KRA invites overseas jockeys to Seoul / Busangyeongnam Racecourse!

After successfully hosting the 30th Asian Racing Conference in 2005, the Korea Racing Association is giving strong impetus to internationalizing its horseracing. As one of the essential steps, the KRA invites overseas jockeys to its Seoul / Busangyeongnam Racecourse. Suitably qualified and experienced applicants will be licensed as professional jockeys at Seoul / Busangyeongnam Racecourse.

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

1. A professional jockey aged 23 or above, with a minimum 3 years experience of riding as a senior jockey in flat races.

2. Hold a licence issued by one of the 55 IFHA member countries and is currently riding.

3. Not have incurred a licence suspension of six months or more, or a disqualification, during riding career. (Clearance letter is required)

4. Preferably weigh 52kgs or under (body weight) or not exceed the minimum riding wt. of 53kg, in a healthy and fit condition. (Medical checkup is required)

5. Hold a current Passport with at least 12 months validity.

6. Be adaptable and receptive to foreign culture and environment.

Riding in Korea

□ Licensing

- Licence period : Minimum 4 months ~ 1 year

(Renewal is possible upon review of performance & disciplinary record in Korea)

□ Jockey Colours

- All jockeys in Korea, not owners, have their own registered riding colours. Please be prepared to design your own silks upon notification of your licence being approved.

- When designing your own silks, please keep to the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering Guidelines, for a standard jacket and sleeves.

How to apply

□ Complete the Application Form, which can be downloaded from the KRA website at www.kra.co.kr(Click on the “English” icon in top right hand corner)

□ Firstly, fax your application, a copy of your passport(the page showing your photo and details), *medical certificate, and letter from principal racing authority regarding current licence status to the contact below.

□ Secondly, prepare the following and send by mail to the address below;

· 4 recent passport-size photos (3.5cm ´ 4.5cm)

· Any documentation proving performance record (If possible)

· Certificate of AIDS test (Negative Response)

* AIDS-free certificate is required for processing VISA and after entering Korea, an applicant must undergo additional AIDS-test for foreigner registration at Seoul Immigration office.

* An applicant who doesn’t submit a medical certificate, must undergo medical examination at his own expense in a hospital designated by the KRA upon arrival in Korea. If such medical examination reveals the jockey is not fit to ride, the licence approval will be rescinded.

* Applicants may be required to send their race films for KRA Stewards reference.

Contact address

□ Address

  Seung-ho, RYU (Mr), Licencing Secretary

    Stewards’ Department, Korea Racing Association

    685, Juam-dong, Gwachon-shi, Gyonggi-do, S.Korea , 427-711

  □ Telephone/Fax : + 82-2-509-1712(☎), 82-2-509-2909(Fax)

□ E-mail : batman@kra.co.kr

Important Conditions to be read

□ A jockey licensed to ride at Seoul or Busangyeongnam Racecourse, is restricted to riding solely at that racecourse.

□ Race conditions and their operations at Seoul Racecourse may differ from those of other racing countries. Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to carefully read the following information before applying.

□ Taxation

- For those who stay less than 1 year in Korea - 22%(withholding tax)

- For those who stay more than 1 year in Korea - 3.3%(withholding tax)+a.

* Depending on the jockey’s level of earnings in Korea, a can vary.

- A jockey staying more than (and including) 1 year is considered as a “Resident”, and must declare his composite income tax to the National Tax Service each May.
- A jockey holding “Resident” status in Korea, must complete & submit a “tax declaration” to the National Tax Service 10 days prior to departure from Korea.

◆ Please contact the National Tax Service at www.nts.go.kr for further queries on taxation.

◆ The KRA Rules of Racing will be sent by e-mail upon request.

Please contact the e-mail address above.

<Seoul Racecourse>

Introduction

□ Location : Seoul (The capital of Korea)

□ Race meetings : Every Saturday and Sunday (11~12 races per meeting)

* 2008 season : Total 98 racemeetings (1,114 races)

□ Track Surface : Sand (Width 25~30m)

□ No. of tracks : 2 (Inner track : 1600m, Outer track : 1800m)

□ Direction of racing : Counter Clockwise

□ No. of trainers : 54

□ No. of jockeys : approximately 60

2008 Season Prize money

1. Prize Money

□ Class 1 ~ Class 5 : 25,500,000 ~ 81,400,000 won

□ Grade, Listed and Special Races ( Total 27 races a year)

: 100,000,000 ~ 500,000,000 won

□ Prize money distribution

2. Additional Prize Money (The money not advertised in the program)

◆ Seoul jockeys have formed the Seoul Racecourse Jockeys Association (SRJA) to protect jockeys’ right and welfare. KRA has been helping the operation of SRJA and jockeys’ insurance by giving them “Additional prize money”. However, due to some taxational problem, this money cannot be given to the SRJA by the KRA directly. This is why the “Additional prize money” is added to the “Prize money” according to the placings.

