Horse Racing

Five Days To Go…

Posting has been light recently but Gyongmaman is back in the saddle after a scarcely earned break over the Thanksgiving weekend. And it’s almost time for the Minister’s Cup.

Four of the eight Busan contenders, including Oaks Winner Pangpang have already arrived in the capital with the rest, including KRA Cup Mile and Derby winner – and therefore Triple Crown hopeful – Sangseung Ilro will be up shortly.

The big race is off at 5pm on Sunday afternoon and it will crown a big weekend of racing on the peninsula which includes the Gyeongnam Shinmum Cup at Busan as well as a likely appearance at Seoul on Saturday by the track’s number one horse, Dongbanui Gangja. Final declarations will be made on Thursday and we’ll be back with a full preview of all the action.

In the meantime, here’s the great J.S. Hold taking the inaugural Triple Crown by winning the Minister’s Cup in 2007:

In the race, he just got up to beat Ganghomyeongjang in the final few strides with the luckless Namchonuijijon in third. Namchonuijijon would go on to finally have his day in the Ttukseom Cup the following year but for J.S. Hold, there would be no more races. After the race he was discovered to have re-aggravated a previous injury and ultimately was retired.

Korean Racing Girls

Success and Tragedy – A short history of female jockeys in Korea
Back in the early days of this site, a not insubstantial proportion of traffic came from those googling for “Korean racing girls”. A high instance of the words Korean, racing and a lot of horses with the word “girl” in their name no doubt contributing to that. And probably disappointing those surfers. Hopefully those figures will now get another boost.

On Sunday, jockey Na Yu Na landed the KRA Jeju Cup on 9-1 shot Mangpouikkum and in doing so secured what was arguably the most prestigious ever win for a female rider in Korea. With Lee Shin Young and Lee Ae Li also in the Winner’s Circle at Seoul, it meant that 25% of all licensed female riders in Korean racing history tasted victory this past weekend. The story of female jockeys in Korea is brief, but contains elements of tragedy, frustrated ambition but also success in a challenging environment.

You have to go back to the now long-gone Ttukkseom Racecourse on the north bank of the Han River and to the Spring of 1975 when 21 year old Lee Ok Rae became the first woman to be granted a jockey license in Korea. South Korea was, at the time, under the authoritarian rule of President Park Chung Hee who had recently survived the second of three assassination attempts – this one had resulted in the death of his wife. Then, as now, racing held a near monopoly on gambling and Ttukkseom was full to bursting on each race-day.

Lee Ok Rae graduated in the same class as Bae Dae Sun and Ji Yong Cheol, who would go on to become two of the top riders of their generation and today are among the country’s most successful trainers. Lee was assigned to trainer Kwon In Deok and on March 17 that year rode in her first race. In true storybook fashion it was a winning debut as in race 4 that day, she partnered horse number 1, “Kansas” to victory over five and a half furlongs.

Lee continued to establish herself over the coming months, however, in August that year, disaster struck in the shape of a fall in which she sustained injuries that would end her career. She retired just six months after her first ride with seven wins from forty eight starts. No Korean woman would ride in a race for the next quarter of a century.

By the time they did, Park Chung Hee had been dead for two decades and his once bitter enemy Kim Dae Jung was now President of South Korea. Seoul had hosted the Olympic games in 1988 and Ttukkseom Racecourse was closed as the huge new track at Gwacheon opened. At the turn of the millennium, the KRA made an effort to get more women into the sport.

In 2001, two jockeys were granted licenses, Lee Geum Joo and Lee Shin Young. They were followed a year later by Lee Ae Li and Park Jin Hee. While Lee Geum Joo remains licensed, she hasn’t ridden for over two years. The other three, however, have enjoyed successful careers.

Lee Shin Young, known for an aggressive style that has her in the stewards’ room as often as the winner’s circle has the most thoroughbred wins with 82 while Park Jin Hee moved down to Busan when the southern track opened and has become well-established there. Lee Ae Li, meanwhile, continues to be the punters’ favourite with her pink silks and “Ae Li Gongju” (Princess Ae Li) nickname despite a recent dip in form. Booting home Enertein for a wire-to-wire win in race 1 last Sunday, however, may be the fillip she needs to get back in form.

