Author: gyongmaman

Too Good Dangdae Bulpae Strolls Minister’s Cup

Busan Sweeps Placings In Final Leg of Triple Crown

Last week, Tough Win was crowned King of Seoul. Today, Dangdae Bulpae came up from Busan and put in a performance every bit as impressive to win the Minister’s Cup – the final leg of the 2010 Korean Triple Crown – and take his place as the year’s top Korean bred three-year old.

Dangdae Bulpae & Jo Sung Gon in the Mininter's Cup Winner's Circle

The similarities were striking. Completing the ten-furlongs just half a second slower than Tough Win did in the KRA Cup Classic, Dangdae Bulpae, like his US-bred counterpart last week, won the race with a quick burst of speed as the field entered the home straight, sewing things up with a furlong remaining. Indeed, so confortable was the win that jockey Jo Sung Gon spent the last 100 metres striking posing for the 60,000 racegoers in attendance.

And he had every right to do so. The horse who got closest to him was Cheonnyeon Daero. It was a valiant effort from the Derby winner but at no stage did he look like threatening the winner. Completing a Busan clean-sweep of the placings was Glory Yeonggwang, a further length and a half back in third.

Lost in the haze: Cheonnyeon Daero had to settle for second today

Indeed, Busan’s remaining entrant, Triple Sinhwa took fourth. It’s a remarkable achievement for the Gyeongnam track and one that should have Seoul’s trainers once again asking what they are doing wrong. In the event. Tamnaseontaek was the first of Seoul’s finishers – and in fifth, the only one to gain any prize money.

Those recriminations – and believe me, we’re going to have them here very soon – can wait. Today is about celebration and anticipation. Dangdae Bulpae, now a winner of eight races from eleven starts, has already beaten older horses in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup and today he only needed to show a fraction of what he might be capable of. Race fans can only hope that his connections prove ambitious and want to test him against foreign horses.

The biggest event on the Korean racing calendar is the season-ending Grand Prix Stakes. It’s open to all and punters vote on horses to receive invitations. Now that Busan horses are also eligible, Dangdae Bulpae’s election should be a formality. Whether the invitation will be accepted or not is quite a different matter. Let’s hope it is as waiting for him back in Seoul in December will surely be none other than Tough Win.

Minister of FAFF Cup (KOR G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 10, 2010

1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.7, 1.1
2. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] – Park Geum Man – 1.4
3. Glory Yeonggwang (KOR) [Didyme – Lady Sandido (Sandrigo)] – Mun Jung Won – 6.1

Distances: 6 lengths/1.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Triple Sinhwa 5. Tamnaseontaek 6. Gayabobae 7. Forest Wind 8. Best Holls 9. Bonsol 10. Andy’s Runner 11. Hey Dey 12. Medlin Speed 13. Tracker 14. Yerimi

* Thanks to Roar for the upload.

Glorious Gwacheon

Perfect Conditions Greet Minister’s Cup Weekend

Punters have become accustomed to the weather forecast being wrong this year, mostly to their detriment. Today, however, the promised rain never looked like arriving and Seoul Race Park basked in what was possibly the most glorious day of the year.

Choegoro (right) leads on his way to victory at Seoul today

On the track, it was low-key with tomorrow’s Minister’s Cup greatly overshadowing anything today could offer but there was still an entertaining afternoon’s sport for the 40,000 in attendance. Here are the performances of note:

* The feature race ended in victory for Geumgangi. The Munhwa Ilbo Cup winner had disappointed in the Ilgan Sports last month but led wire-to-wire to lead home Yeah Strike and Seon San in the 1900 metre handicap.

* Fourth in the Oaks, Kanui Byeol was expected to get back to winning ways in race 10 today. However, despite being sent off at long odds-on, she was edged out of it on the line as colt Real Victor just got up to claim his third career victory.

* One reputation that was enhanced was that of Choegoro [Exploit – Unzipper (Bio)]. The late starting gelding won in race 7 to take him to two wins from three races. The manner of his victory suggests we’ll be seeing more of him in future.

* Of the imports, US bred filly Lady Hazzy’s [Lightnin ‘N Thunder – Loverofmysoul (Is It True)] was a debut winner in race 6, beating fellow American two-year old filly Our Camp (Forest Camp) into second. Look out for Our Camp though – as soon as she is given an extra furlong, she’ll win.

* Down on Jeju, champion juvenile honours were awarded to Bulbitgunja. The gelding beat out seven fellow two-year old ponies to win Jeju’s most valuable juvenile race.

