February due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while it resumed in June, the races have been run behind closed doors, with neither the racecourse or off-track facilities allowed to admit customers.

Both of Korea’s international races, the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, scheduled for September have been postponed by one year with the prolonged shutdown having caused an unprecedented near-collapse of the industry.

Some other racing jurisdictions in the region such as Japan and Hong Kong have been able to continue their operations during the pandemic largely unaffected with their customers being able to place their bets online from home. The Japan Cup will be held as planned in November, albeit with only Japan-trained horses competing. Korea remains one of the only countries in the world to still not allow online wagering.

Horse racing’s collapse would have dire consequences. Not only are the racing and breeding industries significant employers, but the Korea Racing Authority is one of the largest taxpayers in Korea and provides significant support to rural communities.

Of total wagering turnover, 73% is returned as dividends, 10% goes to general taxation, 4% to local education programs and 2% to support farming and fishing communities. Operating expenses account for 7% of turnover while profits are 4% with the majority of that contributed back to an agriculture development fund. It is estimated that by the end of August, 751.7 Billion Korean Won (US $634 Million) in tax revenue will have already been lost.

Should the bill proceed in a normal manner, it would be expected to go through the various committee stages between October and December of this year before potentially coming to a vote of the full National Assembly in early 2021. All infrastructure for the processing of online bets already exists and is ready to go as soon as legalization takes place.