South Korea Racecards & Past Performances
Why GLD Racing for Korean (KRA) Handicapping? Four Quantitative Pillars
Korea Racing Authority (KRA) thoroughbred meetings at Let’s Run Park Seoul and Busan-Gyeongnam operate exclusively on deep natural sea-sand ovals where official track moisture (함수율, ranging from 3% bone-dry to 20% sloppy) shifts winning times by up to 2.5 seconds. Raw finishing times cannot compare a runner clocking 1:12.4 on an 18% wet-fast Sunday against a rival running 1:13.8 on a 4% dry-cushion Saturday. GLD Racing normalizes daily track variants, moisture curves, weight carried deltas, and S1F/G3F sectional splits onto one universal speed figure scale.
Standardized GLD Speed Figures
Normalized across Seoul and Busan track geometries, daily variants, and moisture states—scaling cleanly from KRA Class 6 maidens (par 68) to Class 1 / Grade 1 stakes (par 100–102).
S1F & G3F Sectional Pace Maps
Isolates initial 200m gate break velocity (S1F) and final 600m closing kick (G3F) to classify runners into SPD, OP, PCK, and C running styles.
Sand Moisture (함수율 3%–20%) Physics
Quantifies stamina drain on dry cushion (≤6% moisture, +0.8s slower) versus compacted wet/sloppy speed highways (≥15% moisture, -1.2s to -1.8s faster).
GLD Line & Value Overlays
Benchmarks public betting sentiment against standardized speed and pace figures to isolate mispriced contenders across KRA Win, Quinella, and Trio pools.
Empirical KRA Class 1–Class 6 Par Speed Figures & Winning Times (1000m–2300m)
Calibrated on standard cushion (6%–9% moisture) historical starts: standard winning time, velocity (m/s), GLD Par Figure, and closing 600m (G3F) par split.
| Venue | Distance | Class Tier | Par Time | Speed (m/s) | GLD Par Fig | Par G3F (600m) | Sample Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 1000m | Class 6 (Maiden / Rookie) | 1:01.9 | 16.16 m/s | 68 | 38.2s | 14,200 |
| Seoul | 1000m | Class 4 | 1:00.70 | 16.47 m/s | 66 | 36.9s | 82 |
| Seoul | 1000m | Class 5 | 1:00.90 | 16.42 m/s | 58 | 36.9s | 69 |
| Seoul | 1000m | Class 6 | 1:01.30 | 16.31 m/s | 50 | 36.9s | 390 |
| Seoul | 1200m | Korea Sprint / Stakes (G1) | 1:11.8 | 16.71 m/s | 103 | 36.9s | 1,240 |
| Seoul | 1200m | Class 1 | 1:12.10 | 16.64 m/s | 90 | 36.9s | 52 |
| Seoul | 1200m | Class 2 | 1:12.85 | 16.47 m/s | 82 | 36.9s | 88 |
| Seoul | 1200m | Class 3 | 1:13.30 | 16.37 m/s | 74 | 36.9s | 230 |
| Seoul | 1200m | Class 4 | 1:13.90 | 16.24 m/s | 66 | 36.9s | 481 |
| Seoul | 1200m | Class 5 | 1:14.50 | 16.11 m/s | 58 | 36.9s | 450 |
| Seoul | 1200m | Class 6 | 1:15.30 | 15.94 m/s | 50 | 36.9s | 822 |
| Seoul | 1400m | Class 1 | 1:25.20 | 16.43 m/s | 90 | 37.4s | 54 |
| Seoul | 1400m | Class 2 | 1:25.90 | 16.30 m/s | 82 | 37.4s | 92 |
| Seoul | 1400m | Class 3 | 1:26.50 | 16.18 m/s | 74 | 37.4s | 236 |
| Seoul | 1400m | Class 4 | 1:27.10 | 16.07 m/s | 66 | 37.4s | 432 |
| Seoul | 1400m | Class 5 | 1:27.90 | 15.93 m/s | 58 | 37.4s | 375 |
| Seoul | 1400m | Class 6 | 1:29.10 | 15.71 m/s | 50 | 37.4s | 251 |
| Seoul | 1600m | Class 1 | 1:39.40 | 16.10 m/s | 90 | 38.1s | 16 |
| Seoul | 1600m | Class 2 | 1:39.90 | 16.02 m/s | 82 | 38.1s | 37 |
| Seoul | 1600m | Class 3 | 1:40.60 | 15.90 m/s | 74 | 38.1s | 78 |
