Top Horses – Seoul (March 2020)

In 2015 Korean adopted a rating system for thoroughbreds. These ratings are used for domestic purposes only.

Class 1: 81 & Up (Korean & Foreign Bred)
Class 2: 66-80 (Korean & Foreign Bred)
Class 3: 51-65 (Korean & Foreign Bred)
Class 4: 36-50 (Korean & Foreign Bred)
Class 5: 35 & Down (Korean Bred only)
Class 6: New and unrated (Korean Bred only)

Here is a list of the top twenty horses by rating who are currently in training at Seoul Racecourse as of March 2020:

1. Moonhak Chief (USA) – 137
2. Dolkong (USA) – 132 (Currently long-term injured)
3. Cheongdam Dokki (USA) – 130
4. Shamrocker (USA) – 127
5. Silver Wolf (AUS) – 125
6. Gaon Champ (KOR) 121
7. Tiz Plan (USA) – 120
8. Global Captain (USA) – 115 (Suspended until mid-April due to racing manners)
9. Winner Gold (USA) – 113
10. Morfhis (USA) – 112
11. Sanggam Mama (KOR) – 112
12. Road Winner (USA) – 112
13. Dia Socks (USA) – 110
14. Jangsan Power (KOR) – 108
15. Ultra Rocket (KOR) – 108
16. East Palos (USA) – 107
17. Choegangja (USA) – 107 (Currently long-term injured)
18. Cheonji Storm (KOR) – 106
19. Tosconova Cat (USA) – 104
20. Cheongdam Jewang (USA) – 103

And some notable horses from the archives:

Myeongmun Gamun (KOR) [Future Quest – Guided Dancer (Incinderator)] – Retired in 2009 with a career record of 17 wins from 34 starts and earnings of well over KRW 1 Billion. Notoriously badly behaved at the starting gate, he still managed to win consecutive President’s Cups in 2007 and 2008 and was twice the highest placed Korean horse in the Grand Prix Stakes. Here he is winning his first President’s Cup in 2007.

Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – One of the most popular horses in Korean racing and winner of the Grand Prix Stakes in 2007. His “feud” with Subsidy in 2006/2007 provided some of the most talked-about races in Korean racing history. Retired to the Korea Horse Affairs High School in 2011 he passed away through illness in 2012. Here’s the Grand Prix win.

Subsidy (USA) [Mr. Prospector – Foreign Aid (Danzig)]- The last son of Mr. Prospector. In one of the rags-to-riches stories that make this sport so great, he wa plucked from from being a mid-week claimer at Philadelphia Park and the Aqueduct “inner-dirt” in the US in 2004, to winning the Grand Prix Stakes and being crowned Korea Horse of the Year in 2005. Bally Brae was his nemesis and the two traded big handicap wins in 2007 with Subsidy ultimately coming off second best in the Grand Prix but not before getting the better of him in the final furlong in this great battle from March 2007. See this post for Subsidy’s full story. Like Bally Brae, Subsidy also passed away shortly after retirement, this time in a paddock accident.

J.S. Hold (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Hwansanjiljoo (Passetreul)] – Winner of the inaugural Korean Triple Crown in 2007, and regarded by many as the best Korean bred horse ever. His last outing was in completing the TC in October 2007 with this win in the Minister of Agriculture Cup. J.S. Hold has a career record of 9 wins from ten starts and won all four of his races as a three year old. Disappointingly for many, he didn’t start the 2007 Grand prix race due to injury. He returned to training in Spring 2008 but was unable to fully shake off his injury and was officially retired at the end of September. His owner later admitted he should never have run in that historic Minister’s Cup. Here is his complete domination of the 2007 Korean Derby and his emotional retirement ceremony in November 2008. Currently retired in Jeju Island.

Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] A two time Grand Prix winner in 2008 and 2009, he also won the Seoul Owners’ Cup. Won his final start in February 2012 to retire with career figures of 20 wins from 35 starts.

18 comments

  1. Hello,
    I and some Japanese horse-racing fans know J.S.Hold as the best Korean-bred horse, and are looking forward to see his next race.
    Please tell me when he will come back to the race course.

    Reply

  2. fpop, there’s some good news here as J.S. Hold has started training again. His injury is one that has the potential to never be completely right though so whether we will see him back at his best is doubtful – I’m going to put a story about it in the news section in a little while.

    Reply
  3. Pingback: J.S. Hold on the way back? « Horse Racing in Korea

  4. I sold Shaving Points to his South Korean owner. I hear he has been very impressive. Can anyone give me a little more information on his potential? or a link to view one of his races?

    Reply

  5. I have links to his first two races. His debut was over 1200 metres on a very wet track. Coming out of stall 5 he hit the front immediately and won very easily. Video

    He then moved up to 1300 metres and won equally easily – with a starting price of 1.0. Video

    His most recent run was on May 25 when he won over 1700 metres by five lengths ahead of some useful horses. I can’t find a video of this yet but I’ll post it when I do. Again the jockey didn’t have any work to do. It seems he’s not going to run in the Seoul Cup next week which is a disappointment as it would have been an excellent chance to see him against some of the best horses in Korea.

    Reply

    1. Roar, watch out for a post on the blog later this week 🙂

      Officially the horse of the year was Nice Choice as he won the most prize-money

      Reply

  7. Hello,

    A mare called Wild Spin was exported from the U.S.A. to South Korea in 2006. I am looking to see if and what her Progney has done. She was in foal to Golden Missile at the time of Export. Can you help.

    Thanks

    Reply

    2. Not sure if you’ll still see this message since your request was so long ago, but we now have one of her sons. He has just turned 11. He successfully raced until he was 7. Out of 36 starts, he had 7 wins, 3 places & 7 shows. Lifetime earnings $65,872. His name is Rain Spinner & he is now the much loved hunter/jumper horse of my 11 year old daughter.

      Reply

  9. Hello,
    I am searching for a TB who raced at this track in 2006 name is Straight Cash. He placed 1st. I cannot find any info., been a long time:) I own his dam, I would love too see photo’s and race video’s of him. All I can find out is his owner’s name was Park Jung Bae. His dam is Mystery Clearance, his sire is Straight Man. If you could help me find a photo, or even where he is that would be awsome!!!! Thanks a bunch, Karen

    Reply

  10. I am trying to get a win photo of a horse I bred and sold at obs 2 yr old sale in Ocala FL his name is Noblu Manse and he is 3 yrs old now 2012. He is racing really well, won the TRA Trophy race and recently came in 2nd in the cup grade 3 race on Oct 21. Appreciate any feed back at all. How do you find the top horses racing in Korea this year 2012?
    Thanks

    Reply

  12. Could somenody give me the race stats on a 2010 horse named Kentucky Galloper, (Tiz Wonderful – Maid Service). I know he is 1 for 1. Do anybody know if he has some quality to him? Thanks

    Reply
  13. Pingback: Beolmaui Kkum Heads January Ratings | Horse Racing in Korea

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