Tragedy struck the next intake, however. Granted a license in 2005, Lee Myoung Hwa took her own life shortly afterward. She was found to have been suffering from depression that is believed to have been exacerbated by worries about constant reducing to make weight. A year later, newly licensed Kim Seo Jin quit

In 2006, the jockeys received nationwide mainstream publicity with the release of the movie “Gaksoltang” (“Lump Sugar”). Starring actress Im Su Jeong, key parts of the movie were shot at Seoul Race Park as the heroine takes on the role of a jockey (click here to watch trailer). KBS Television produced a one-off documentary about Lee Ae Li to coincide with the film’s release.

Meanwhile, down on Jeju Island Kim Joo Hee and Na Yu Na became the first women to receive jockey licenses for the pony racing there. Kim was formerly a promising athlete while Na was an Aerobics instructor. Both have become prolific winners with Na becoming the first woman to reach 100 career winners as well as landing the KRA Jeju Cup.

Na and Kim have found it easier to compete riding the Jeju ponies than their counterparts have on the thorougbreds on the mainland and in a short time have risen to first and third in the all-time female winners list.

Back in Seoul, Yoo Mi Ra qualified in 2008. It took her over a year to record her first winner and she languishes with one of the worst quinella percentages at the track. However, she has only ever ridden one horse with a clear chance of winning – and she won. Her time may come. Still searching for her first winner is this year’s graduate, Kim Hae Sun. With plenty of support from trainers, however, it seems this first win isn’t far away.

There will soon be an eleventh woman joining the ranks of licensed jockeys in Korea. Having won the International Lady Jockey Invitational last month, Japanese rider Hitomi Miyashita clearly took a liking to the Busan track and applied for a license as soon as she returned home. She’s anticipated to join in the coming weeks.

All time List – (Winners/Rides):

1. Na Yu Na* – 102 (963)
2. Lee Shin Young – 82 (816)
4. Kim Joo Hee* – 51 (897)
5. Lee Ae Li – 43 (808)
6. Park Jin Hee – 38 (586)
7. Lee Geum Ju – 16 (624)
8. Lee Ok Rae – 7 (48)
9. Yoo Mi Ra – 1 (132)
10. Kim Hae Sun – 0 (23)
11. Lee Myoung Hwa –
11. Kim Seo Jin –

*Jeju Pony Racing

* Much of the information for this post was sourced from the excellent Korean language blog “Enjoy Horse Racing”. Pictures of all the jockeys mentioned can be found at this link.

Evening Promises…

Evening racing on the peninsula drew to a close this past Sunday as Seoul, Busan and Jeju Race Parks all revert to their usual daytime hours from this coming weekend.

Sunset

Sunset

In 2008, there was no evening racing with high energy prices being cited as the reason. The return this year was a welcome one as on a warm summer’s night, the racetrack is the place to be.

"Happyville & Luckyville" go black & white in the dark

With a mid-afternoon start and and a late finish, horses, jockeys and punters alike were able to get some respite from the hottest days of the year so far. Despite beginning in the monsoon season, seven of the eight fixtures were gloriously dry.

Choi Beom Hyun brings Soseono home

Choi Beom Hyun brings Soseono home

On the final night, Soseono landed the YTN Cup in front of 42,000 racegoers to bring the short evening season to a close.

IMG_9607

All pictures by letsbook.

Korean Oaks – Pangpang Stuns Sangseung Ilro

Pangpang outsprinted Sangseung Ilro to claim an unlikely victory in the Korean Oaks at Busan this evening and in doing so turned the shape of the season on its head.

It all looked so easy for Sangseung Ilro. Sent off long odds-on favourite, in the absence of any early pace the KRA Cup Mile and Derby winner went to the front herself alongside outsider Hwangjeui Seonmul. After an uneventful opening six furlongs, she seemed perfectly placed at the top of the stretch to kick on and away from the field.