Sunshine & Shade: In the right places for a perfect day's sport

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when it is Minister’s Cup day. Dangdae Bulpae will be favoured to beat Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero when the field goes to post for the final leg of the 2010 Korean Triple Crown at 5pm. Here’s what’s happening tomorrow:

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Wolsley’s Winners

Aussie Trainer and Japanese Jockey combine at Busan

It was a cracking Friday at Busan for Peter Wolsley as the Australian trainer saddled a remarkable four winners. To add to the international success, three of those were ridden by Japanese jockey Yoshiyuki Aoki.

Peter Wolsley (left) had 4 winners, 3 of them ridden by Yoshi Aoki

The pair combined for the first time in race 1 where Wolsley’s highly rated two-year old gelding Optimus [Fine N’Majestic – Cat Beluga (Hennesy)] was amking his racecourse debut. Punters were ready for him, backing him into an unbettable 1.1 on the tote and he duly obliged by six lengths. Indeed, Optimus was a triumph all round for Korean racing’s international contingent, his owner being the Peter Hill headed Pegasus Farm.

Improving colt Pnata Rhei (Stormy Atlantic) provided their next success, in race 3 before they paired up again with US bred filly I Am Cruising (Value Plus) to land race 8. In between those, Wolsley had another winner in the shape of the difficult to pronounce but very exciting three-year old colt Gyeongkwaehanjilju (Tapit). It was the grey’s third win from four starts.

It was Wolsley’s most successful day in his nearly three years at Busan. The fact that all four winners were sent off favourite – two of them long-odds on show the kind of quality that is now in his stable. It hasn’t always been like that. Just as new foreign jockeys generally get the no-hopers to ride, so Wolsley wasn’t awash with Grand Prix Stakes contenders. The winners started to come though and today’s quartet takes him to a total of 75 winners from just shy of 450 starters.

In his stable now, apart from today’s two up-and-comers, he has a competitive set of horses. Pegaus has four in training with him while he handles five for Isidore Farm – another foreign headed Jeju outfit. Among those is Ganghan Yeoja, the filly who has won her last three races. Other class 1 horses in Wolsley’s care are 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm and 2009 contender Impeccable as well as stalwarts Khaosan, Suryeohan and Yeoreumbi who, to cap a magnificent day, managed a third place finish in this afternoon’s feature race.

Both Isidore and Pegasus are among those owners who’ve sent horses to Busan’s newest overseas trainer, American Joe Murphy, who has fifteen horses in training.

* To cap a bad day for the local jockey’s union, Hitomi Miyashita ensured that four of the ten races went to Japanese riders by landing race 9 on High Best.

Cheonnyeon Daero Heads Triple Crown Finale

Weekend Preview: Derby Winner faces Dangdae Bulpae in Minister’s Cup

The 2010 Korean Triple Crown draws to a conclusion at Seoul Race Park this coming Sunday as this year’s top three year olds come together for the last time in the Minister of Agriculture (FAFF) Cup.

Unlike last year there’s no Triple Crown on the line and only one of this year’s three Classic winners will line up. Nevertheless, it looks set to be a great contest.

Cheonnyeon Daero

Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero heads the field. In his two outings since May he’s recorded a win and a disappointing fourth but he’ll have plenty of backers on Sunday to make it two Classic victories. Joining him on the trip North from Busan is Dangdae Bulpae. Since finishing third in the Derby, he’s unbeaten and is coming off a terrific win in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in which he beat Namdo Jeap, the winner of this race last year.

Apart from Cheonnyeon Daero and Dangdae Bulpae, Busan, which has been provided the winner for the past two years sends Glory Yeonggwang – the shock winner of the Gold Circle Trophy three weeks ago – and Triple Sinhwa, who was a money winner in both the KRA Cup Mile (Korean Guineas) and the Derby.

Best Holls - Ilgan Sports winner

For the home team, there’s no Money Car – the KRA Cup Mile winner is on the long-term injured list – and without him, it’s hard to see the Trophy still being in the capital on Sunday evening. Best Holls won the Ilgan Sports last month while Tamnaseontaek was sixth in the Derby. Bonsol and Tracker have always threatened to turn into decent horses while Andy’s Runner provides a first Korean Classic mount for Japanese rider Hirotaka Hamada. With Dongbang Rose not making it, Yerimi is the only filly in the race.