◆ Additional prize money for jockeys according to the placing (1,000won)

3. Riding Fee : 52,000won per ride

◆ Prizemoney and percentages are reviewed annually, with slight variances possible.

Joining the Seoul Racecourse Jockeys’ Association (SRJA)

* Please note that the SRJA is independent of the KRA. Any complaint or disagreement that arises from the joining of or the operations of the SRJA, must be resolved between the jockey (applicant) and the SRJA. The KRA will not involve itself in matters of dispute between the SRJA and its members.

* There is no association for Busangyeongnam Racecourse Jockeys.

□ Membership of SRJA

- All additional prize money earned is paid to the SRJA as a membership fee.

- Medical & hospital cover, partial loss of income coverage for injuries incurred during trackwork, general exercise, barrier trial and races.

- All tax-related work and jockey colours.

□ Non-membership of SRJA :

- A jockey retains the additional prize money he earned.

- A jockey is responsible for his own medical & hospital bill, loss of income, his own taxation and jockey colours.

The KRA will provide the following for overseas jockeys riding at Seoul Racecourse;

• Translator (English only): To assist with communication during trackwork, trials and races.

* The KRA does not provide a translation service for a jockey’s personal use.

• Accommodation : Quarters near the racecourse.

* The jockey is responsible for monthly maintenance fees and utilities costs:

approx 100,000-200,000won

* A jockey choosing to reside in accommodation other than that provided by the KRA, must make all arrangements and bear all costs.

• 1 Round economy class airfare(international lines only) per jockey to country of origin.

* The KRA will assist with the cost of additional freight up to 300,000won per jockey.

* The jockey will be given half of one round airfare cost after arriving in Korea. The rest of airfare will be paid on the expiration of the contract.

* The KRA will not provide the cost of all airfares, should his/her licence approval be rescinded, as a result of the medical examination upon arrival, showing he/she is not fit to ride in races.

<Busan-Gyeongnam Racecourse>

Introduction

□ Location : Busan (The Southern part of Korea)

□ Race meetings : Every Friday(9-10 races) and Sunday(6 races)

* 2008 season : Total 98 race meetings (751 races)

□ Track Surface : Sand (Width 20~25m)

□ No. of tracks : 3

(Inner track : 1470m, Outer track : 2000m, Training track : 1300m)

□ Direction of racing : Counter Clockwise

□ No. of trainers : 30

□ No. of jockeys : 44

*18 out of 44 in active is the apprentice jockey, average riding career is appx. 4yrs.

2008 Season Prize money

1. Prize Money

□ Class 1 ~ Class 4 : 22,600,000won ~ 92,700,000won

□ Grade, Listed and Special Races (Total 12 races in 2008)

: 120,000,000 won ~ 400,000,000 won

□ Prize money distribution

2. Riding Fee : 69,000won per ride

♣ Prize money levels for 2008 provide for a jockey to earn an average monthly income of approx. 7,295,000won.

* The figures(presented prize money & percentage) above can vary slightly in accordance with the KRA rules

The KRA will provide the following for overseas jockeys riding at Busan-Gyeongnam Racecourse;

• Translator : To assist with communication during trackwork, trials and races.
• The KRA does not provide a translation service for a jockey’s personal use.

* And at the moment, only for the English language.

• Accommodation : Jockey’s quarters inside the racecourse and a furnished apartment(or studio) near the racecourse.
• 1 Round economy class airfare(Your country ≪ Inchon & Inchon ≪ Busan) per jockey

* A jockey will be required to refund the cost of all airfares to the KRA, should his/her license approval be rescinded, as a result of the medical examination upon arrival, showing he/she is not fit to ride in races.

* The jockey will be given half of one round airfare cost after arriving in Korea. The rest of airfare will be paid on the expiration of the contract.

* The KRA will assist with the cost of additional freight up to 300,000won per jockey each way of travel(The fee will not be supported when the jockey leaves Korea before the official expiry date of his license)

• Vehicle : A rental car will be provided
• All medical expenses & Loss of income (For injuries, disability and death incurred during trackwork, general exercise with horses, stall test, barrier trial and races.)

□ Medical bill

□ Partial loss of income (130,000won per day)

□ A total of 750,000,000won in case of a death

□ Up to 250,000,000won for disability (depends on the severity)