The Korean Racing Association (Chairman Jeong Ki-hwan) announced the 2023 horse racing implementation plan on the 5th ahead of the first race of the year of the cat, which will be held on the 6th.
In 2022, due to the aftermath of Corona 19, the basic direction of horse racing was focused on normalizing the horse racing industry to overcome the corona crisis. On the other hand, this year, with normalization, the scale of horse racing will be expanded and tasks to improve the quality of horse racing will be promoted in earnest.
First of all, as horse racing was fully normalized, the number of racing days in Seoul and Pukyung was increased from 96 to 98, and the overall number of thoroughbred races also increased by about 5%. In addition, this year’s grand prize and special races will be implemented with 50 races, two more than last year, such as the ‘Breders’ Cup Queen (L)’ grand prize race and overseas exchange special race.
The ranking prize money for grade level races was also increased. In the G1, G2, and G3 races, the total prize money was increased to 1 billion won, 700 million won, and 500 million won, respectively, and in the case of the Korea Cup (IG3) international race, the highest level in Korea, the total prize money was increased from 1 billion won to 1.6 billion won. expected to rise significantly.
‘Korea Sprint (IG3)’ will also be raised from 1 billion won to 1.4 billion won. It is expected that the expansion of the prize money for international racing will lead to attracting more competitive foreign racehorses and contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of Korean horse racing.
Next, the policy to secure industrial continuity through the activation of racehorse production and return was strengthened. The policy is to establish a system for selecting the best mare in Korea by giving preferential treatment to excellent 메이저놀이터 mares that can be used as seed mare resources.
Therefore, starting this year, the ‘Queen’s Tour’ series targeting mares over 3 years old will be divided into SS (Spring, Summer) and FW (Fall, Winter) series, and the FW series will be implemented as a limited race for domestic horses. The ‘Gyeongsangnam-do Governor’s Cup (G3)’, which was a mixed mountain race, will also be converted to a race limited to domestic horses.
Lastly, systems to improve the quality of horse racing and the sportiness will be promoted. First of all, by resuming the Series Challenge, we plan to upgrade the system for selecting the best horses that can compete on the international stage. Series Challenge refers to designating general races with similar conditions to the series finals, such as ‘Triple Crown’ and ‘Juvenile’, as challenge races, and giving priority to each series in order of highest score.
Also, in May, by hosting an international open race in conjunction with the ‘Korea Spring Racing Carnival’, opportunities for Japanese and Hong Kong racehorses to participate are expanded to provide a wealth of attractions to customers, while promoting overseas promotion.
The reorganization of the horse racing manpower system to improve the quality of racing and coexistence with horse racing officials will also be implemented in earnest from this year. In the case of the racehorse teaching professional class (track rider), which was introduced on a trial basis last year, all of the subjects were converted to individual businesses this year, and a new jockey license was also established for this purpose. Until now, jockeys or horse managers have been involved in teaching assistant duties, but from now on, a professional class called assistant jockeys will be in charge of this task.
In addition, the horse racing manpower is specialized and opened by breaking away from the existing closed license system, gradually introducing an open license system such as professional soccer and golf, and transferring the primary training function of jockeys to the private sector.
Kim Hong-ki, head of the Horse Racing Headquarters of the Korea Racing Association, said, “If we have been working hard to maintain the horse racing industry and normalize horse racing in the past two to three years, it is time to pursue the development of horse racing that has been postponed for the past two to three years.” I hope that Korean horse racing will take off as a Korean horse racing that is loved abroad through feedback and improvement of horse racing quality.”