Kick on she did but Han Sang Gyu on Pangpang, fourth in the Derby and second favourite here was in pursuit. By the time they hit the furlong pole, Pangpang was closing the gap. The crowd anticipated Sangseung Ilro’s second wind – surely Eiki Nishimura could coax her back into top gear. It didn’t happen, Sangseung Ilro was spent. Pangpang swept by with the line just metres away. Many many lengths back, Leading Velocity rounded out the placings.

Han Sang Gyu punched the air as a shocked hush descended over Busan and Seoul. The Grand Slam was off the table. The Triple Crown remains on but in one furlong Sangseung Ilro lost her aura. Not only was she beaten, she was beaten by another three year old filly.

Pangpang finished tenth behind Sangseung Ilro in April’s KRA Cup Mile, the first of the Triple Crown races. Although she followed it up by winning a class 3 race later that month, her connections’ decision to take her to Seoul and the Derby in May was seen as a slight indulgence. She refuted those claims by running fourth. Returning to Busan, she ran three times over the last two months, improving with each run. Sangseung Ilro meanwhile, sat in the barn.

So the season goes on. Its star isn’t quite as bright as it was this morning. However, maybe in Pangpang, we have another.

Korean Oaks (G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – Aug 9, 2009

1. Pangpang (KOR) [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] – Han Sang Gyu – 9.0, 1.8
2. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Eiki Nishimura – 1.1
3. Leading Velocity (KOR) [Fiercely – Barefoot Runaway (Strike Gold – Jo Chan Hoon – 2.1
Distances: 1 length/11 lengths
Also ran: 4. Lady In Gala; 5. Suryeohan; 6. Haneul Gisang; 7. Naechingu; 8. Hero Age; 9. Hanmoe; 10. Solar City; 11. Rose Cat; 12. Hwanjeui Seonmul

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Eleven Contest International Lady Jockey Race

Eight overseas visitors will join three local riders for the 2009 International Lady Jockey Invitiation Race which will be run on the undercard of the Korean Oaks this coming Sunday at Busan Race Park.

With Lee Ae Li, Park Jin Hee and Yoo Mi Ra representing Korea, riders from Japan, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa will also be in town to contest the reasonably tasty looking class 1 race. Additionally, most of the jockeys will also take one ride in a race on Busan’s Friday evening card.

The International riders are:

Jennifer Stisted (USA) – Maryland based and often riding for trainer husband Scott Lake, Stisted has landed over 250 winners in her career.
Rides: Friday R8: Shingwang Cheonji; Sunday R3: Florida Native

Catherine Gannon (Ireland) – Rides mainly in the UK and is having her best season ever with 26 winners so far in 2009.
Rides: Sunday R3: Gangcheol Nabi

Laura Cheshire (New Zealand) – Currently based on Australia’s Gold Coast, she’s ridden 22 winners over the past year.
Rides: Friday R3: Fresh Dancer; Sunday R3: Miss Ecton

Nadine Rapson (South Africa) – The Eastern Cape rider has over 150 wins to date.
Rides: Friday R5: Queen Of Moonstone; Sunday R3: Yongwonhanhaengbok

Linda Meech (Australia) – Anther having her best ever season, Meech has already reached a century of winners in 2009 riding mainly in Victoria.
Rides: Friday R9: Gold Love; Sunday R3: Max Is Cruisin

Mai Beppu (Japan) – Kochi based Beppu shared the NAR Grand Prix Best Female jockey award of 2008
Rides: Friday R2: Seondu Jeongsang, Sunday R3: Dongbang Geona

Hitomi Miyashita (Japan) – Riding out of Aichi, Miyashita shared the NAR award with Beppu.
Rides: Friday R7: Tamna Kwaegeol; Sunday R3: Ima Firecracker

Chiaki Iwanaga (Japan) – Winner of over one 100 races in Japan.
Rides: Friday R9: Raon Champion; Sunday R3: Oreumak

And the Koreans…

Lee Ae Li – Based at Seoul. Riding in pink silks and boots has earned her the nickname “Ae Li Gongju” (Princess Ae Li). Former winner of Seoul Race Park’s “MVP” award, while not a prolific winner, Ae Li is one of the track’s reliable performers.

