KRA invites overseas jockeys to Seoul / Busan-Gyeongnam Racecourse!

After successfully hosting the 30th Asian Racing Conference in 2005, the Korea Racing Authority is giving strong impetus to internationalizing its horseracing. As one of the essential steps, the KRA invites overseas jockeys to its Seoul or Busangyeongnam Racecourse(you are to choose one). Suitably qualified and experienced applicants will be licensed as professional jockeys at Seoul or Busan-Gyeongnam 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 license issued by one of the 55 IFHA member countries and is currently riding.

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

4. Preferably weigh 52kg 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

- License 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 license 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 scanned copy of your passport(the page showing your photo and details), *medical certificate, and letter from principal racing authority regarding current license 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, preferably the jpg file)

· Performance record documentation from Racing Authority

· An official AIDS test Certificate (Negative Response). This is necessity in the VISA application     process.

* An applicant who doesn’t submit a current medical certificate attesting to the health and fitness of applicant must undergo a medical examination at his/her 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 license approval will be rescinded.

* An AIDS-clearance certificate is mandatory for VISA processing. Please note however; that at the discretion of the Immigration Office, an applicant may be required to undergo an additional AIDS-test for Foreigner registration, after arrival in Korea.

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

Contacts(Seoul)

□ Address

Joon-ho, Ryoo (Mr.), Deputy Manager

Racing Planning Team, Korea Racing Authority

685, Juam-dong, Gwachon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea , 427-711

□ Telephone/Fax : + 82-2-509-2713☎), 82-2-509-2719Fax)

□ E-mail : proactiver@hanmail.net

Important Conditions to be read

□ A jockey licensed to ride at Seoul or Busan-Gyeongnam 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>

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Introduction

□ Location : Seoul (The capital of Korea)

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

* 2012 season : Total 94 racemeetings (1,064 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(including 2 foreign jockeys)

2012 Season Prize money

1. Prize Money

□ Class 6 ~ Class 1 : 31,200,000 ~ 104,000,000 won

□ Grade, Listed and Special Races (Total 25 races a year)

: 200,000,000 ~ 700,000,000 won

□ Prize money distribution

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

¨ The Seoul Racecourse Jockeys Association (SRJA) was formed to protect the rights and welfare of jockeys. The KRA has assisted the operation of SRJA and jockeys’ insurance by providing “Additional prize money”. However; due to structure of taxation in Korea, this money cannot be given directly to the SRJA. Hence, the “Additional prize money” is added to the advertised “Prize money” and distributed according the finishing order.

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

3. Riding Fee : 65,000won per ride

¨ Prize money levels for 2012 provide for average monthly earnings of approx. 8,900,000won.

¨ Prize money and percentages are reviewed annually, with slight variances possible.

Membership of 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.

□ 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;

• ㆍTranslator (English and Japanese only): To assist with communication during trackwork, race trials and races. (The KRA does not provide a translation service for a jockey’s personal use).

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

• ㆍAccommodation: Quarters in close proximity to the racecourse.

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

approximately 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.

• ㆍ1 Return 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 paid half the cost of the return airfare following the commencement of riding duties in Korea. The balance will be paid at the expiration of the license period.

* An applicant whose license approval is rescinded following the results of a medical examination upon arrival in Korea, indicating such applicant is not fit to ride in races, will be responsible for all costs related to air travel to and from Korea.

<Busan-Gyeongnam Racecourse>

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Introduction

□ Location : Busan (The Southern part of Korea)

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

* 2011 season : Total 94 race meetings (746 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 : 32 (including 2 foreign trainer)

□ No. of jockeys : 40 (including 2 foreign jockeys)

2011 Season Prize money

1. Prize Money

□ Class 1 ~ Class 5 : 22,000,000won ~ 105,000,000won

□ Grade, Listed and Special Races (13 races in total, with an additional 4 exchange Grade races between Busan and Seoul)

: 150,000,000 won ~ 400,000,000 won

□ Prize money distribution

2. Riding Fee : 93,000won per ride

§ Prize money levels for 2011 provide for average monthly earnings of approx. 8,100,000won.

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

#NB - There is no Jockey Association for Busan-Gyeongnam Racecourse.

     - The medical certificate supplied must be issued within 3 months of the date of application.

 For direct information on Racing or Riding at Busan please contact:

□ Address

 Hyung-Joon Yoo

    Busan Racing Department, Korea Racing Authority

    1833, Beombang-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan, South Korea, 618-240

  □ E-mail and Telephone/Fax

 hjyoo99@naver.com, <+82-51-901-7316(☎),+82-51-901-7319(Fax)>

Important Conditions to be read

□ A foreign jockey licensed to ride at Busan-Gyeongnam Racecourse should apply to ride as a Freelance jockey only.

□ A Freelance Jockey licence does not allow the person to earn any income from the monthly training fee allocated to those who ride track work.

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.
• Accommodation : Jockey’s quarters at the racecourse and a furnished apartment(or studio) close proximity to the racecourse. The jockey is responsible for monthly maintenance fees and utilities costs, approximately 100,000~200,000won.
• 1 Return economy class airfare per jockey to country of origin (Domestic economy air travel between Incheon to Busan is included, if necessary. However, please note that Busan is an International Airport with many airlines providing direct flights).

* A jockey whose license approval is rescinded following the result of a medical examination upon arrival in Korea showing he/she is not fit to ride in races, will be required to refund to the KRA, the cost of all airfares provided by them.

* TThe jockey will be paid half the cost of the return airfare following the commencement of riding duties in Korea. The balance will be paid at the expiration of the license contract period.

* A jockey who chooses to leave Korea of his/her own volition, prior to the completion of a minimum of 3 months, will be required to refund to the KRA, the cost of all airfares provided by them.

• The KRA will assist with the cost of additional freight up to 300,000won per jockey for each way of travel. (This fee will not be provided when the jockey departs Korea before the official expiry date of his/her licence).

• Motor Vehicle: A rental car with appropriate insurance cover will be provided.

• All medical expenses and loss of income (for injuries, disability and death incurred during track work, general exercise with horses, stall tests, race trials and races conducted within the confines of the racecourse).

□ Medical expenses

□ Partial loss of income (90,000won per day)

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

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