The Minister’s Cup is race 9 on Sunday and comes under orders at 5pm. Here’e a full list of runners, records, home tracks and riders:

FAFF Minister’s Cup (KOR.G.II) – Seoul Race Park – October 10 – 2000M

1. Forest Wind (8/3/0/2) Seoul – Ham Wan Sik
2. Bonsol (14/4/0/3) Seoul – Oh Kyoung Hoan
3. Dangdae Bulpae (10/7/0/1) Busan – Jo Sung Gon
4. Best Holls (10/5/1/2) Seoul – Lee Sang Hyeok
5. Cheonnyeon Daero (13/4/5/2) Busan – Park Geum Man
6. Medlin Speed (10/4/0/0) Seoul – Park Tae Jong
7. Glory Yeonggwang (14/4/2/3) Busan – Mun Jung Won
8. Andy’s Runner (12/3/2/5) Seoul – Hirotaka Hamada
9. Tracker (9/3/1/2) Seoul – Lee Joon Chel
10. Yerimi (8/2/2/1) Seoul (filly) – Ji Ha Ju
11. Triple Shinhwa (9/3/4/0) Busan – Chae Gyu Jun
12. Tamnaseontaek (9/3/1/2) Seoul – Kim Dong Kyun
13. Gayabobae (11/4/2/0) Seoul – Moon Se Young
14. Hey Day (8/2/3/1) Seoul – Shin Hyung Chul

And here is what is going on when and where this weekend:

Friday October 8

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday October 9

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:10 to 17:50

Sunday October 10

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Tough Win Soars To The Top

Three year-old Effortlessly Hands Dongbanui Gangja Second Defeat

The handover is complete. If there were doubts over his first win over Dongbanui Gangja, Tough Win quashed them today by easing to victory in the KRA Cup Classic at Seoul Race Park.

The big question before the race was whether Dongbanui Gangja would run in a straight line. That combined with the 63 kilos he was assigned to carry, meant punters sent him off at 3/1 – the longest price he’s been for over two years. Tough Win was made odds-on favourite, yet the three-year old still had plenty of questions of his own to answer following his less than convincing win in Busan in July.

Answer them he did. As expected, Cho Kyoung Ho sent Tough Win into an early lead while Choi Bum Hyun kept Dongbanui Gangja a few places off the pace-setters. As they rounded the final turn, they hit the critical part of the race as Choi advanced the double-Grand Prix champion around the outside of the field and pointed him towards the finish.

The five-year old resisted for a moment or two but quickly relented and began racing. In times gone by this would have been enough to guarantee victory but today it was far too late. Tough Win, hugging the rail kicked on as they entered the straight and was out of reach. So comfortable was the victory, that Cho Kyoung Ho began easing him with half a furlong still to go and crossed the line at a canter.

Number One: Tough Win

Dongbanui Gangja was within five lengths of him at the finish but the distance meant little. Korean racing has a new King. Larrycat, widely predicted to be the one who could pounce should the favourites fail to fire, stayed on well for third, a further two lengths back.

Tough Win now has nine wins from nine starts. A third contest with Dongbanui Gangja is likely in the season ending Grand Prix in December. Although the weights will not be so much in the younger horse’s favour then, it is hard to see him getting beaten. As of today it is official. Tough Win is the best racehorse in Korea.

KRA Cup Classic (KOR.G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 3, 2010

1. Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska – Maggie Mae’s Sword (Sword Dance)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.6, 1.1
2. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.4
3. Larrycat (USA) [Fantasticat – Tiger In My Tank (Tiger)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.8

Distances: 5 lengths/2 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Free Hugs 5. Angus Empire 6. Cheonjidolpung 7. Baekjeonmupae 8. Kahnui Jeonseol 9. Serendipper 10. Hwanggeumjandi 11. Emperor Cugat 12. Indian Secret 13. Park’s Pride

* Thanks to Roar for the upload

Triple Threat

A Choi Bum Hyun ridden closer leaves himself too much to do in the home straight and just fails to catch the winner. Twenty-four hours from now we could be writing this about Dongbanui Gangja. Today, however, it was the turn of Ttukseom Cup winner Triple Seven to fail to do enough in the final furlong as Natural Guy strode to victory in the feature race at Seoul Race Park.

Triple Seven: Suffered third straight defeat

On a day which saw unforecasted torrential rain, Triple Seven finished like a train, but it was too late and the five-year old is now without a win in his last three starts.

