The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) began applying its 2026 racing implementation plan on 1 January 2026, according to the plan document published on 28 January 20261. The plan sets out entry rules, prize money, incentives, trials, welfare provisions and race classification for the year, and states its effective date as "2026. 1. 1. 부"1.
The plan introduces a regional circuit racing system tied to the opening of the Yeongcheon racecourse, under which racehorses remain stabled in the Busan-Gyeongnam region and rotate between Busan-Gyeongnam and Yeongcheon1. It describes this as a full-scale introduction of a regional circuit system in which horses travel between the two1. The plan also schedules three operational race days for the year, on 2 March, 17 August and 5 October, all Mondays1.
Other measures in the plan include a unified Thoroughbred jockey system, described as a pilot operation in 2026 with implementation in 2027, and a KRA Cup Sprint run jointly by Seoul and Busan-Gyeongnam as an open race1. Field size limits are specified: 1,000m races are capped at 12 starters across both the Seoul and Yeongnam regions, while at Seoul 1,600m races are capped at 10 starters and 1,700m races at 121. Races for grades 1 to 6 are listed at 8 to 14 horses1.
Prize money figures appear in the plan for graded and listed races1.
| Race | Payment figures | Total |
|---|---|---|
| One Grade | 1,000, 10,000, 9,000, 8,000, 7,000, 6,000 | 81,000 |
| Listed races | 7,000, 6,000, 5,000, 4,000, 3,000 | 48,000 |
| Another Grade | 7,000, 9,000, 8,000, 7,000, 6,000, 5,000 | 100,000 |
The Korea Cup (IG3) is listed at 1,600, 800, 320, 160, 96, 64, 48, 40, 32, 24 and 161. The plan also lists a payment scale totaling 18 million won, split between the owner at 10 million won, the trainer at 5 million won and the jockey at 3 million won1. Series payments are differentiated across eight series, averaging 100 million won1.
Qualifying standards include a pass mark of 1:06.0 for horses up to three years old in June1. Reference records are given as 1:11.0 over 1,200m and 1:51.7 over 1,800m1. The plan also records a total figure of 2,4991.
What it means for players
The plan governs how races are framed in South Korea during 2026, which affects the shape of the product available to bettors at South Korean racing and betting venues. The regional circuit system means horses based in Busan-Gyeongnam will travel to Yeongcheon for certain meetings rather than being stabled there, which changes the pool of runners appearing at each track1. The three scheduled Monday race days fall outside the usual weekend pattern1.
Field size caps determine how many runners appear in a given race, and therefore how many places and combinations are available in pari-mutuel pools1. The prize money and incentive figures set out in the plan indicate the levels at which connections are racing1. The unified jockey system remains a pilot in 2026, with full implementation listed for 20271.
What happens next
The plan applies from 1 January 20261. The unified Thoroughbred jockey system is listed as a pilot in 2026 and scheduled for implementation in 20271. The three operational race days listed for the year fall on 2 March, 17 August and 5 October 20261.
Sources1 sources
- raceplan2026_20260128.pdf, race.kra.co.kr