Yoo Mi Ra – Only debuted in 2008 and only recently scored her first win. Mi Ra has been steadily improving.

Park Jin Hee – On current form the most successful female thoroughbred jockey in Korea.

Sunday’s Invitation race is race 3 on the card and is off at 18:10. The plumb ride of Namdo Jeap, currently rated Korea’s top three year old colt, went the way of Park Jin Hee. Stablemate and top danger Miss Ecton will be ridden by Laura Cheshire. Here’s a run down of the runners and riders, with pedigree, race records, sex and age:

Class 1 (Foreign bred) Invitation Race – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Aug 9, 2009

1. Namdo Jeap (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] C3 (9/4/3/1) – Park Jin Hee
Runner up in the KRA Cup Mile and the Derby he took on and beat foreign bred horses last month and there’s no reason why he can’t do so again.

2. Florida Native (USA) [Kissin Kris – Bindiana (Jose Binn)] H5 (29/7/5/3) – Jennifer Stisted
Struggled of late but may appreciate dropping back to a mile.

3. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King (Lion Cavern)] F4 (16/5/2/6) – Laura Cheshire
A consistent performer. A mile is her best distance and last year’s Busan Ilbo winner should be in contention. She’ll carry top weight.

4. Yeongwonhanhangbok (USA) [El Corredor – Media Power (Red Ransom)] F4 (19/3/3/3) – Nadine Rapson
Some good performances over the winter put her into the top tier of Korean racing. Struggled last time out at the same distance.

5. Dongbang Geona (JPN) [Paradise Creek – Hanashinju (Leo Castelli)] G5 (29/9/4/3) – Mai Beppu
A prolific winner as a two year old, and has consistently been in the money since. Won three consecutive class 1 races last autumn.

6. Oreumak (AUS) [Favorite Trick – Vigne Vierge (Diesis)] H7 (55/6/5/10) – Chiaki Iwanaga
The oldest horse in the race, Oreumak hasn’t monied for five races, but every now and then springs a surprise.

7. Gangcheol Labi (AUS) [Fusaichi Pegasus – Beffy (Danehill)] F4 (14/5/1/0) – Catherine Gannon
Made a promising step up to class 1 last month finishing fourth behind Namdo Jeap. Still improving.

8. Winter Invitation (USA) [Take Me Out – Winter Crown (Cox’s Ridge)] H6 (39/3/7/8) – Lee Ae Li
A consistant placer who scored a very good third in the Busan Mayor’s Trophy last October. Wins are few and far between and there’s no reason for that to change on Sunday

9. D M Merch (USA) [Langfuhr – Personally Yours (Personal Flag)] G7 (49/5/7/9) – Yoo Mi Ra
Win in June for the first time in two years, the seven year old has had a good 2009 placing in all but one of his five other outings.

10. Max Is Cruisin (USA) [Max’s Pal – Starlite Cruisin (Star De Naskra)] C4 (23/4/2/1) – Linda Meech
A sprint victory took him up to class 1 in June. Well beaten by Miss Ecton and Dongbang Geona last time out

11. Ima Firecracker (USA) [Hold That Tiger – It’s Destiny (Red Ransom)] F4 (20/4/4/2) – Hitomi Miyashita
Third place last time behind Namdo Jeap was an improvement. Will need to improve again to trouble the placings.

The Korean Oaks

This year was to be the “Year of the Filly”. It has been so far. While in the US they have their filly, in Korea, it is Sangseung Ilro who has been the year’s stand-out achiever so far. On Sunday, she will look to become the second filly to complete the Derby/Oaks double when she lines up for the tenth running of the Korean Oaks at Busan Race Park.

At the start of the year, the KRA decided to put more emphasis on the filly and mare division. The limit owners could spend on buying overseas bred fillies for racing was doubled and 10% of races were designated as being for fillies and mares only. The long-term aim of these policy initiatives would seem to be to lessen the amount that needs to be spent on importing broodmares by having more capable fillies running, then retiring to the farms.

Like most races on the calendar, the Korean Oaks is a relatively new event. With the advent of private ownership of racehorses – and therefore prize money – in the 1990s, Korea began the long process of bringing its racing in line with international standards. It’s very much an ongoing process but one part of that has been organising the season. The Derby began in 1998 and the Oaks two years later.