Class 1 (Handicap) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – October 2, 2010

1. Natural Guy (KOR) [Social Charter – Rocky Stream (Reprimand)] – Yoon Tae Hyoug – 3.5, 1.6
2. Triple Seven (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.1
3. Baengnyeonbong (KOR) [Al Naba – Sonsovino Art (Mister C.)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 2.3

Distances: 1 length/Head – 12 ran

* As for Sunday and the KRA Cup Classic showdown between Champion Dongbanui Gangja and upstart Tough Win, it is so hard to make a case to bet on Dongbanui Gangja. He is still, perhaps the best horse in the race but going against him is the weight – he will carry over four kilos more and also the uncertainty as to whether he will even get round. We don’t usually have to worry about this in a flat race but in his last two starts, Dongbanui Gangja has veered crazily off the racing line.

Presumably his trainer has been working on little else in the two months since his last appearance and it would be wonderful if he could pull off the win and set up a final duel at the Grand Prix in December. However, the head must rule the heart. Tough Win will be favourite but look elsewhere on the board for value. Larrycat could surprise both of them.

Sunday October 3

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Could Be A Classic

Dongbanui Gangja vs Tough Win Part 2

It could be. This Sunday sees the re-match between double Grand Prix champion Dongbanui Gangja and the young pretender to his crown as best horse in Korea, Tough Win as they both line up for the Group 3 KRA Cup Classic at Seoul Race Park. The pair met for the first time down at Busan in July and on that day it was the three-year old Tough Win who came out on top breaking Dongbanui Gangja’s run of twelve straight victories.

However, the pair never really faced off. The notoriously hard to control Dongbanui Gangja veered wildly off course on the final turn squandering any chance of victory. Tough Win took the victory, but it was a close-run thing with Vicar Love and Yeonseung Daero both getting very very close to him. Nevertheless, he won and good horses don’t need to win by much, they just need to win and Tough Win has a perfect eight for eight.

Choi Bum Hyun will return to partner Dongbanui Gangja. Choi missed the Busan Metropolitan due to injuryand it was Moon Se Young in the saddle when the five-year old went wide. However, in his previous run with Choi on board at Seoul in April, Dongbanui Gangja had done exactly the same thing. That day, he got away with it.

Even if Dongbanui Gangja does stay straight, he will still have to contend with a back-breaking 63 kilos to carry. The younger Tough Win carries more than 4 kilos less. They both have eleven other contenders to deal with too. Larrycat and Hwanggeumjandi are young up-and-comers while Angus Empire and Baekjeonmupae have been competing at the top level for nearly three years now. Owners’ Cup winner Serendipper is the only filly or mare in the race.

The KRA Cup Classic is race 9 of an 11 race card at Seoul Race Park on Sunday. Racing gets underway at 11:20am with the big one at 5pm. Here’s a full list of the runners, weights, race records and rider:

KRA Cup Classic (KOR.G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 3, 2010, 5pm

1. Hwanggeumjandi (USA) – 56kg – (11/5/0/2) – Kim Young Jin
2. Baekjeonmupae (NZ) – 57.5kg – (34/10/7/2) – Yoo Sang Wan
3. Emperor Cugat (AUS) – 53kg – (17/4/4/2) – Han Sung Youl
4. Kahnui Jeonseol (NZ) – 51kg – (24/2/5/5) – Jo In Kwen
5. Free Hugs (AUS) – 58kg – (34/5/9/4) – Shin Hyoung Chul
6. Indian Secret (USA) – 53kg – (21/4/1/2) – Won Jung Il
7. Park’s Pride (NZ) – 51kg – (12/3/4/1) – Lee Gi Hweoi
8. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) – 63kg – (25/17/4/2) – Choi Bum Hyun
9. Tough Win (USA) – 58.5kg – (8/8/0/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho
10. Angus Empire (USA) – 59kg – (38/11/8/4) – Moon Se Young
11. Larrycat (USA) – 55kg – 12/5/3/2 – Park Tae Jong
12. Serendipper (AUS) – 54kg – (30/4/7/3) – Lee Sang Hyeok
13. Cheonjidolpung (USA) – 52kg – (24/5/0/4) – Boo Min Ho

Field Takes Shape For Triple Crown Showdown

Dongbanui Gangja vs Tough Win Part 2 / Triple Crown Concludes

Enough talk of the NGCC and electronic ID cards. We’re back on the track and about to embark on two massive weekends of racing in Korea.