| Seoul | 1600m | Class 4 | 1:41.60 | 15.75 m/s | 66 | 38.1s | 137 |
| Seoul | 1600m | Class 5 | 1:42.80 | 15.56 m/s | 58 | 38.1s | 8 |
| Seoul | 1800m | Class 1 | 1:55.70 | 15.56 m/s | 90 | 38.1s | 59 |
| Seoul | 1800m | Class 2 | 1:56.50 | 15.45 m/s | 82 | 38.1s | 95 |
| Seoul | 1800m | Class 3 | 1:57.10 | 15.37 m/s | 74 | 38.1s | 258 |
| Seoul | 1800m | Class 4 | 1:58.20 | 15.23 m/s | 66 | 38.1s | 189 |
| Seoul | 1800m | Class 5 | 1:58.50 | 15.19 m/s | 58 | 38.1s | 44 |
| Seoul | 2000m | Class 1 | 2:08.90 | 15.52 m/s | 90 | 38.1s | 33 |
| Seoul | 2000m | Class 2 | 2:10.10 | 15.37 m/s | 82 | 38.1s | 40 |
| Seoul | 2300m | Class 1 / Grand Prix (G1) | 2:26.4 | 15.71 m/s | 102 | 38.5s | 2,150 |
| Busan | 1000m | Class 6 (Maiden / Rookie) | 1:01.4 | 16.29 m/s | 69 | 37.6s | 9,800 |
| Busan | 1000m | Class 4 | 1:00.50 | 16.53 m/s | 66 | 36.7s | 26 |
| Busan | 1000m | Class 5 | 1:00.85 | 16.43 m/s | 58 | 36.7s | 50 |
| Busan | 1000m | Class 6 | 1:01.35 | 16.30 m/s | 50 | 36.7s | 248 |
| Busan | 1200m | Busan Ilbo Sprint / Open Stakes | 1:11.4 | 16.81 m/s | 101 | 36.7s | 960 |
| Busan | 1200m | Class 1 | 1:12.35 | 16.59 m/s | 90 | 36.7s | 38 |
| Busan | 1200m | Class 2 | 1:12.75 | 16.49 m/s | 82 | 36.7s | 60 |
| Busan | 1200m | Class 3 | 1:13.30 | 16.37 m/s | 74 | 36.7s | 132 |
| Busan | 1200m | Class 4 | 1:13.80 | 16.26 m/s | 66 | 36.7s | 296 |
| Busan | 1200m | Class 5 | 1:14.50 | 16.11 m/s | 58 | 36.7s | 326 |
| Busan | 1200m | Class 6 | 1:15.20 | 15.96 m/s | 50 | 36.7s | 567 |
| Busan | 1400m | Class 1 | 1:25.50 | 16.37 m/s | 90 | 37.1s | 42 |
| Busan | 1400m | Class 2 | 1:26.20 | 16.24 m/s | 82 | 37.1s | 63 |
| Busan | 1400m | Class 3 | 1:26.70 | 16.15 m/s | 74 | 37.1s | 141 |
| Busan | 1400m | Class 4 | 1:27.10 | 16.07 m/s | 66 | 37.1s | 252 |
| Busan | 1400m | Class 5 | 1:27.80 | 15.95 m/s | 58 | 37.1s | 297 |
| Busan | 1400m | Class 6 | 1:28.90 | 15.75 m/s | 50 | 37.1s | 260 |
| Busan | 1600m | Class 1 | 1:38.80 | 16.19 m/s | 90 | 37.6s | 13 |
| Busan | 1600m | Class 2 | 1:39.70 | 16.05 m/s | 82 | 37.6s | 23 |
| Busan | 1600m | Class 3 | 1:40.10 | 15.98 m/s | 74 | 37.6s | 89 |
| Busan | 1600m | Class 4 | 1:40.95 | 15.85 m/s | 66 | 37.6s | 254 |
| Busan | 1600m | Class 5 | 1:41.80 | 15.72 m/s | 58 | 37.6s | 222 |
| Busan | 1600m | Class 6 | 1:43.00 | 15.53 m/s | 50 | 37.6s | 182 |
| Busan | 1800m | Class 1 | 1:53.70 | 15.83 m/s | 90 | 37.6s | 36 |
| Busan | 1800m | Class 2 | 1:54.60 | 15.71 m/s | 82 | 37.6s | 70 |
| Busan | 1800m | Class 3 | 1:55.80 | 15.54 m/s | 74 | 37.6s | 198 |
| Busan | 1800m | Class 4 | 1:56.60 | 15.44 m/s | 66 | 37.6s | 241 |
| Busan | 1800m | Class 5 | 1:57.50 | 15.32 m/s | 58 | 37.6s | 114 |
| Busan | 2000m | Class 1 | 2:07.30 | 15.71 m/s | 90 | 37.6s | 34 |
| Busan | 2000m | Class 2 | 2:08.75 | 15.53 m/s | 82 | 37.6s | 26 |
| Busan | 2200m | Class 1 / Championship Route | 2:19.2 | 15.80 m/s | 100 | 37.9s | 1,840 |
Korean Exotic Pool Terminology (단승·연승·복승·쌍승·삼복승·삼쌍승) & Wagering Guide
KRA pari-mutuel pools feature a 17.0% takeout on Win/Place pools and a 27.0% takeout on two- and three-horse exotic pools. Structuring tickets effectively requires aligning pool selection with the projected S1F pace scenario and moisture bias.