With the Derby taking place in May and the Oaks in August, it is possible for a filly to win both. Haeam Janggun managed that feat in 2002 and went on to land the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup. She didn’t compete in the first leg (which was then the Ttukseom Cup) so missed out on the opportunity to win all four. Sangseung Ilro did take part, however, and won the KRA Cup Mile. In Classic terms she is two down with two to go. While there is still much running to do, if she can go on to win the lot, the “Year of the Filly” will be the year of Sangseung Ilro.

The first eight editions of the Oaks were run at Seoul Race Park before being moved to Busan last year. Here is a run down of the winners of each race so far:

2008: Jeolho Chance [Didyme – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] Previously finished third in the KRA Cup Mile but after failing to make an impact in the Derby, won the Oaks in impressive fashion before going on to run a close second in the Minister’s Cup back at Seoul. Has been off the track injured all year and it is looking increasingly unlikely we will see her again.

2007: Baekpa [Revere – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – Chun Chang Ki – Chun landed his third Oaks on the grey Baekpa. She remains, along with big brother Baekgwang, one of the country’s most popular horses although of late she has been running in the US in the KRA’s Internationalization program.

2006: Seohae Beontcheok [Revere – Linear Mark (Miner’s Mark)] – Kim Hyo Seob – She wired the field and won by ten lengths but the filly didn’t step up after and only won once more. Sent for broodmare duties, she recently gave birth to her first colt, by Concept Win.

2005: Gamun Nyeonggwang [Concept Win – Pebble Beach (Metfield)] – Lim Dae Gyu – Her win was a minor suprise but she went on to land the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup in October that year. Late jockey Lim Dae Gyu scored his last big race win on her.

2004: Singgeureoun [Mr. Adorable – Rambollina (Rambo Dancer)] – Chun Chang Ki – She came through with a late run to win by a commanding five lengths and went on to run for a further two seasons. Her only future success came in the 2006 Sports Seoul. Began broodmare duties in 2008.

2003: Amaranth [Future Quest – Shernadeed (Shernazar)] – Chun Chang Ki – The first of jockey Chun’s three Oaks wins came on the 8/1 shot who edged out a small field by a length. Ran on for a further two seasons but couldn’t repeat her Oaks form.

2002: Haeam Janggun [Didyme – Ronde (Toast The Champ)] – Bang Choon Sik – The one that Sangseung Ilro will be looking to emulate. Earlier in the year she won the Korean Derby and, after the taking the Oaks, she went on to win the Minister’s Cup. Two out of her three foals to hit the track so far have been winners.

2001: Espass [Psychobabble – Moment In May (L’Enjoleur)] – Kim Hey Sung – A four length winner, she went on to win the Ttkukseom Cup the following year.

2000: Seonbong Taegam [Road Of War – Jae-Saek-Keom-Bi (Elusive Quest)] – Kim Hyo Seob – The first Oaks winner won by a narrow margin ahead of an odds-on favourite. The race was run over seven furlongs. From the following year, it would be run over its current distance of nine furlongs.

Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance

In January this year, this site was delighted to join the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance (TBA). Recently the TBA redesigned its homepage which can now be found here.

Also, at the start of this month, four new members joined the TBA: They are The Virginia Thoroughbred Blog, The Brock Talk, They Are Off and Perfect Peace Farm.

TBA

Check the right hand side of this page for the full list of TBA blogs.

While most focus on US racing, there is coverage from every imaginable angle from owners, trainers, bettors, more bettors and fans, fans, fans and more fans of our wonderful sport.

Sangseung Ilro Heads Oaks Entries

There are twelve remaining entrants with a week to go before the Korean Oaks at Busan Race Park. The remarkable Sangseung Ilro, winner of the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby already this season, heads the field and it will be a brave punter who bets against her come next Sunday.

Rose Cat is the only entrant from Seoul – the capital track seemingly accepting that it is going to be a sixth straight Classic win for a Busan horse.