Part 2? Dongbanui Gangja (right) and Tough Win - Pic:KRA

Just a few hours from now, we’ll find out if Dongbanui Gangja and Tough Win will indeed face each other at Seoul Race Park this coming Sunday in the Group 3 KRA Cup Classic. Korea’s best two horses went head-to-head for the first time two months ago in the Busan Metropolitan with young upstart Tough Win taking the honours after double Grand Prix Champion Dongbanui Gangja veered suicidally wide on the final turn. What will happen at Seoul? Full preview to come over the next couple of days.

Regardless what happens there though, a week later we’re guaranteed another top class race the when the 2010 Triple Crown concludes with the Group 2 Minister’s Cup – formally, and wonderfully, known as the Minister for FAFF (Farming, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) also at Seoul Race Park. Derby Winner Cheonnyeon Daero heads north to the capital once more, however, the horse who was second that day, Money Car will not. Whether we will ever see the injured KRA Cup Mile winner back on the track is questionable. Nor will long-shot Oaks Winner Euro Fighter be present.

Cheonnyeon Daero beats Money Car in the Derby

However, that doesn’t mean this isn’t set to be an intriguing contest. Dangdae Bulpae was third in the Derby but is unbeaten since. Most recently, the son of Biwa Shinseiki dispatched an array of big-name older horses in dismissive fashion in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup. He is sure to give Cheonnyeon Daero a run for his money. Then there is Glory Yeonggwang. Sent off at 60/1 in the Gold Circle Trophy earlier this month, he upset the odds – and eleven rivals – to take the prize and earn a place at Seoul.

Best Holls - Ilgan Sports winner

Another improver is Best Holls. The surprise winner of the Ilgan Sports Cup will try his luck in what seems a very open field. In Euro Fighter’s absence, the hopes of the fillies look set to rest with Dongbang Rose. She was third in the Oaks but back on her home track could pull off a surprise. Here is the full list of the fourteen horses currently entered (race records/home track):

FAFF Minister’s Cup (KOR.G.II) – Seoul Race Park – October 10 – 2000M

1. Cheonnyeon Daero (13/4/5/2) Busan
2. Dangdae Bulpae (10/7/0/1) Busan
3. Triple Shinhwa (9/3/4/0) Busan
4. Glory Yeonggwang (14/4/2/3) Busan
5. Andy’s Runner (12/3/2/5) Seoul
6. Forest Wind (8/3/0/2) Seoul
7. Bonsol (14/4/0/3) Seoul
8. Dongbang Rose (8/4/1/2) Seoul (filly)
9. Medlin Speed (10/4/0/0) Seoul
10. Best Holls (10/5/1/2) Seoul
11. Gayabobae (11/4/2/0) Seoul
12. Gaecheok (8/1/1/3) Seoul
13. Hey Day (8/2/3/1) Seoul
14. Tracker (9/3/1/2) Seoul

* In Stud news, the KRA announced today that they have purchased the stallion Officer [Bertrando – St. Helens Shadow (Septieme Ciel)], who is currently standing for a $10,000 fee in Kentucky. Officer will be flown to the KRA’s stallion station on Jeju Island where the eleven year-old will be standing alongside the likes of Ecton Park, Volponi and Menifee as well as more established Korea-based sires Revere, Didyme and Psychobabble.

Electronic ID Card Trials Set To Begin

Punters’ Betting To Be Tracked

According to the National Gaming Control Commission (NGCC), 6.1% of Koreans are addicted to gambling. Also, the addiction rate among those who actually attend gambling establishments (i.e. the track and Gangwon Land Casino) is supposedly 61% (Gyongmaman is going to ask for a show of hands on the fourth floor next Saturday). Indeed, according to their criteria, your correspondent is among those in urgent need of help. It is on its way; in October, trials will begin of an Electronic ID card which the NGCC hope to make compulsory for all punters. The card will track every bet made by an individual.

Punters

All legal punters, that is. The move comes in a month where gambling has again been in the news with two high profile cases – one tragic, one mildly pathetic. In the first case, a man in Gangwon Province has been charged with murdering his wife and teenage son following a quarrel over his gambling debts. In the second, entertainer (and that word is used loosely) Shin Jung Hwan is on the run after allegedly running up big gambling debts in Cebu.

Falling foul of not just the loan-sharks, but also the law that makes it illegal for a Korean citizen to gamble even while overseas, Shin can’t return to Korea for fear of being arrested. Shin claimed that in fact, he hadn’t been gambling but had instead contracted dengue fever and a picture purportedly showing him in hospital in the Phillippines was promptly uploaded to his website. However, KBS TV – until recently one of his employers – went to the hospital in question and found that he had been given a clean bill of health. Shin is now reportedly recovering from whatever ails him in Macau. He probably won’t catch Dengue fever there.

