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Breeding

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The Thoroughbred Breeding Program led by KRA was initiated about 30 years ago, and has been promoted in full scale since 1991 for the breeding of Korean thoroughbreds. Significant development has been made particularly in the past ten years, and at present, Korean-bred horses represent approximately 80% of the racehorses in Korea.

The start of the 21st century saw KRA importing high-quality stallions, improving the training facilities in the country, and putting spurs to implement better educational practices so as to produce strong, fast, and world-class Korean-bred horses. Korean-bred horses are now striving for competitiveness at the international level, and it is hoped that in the near future, they will be competing in international races.

Breeding regions

Due mainly to its location, Jeju Island is the largest breeding region in Korea, with the other main regions situated on the mainland: Gyeonggi-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gangwon-do. To date, there are 223 breeding farms in the country, with 165 farms(74%) located in Jeju Island.

Stallions

To date, there are 110 stallions in Korea. Of these, 75(68%) are in Jeju Island, and 12 are owned by KRA. The KRA-owned stallions cover broodmares free of charge. From 2004, to enhance the quality of the domestic-bred horses, KRA began importing high-quality-proven stallions from overseas.

  • COMMENDABLE(´97, USA, G1W)
    • ‘00Belmont S. [G1] Win
  • MENIFEE(´96, USA, G1MW)
    • ‘99Toyota Blue Grass S.[G1] Win,
    • ‘99Haskell Invitation H.[G1] Win
    • ‘99Kentucky Derby[G1] 2nd,
    • ‘99Preakness S.[G1] 2nd
    • ‘08North America Leading Sire 42nd,
    • ‘0959th ´10 Korea Leading Sire(2YO)
  • VOLPONI(´98, USA, G1W)
    • ‘02Breeders' Cup Classic[G1] Win
  • HAWK WING
    (´99, USA, G1MW in GB/IRE)
    • ‘01Aga Khan Studs National S.[G1] Win
    • ‘02Coral Eurobet Eclips S.[G1] Win
    • ‘03Juddmonte Lockinge S.[G1] Win
  • OFFICER(´99, USA, G1W)
    • ‘01Champagne S.[G1] Win
    • ‘06North America Leading Sire(2YO) 7th, ´10 10th
  • PICO CENTRAL
    (´99, BRZ, G1MW in USA/BRZ)
    • ‘02~‘03G1 2 Wins in BRZ
    • ‘04G1 3 Wins in USA
    • ‘03Brazil Champion Sprinter
    • ‘04Brazil Horse of the Year
  • ONE COOL CAT
    (´01, USA, G1MW in IRE)
    • ‘03Europe 2YO Champion Coltb
    • ‘09Europe Leading Sire(2YO) 8th
    • ‘10Europe Leading Sire 31th

Besides, KRA owns a number of winning horses in Multiple Grade Races, including VICAR(USA), FOREST CAMP(USA), PEACE RULES(USA), and EXPLOIT(USA).

Broodmares

In 1993, there were 245 mares in Korea, but to date, that number has grown to 2,347. Korean-breds broodmares account for 23% and the rest are foreign-bred broodmares. Around 1,000 broodmares are horses retired from racing in Korea. Since 2000, 100-250 broodmares have been imported every year from the USA, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, etc.

STALLIONS, BROODMARES, AND FOALS 2008~2012

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Stallions 95 97 102 116 110
Broodmares 2,190 2,277 2,253 2,420 2,510
Foals 1,372 1,324 1,363 1,376 1,322
Total 3,657 3,698 3,718 3,912 3.942

BREEDING FIGURES 2012

KRA-owned Privately-ownedd Total
Jeju Jangsu Wondang Jeju Inland
Stallions 9 3 - 75 23 110
Broodmares - - - 2,023 487 2,510
Foals - - - 1,073 249 1,322
Total 9 3 - 3,171 759 3,942