Oaks day is set to be one of the biggest days of racing held at Busan since the track’s opening in 2005. Also on the card is the International Lady Jockey’s Invitation Race and we’ll have a full preview of both that and the Oaks this coming Wednesday. In the meantime here is the current Oaks line up with pedigree and race records:

Korean Oaks (G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – August 9, 2009

Lady In Gala [Didyme – Phlox (Just Like Jo)] – (10/2/1/)
Naechingu [Creek Cat – Roberto’s Flame (Green Dancer)] – (7/1/1/4)
Rose Cat [Creek Cat – Rose Bouton (Somethingdifferent)] – (9/2/2/1)
Leading Velocity [Fiercely – Barefoot Runaway (Strike Gold)] – (11/3/2/1)
Suryeohan [Commendable – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – (9/2/2/2)
Hanmoe [Tahamkke – Wolmunsabang (Didyme)] – (12/1/2/3)
Solar City [Ft. Stockton – Taeyangsan (Mujaazif)] – (9/0/1/4)
Haneul Gisang [Duality – Birrali (Rutland)] – (7/2/3/0)
Sangseung Ilro [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – (7/5/1/1)
Hero Age [Buster’s Daydream – No Dle Seum (Brave Regent)] – (10/0/2/0)
Pangpang [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] – (15/3/1/1)
Hwangjeui Seonmul [Social Charter – She’s A Bridesmaid (Chromite)] – (13/2/2/0)

Whatever happens next Sunday, Sangseung Ilro will remain on course to follow J.S. Hold in completing the Triple Crown when, all being well, she returns to Seoul in October for the Minister’s Cup. Here is her win in the KRA Cup Mile:

And the Korean Derby:

Second in both those race, Namdo Jeap, will be the plumb ride in the International Lady Jockey’s Challenge race on the Oaks undercard.

Nozi Bows Out

Nozomu Tomizawa has left Korea. The Japanese jockey recently brought to an end his two year stint at Seoul Race Park and is returning to Australia where his family lives and where he rode previously.

Initially arriving for six months in August 2007, Tomizawa started a month after fellow Japanese rider Ikuyasu Kurakane. While Ikuyasu was quick to become reasonably well established, it took Nozomu a little while to build up rides and eventually, winners. Once he did, however, his obvious talent came through as he notched up a decent winning record despite not generally getting the better horses.

Six months became a year and then one year became two. Slowly overcoming the traditional huge disadvantages faced by foreign riders in Korea, not least by learning a little Korean, Tomizawa finshed with figures of 730 rides with 48 winners, 56 seconds and 71 thirds. Top rides always remained hard to come by – being the regular jockey on Gamadongja, a top sprinter, the notable exception.

There was talk of Nozomu following in the footsteps of Ikuyasu and going to Busan for a final few months in Korea but it was not to be. Instead he leaves as a jockey who has advanced the reputation of foreign riders at Seoul no end and the track – and punters – will miss him.

www.horseman.co.kr followed Tomizawa during his last weeks in Korea and produced a short video about him. This, as well as a couple of his race videos can be seen at the Enjoy Racing blog.

Get Katoh: Nozi’s departure leaves Toshiyuki Katoh as the only overseas jockey at Seoul and he must have felt the horses were out to get him on Sunday. In race 6, Dublin Gypsy bolted wildly from the gate and tried for a full furlong to throw him off. Katoh eventually managed to bring the filly under control and get her home only for Money Pokpung to promptly dump him over the outside rail on the home turn in the very next race. Fortunately he escaped injury and was able to ride the rest of the card.

* In other jockey news, it’s been confirmed that Kim Ok Sung’s season is over. The veteran rider suffered a broken ankle during track work last Wednesday and will be sidelined for at least six months.

Baekpa Does a Little Better

Baekpa not only stayed in touch with the field but actually beat one home in her second US outing at Colonial Downs on Monday evening. The five year old ran sixth of seven in race 6, an Allowance Optional Claiming over a mile on the turf under jockey Geovany Garcia.

Still not exactly world beating but a better effort for her first ever race on turf and if they must run her again before bringing her home, one that gives heart.

Video hat-tip to Fpop.