| Korean Pool Name | International Equivalent | Winning Requirement | Takeout | GLD Quantitative Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 단승 (Win) | Win (단승식) | Select the 1st-place finisher | 17.0% | Optimal when a single pacesetter holds a clear GLD Speed Figure edge aligned with inside gate and moisture bias. |
| 연승 (Place) | Place / Show (연승식) | Finish in Top 3 (8+ runners) or Top 2 (7 or fewer runners) | 17.0% | Ideal for consistent bankroll turnover on high-G3F closers over the 460m Busan homestretch. |
| 복승 (Quinella) | Quinella (복승식) | Select 1st and 2nd finishers in either order | 27.0% | Core Korean pool pairing an inside rail leader (SPD) with an ground-saving stalker (OP) turning the 4th corner. |
| 쌍승 (Exacta) | Exacta (쌍승식) | Select 1st and 2nd finishers in exact order | 27.0% | Offers superior value over Quinella when keying an uncontested Gate 1–3 frontrunner on wet/sloppy (≥15% moisture) sand. |
| 복연승 (Quinella Place / Wide) | Quinella Place / Wide (복연승식) | Select 2 runners that both finish inside the Top 3 | 27.0% | Effective in contentious multi-speed fields when linking a favored anchor with an undervalued GLD Line overlay. |
| 삼복승 (Trio) | Trio / Trifecta Box (삼복승식) | Select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finishers in any order | 27.0% | Primary exotic pool for combining 1 Speed (SPD) + 1 Stalker (OP) + 1 late G3F Closer (C) into a balanced pace ticket. |
| 삼쌍승 (Tierce / Trifecta) | Trifecta / Tierce (삼쌍승식) | Select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finishers in exact order | 27.0% | Maximizes payout leverage by locking top GLD Speed Figure contenders in 1st/2nd and spreading rail-saving value runners in 3rd. |
Weekly Korean Racing Fixture Schedule
| Day | Venues | Korea Time (KST) | US Eastern (EDT) | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Busan • Jeju | 11:30 ~ 18:00 | Thu 22:30 ~ Fri 05:00 | Busan 460m stretch closers & weekend opener |
| Saturday | Seoul • Jeju | 10:35 ~ 18:00 | Fri 21:35 ~ Sat 05:00 | Seoul 1000m–1800m core competitive program |
| Sunday | Seoul • Busan | 10:35 ~ 18:00 | Sat 21:35 ~ Sun 05:00 | Graded Stakes (Korea Cup, Grand Prix) & Class 1 features |
South Korea Racing Strategy & Analyses
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Frequently Asked Questions: Korea Racing (KRA) Speed Figures & Handicapping
Q1. Are GLD Speed Figures normalized across both Seoul and Busan-Gyeongnam?
Yes. Because Busan’s sweeping turns and 460m stretch produce raw times 0.4s to 0.7s faster than Seoul at identical classes, GLD Speed Figures normalize for baseline track speed and daily moisture so Seoul and Busan runners can be compared 1-to-1.
Q2. Why is sand track moisture (함수율) the single most important variable in Korean racing?
On KRA sea-sand ovals, dry cushion (≤5% moisture) slows times by +0.8s and drains early leaders, whereas wet/sloppy tracks (15%–20% moisture) compact the sand, accelerating times by -1.2s to -1.8s and creating a dominant inside-rail speed highway.