Of course, while it is insensitive in the extreme to compare the two cases, both have brought the spotlight back on the issue of gambling. Likewise, in neither of the two cases was the alleged gambling debt run up by legal means. However, it is the legal outlet of racing that is going to bear the brunt of regulation.

Initially the ID card trial is going to involve two sets of subjects. The first group are going to be anonymous – their personal details will not be known, the card will simply track their betting. The second set – and you can be sure that this is the one which will get the final go-ahead – will include punters’ personal information.

Will it have any effect? Perhaps, but while having to produce an ID card imay decrease the practice of “window-hopping” whereby to get round the maximum bet of 100,000 won, a bettor goes to several windows or machines before a race, placing the maximum bet each time, those kinds of punter are generally well aware of the various non-legal options open to them.

Gyongmaman was looking forward to getting his card, however, he remembered it probably won’t apply to him. For the Korean government has a very different approach to non-Koreans gambling as demonstrated by this wonderful quote about the use of credit cards in casinos, which is always worth another airing:

“Currently foreign tourists are able to buy chips only with cash…Government officials said this has discouraged non-Koreans from gambling here adding if visitors were allowed to purchase chips with plastic, they would spend more money”. (Korea Times, September 2009)

New Racecourse Could Change Face Of Korean Racing

2014 Opening at Yeongcheon to Have Big Impact on Seoul

The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) recently confirmed that the nation’s third thoroughbred race track is to be built outside the city of Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province. Given ever-stronger anti-gambling sentiment in government, the opening of Yeongcheon could have major implications for the future of horse racing in Korea.

The site that will be a racecourse by 2014

It may sound counter-intuitive but it is precisely becase of ever increased government regulation that the track is being built. The puritans on the National Gaming Control Commission (NGCC), who last year ordered the KRA to close down its internet betting operations, has also ordered the KRA to decrease the amount of off-track betting activity. It has “recommended” that the ratio of off-course to on-course betting turnover be no greater than 50-50 by 2013. Currently approximately 70% of all wagering is done off-track at the “KRA Plaza” betting outlets located around the country. Privately many in the KRA believe that the NGCC will not stop until all (legal) off-track betting is ended.

A new racecourse therefore has become necessary. Ostensibly, Yeongcheon was chosen due to its location close to Daegu, Korea’s third-largest city, although many believed that a second track in the Seoul/Gyeonggi area, where 50% of the country’s population lives would have been a better option.

The opening of Yeongcheon Racecourse Park – as it will officially be called – could also see some fundamental changes made to the structure of Korean racing. Not only is the KRA required to minimise off-track operations, it is also required to minimise those on-track. The NGCC has long been pushing for a revenue cap on the KRA, that is, it would only be allowed to accept a certain value of bets within a one-year period. While the NGCC might be insane, the government, who have to rubber-stamp any proposal, enjoys the substantial tax revenues it receives from racing. Instead a compromise of a firm cap on the number of races that can be run looks inevitable. This means that Yeongcheon’s opening will dramatically reduce the number of races run at Seoul.

Currently, plans are for each of the three thoroughbred tracks – Seoul, Busan and Yeongcheon – to run 87 days of racing in a year. This is similar to what Seoul does now but instead of the current 11 or 12 races in a day, they will be limited to 8. This means that all three tracks will run 696 races per year for a total on the peninsula of 2392. Each track is also set to get a three or four month shutdown at some point during the year. Accordingly, a large number of trainers will need to be redistributed away from Seoul.

Seoul Race Park may lose its dominance

Plans for Yeongcheon include an official opening in 2014 with an international race to be run within the same year. This would perhaps be the same “international race” that the KRA has been planning to hold every year since 2004 as part of its “internationalization” plan. Overall, while it is bad news for Seoul based punters, perhaps anything that reduces that capital track’s stranglehold over Korean racing is a potential blessing. The vested interests and pre-historic Unions that essentially hold the power at Seoul have long meant that any positive developments in improving the quality of racing in Korea have been frustrated.

Despite their best efforts, particularly earlier this year, Union power at Busan has so far been limited since that track opened in 2005. With a third track to worry about and a smaller power base at Seoul to work from, it could be time for the KRA to wrest back control of Korean racing. If it really wants to.

* Meanwhile, the NGCC’s plans to equate legal gamblers with criminals continue. From next month, trials of Electronic ID cards, which the NGCC plans to make mandatory for any Korean citizen wishing to indulge in a legal wager, will begin. More on this soon.