The Curragh is one of the tracks that has benefitted from teaming up with the World Pool © Photo Healy Racing
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJC) contribution to British and Irish racecourses generated by World Pool since its inception in 2019 has surpassed £50 million.
A total of 580 races across nine different tracks in the UK and Ireland have been globally commingled by the HKJC since the World Pool’s inaugural fixture at Royal Ascot in 2019, with the Curragh, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Leopardstown, Newbury, Newmarket, Sandown Park and York all hosting World Pool racedays.
Since its inauguration, the number of World Pool races has increased dramatically, from 30 races held at Royal Ascot in 2019, to 135 races, held across the nine different racecourses this year.
In 2024, the English and Irish 1000 Guineas were added as World Pool races for the first time, along with the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. The landmark £50 million figure comes as World Pool builds towards its final fixture of the 2024 UK and Irish Flat season at Ascot this Saturday on QIPCO British Champions Day.
World Pool commits over £300,000 to Moment of the Day and Jockeys’ Championship
In addition, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and partners have helped fund the exciting World Pool Moment of the Day initiative for the past three seasons, which supports racing’s grassroots by giving back to grooms, who are often the unsung heroes behind great equine champions. Each Moment of the Day winning groom receives a £4,000 cash prize and is also in with a chance of a VIP trip to Hong Kong.
The inaugural World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship was launched this year with the winning rider receiving £50,000 to donate to a charity of his or her choice, underlining the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s continued commitment to supporting the community through charitable donations. Points are awarded based on the World Pool win dividend for every World Pool race in the UK and Ireland, offering a level playing field for all jockeys with their chances of winning being dictated by the public as reflected by their World Pool odds.
With one meeting left to go, Billy Loughnane has a commanding lead of over 90 points, after three incredible big-odds victories, during Royal Ascot aboard Rashabar (129.90) on Queen Anne Stakes Day and Soprano (19.65) on Commonwealth Cup Day, and then aboard Canoodled (37.95) on Nunthorpe Stakes Day during York’s Ebor Festival. Those three successes leave Loughnane on a total of 187.50 points, clear of his nearest pursuer Oisin Murphy (97.25).
Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products at the HKJC, said: “World Pool has come such a long way since we first launched at Royal Ascot in 2019. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how much it has grown over the past six years and everyone at the Hong Kong Jockey Club is thrilled to see so much money going back into racing in so many different ways.
“As World Pool continues to grow its presence and popularity, further investment will flow back into the sport, continuing to boost prize money, which in turn should have a positive impact on the size and quality of fields. Healthy field sizes and high-quality racing is what grabs the attention and interest of punters across the globe.”
Alex Frost, Chief Executive, UK Tote Group, said: “In only six years, World Pool has moved from a concept to an initiative that is having a significant impact on supporting the financial ecosystem of racing in the UK and Ireland. It is testament to the vision and leadership of the Hong Kong Jockey Club that we have all been able to make this much progress together.
“Under our long-term contract, everyone at the Tote is very excited to continue our work with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and all our partners to grow World Pool, both for the benefit of racing fans who want an exciting and competitive betting options and to help support the future financial sustainability of the sport.”
The final World Pool fixture of the 2024 British & Irish Flat season takes place at Ascot for QIPCO British Champions Day this Saturday while in Australia, races 6-10 on King Charles Day at Randwick and Race 9 at Caulfield will also be part of the World Pool on the same day.
For all World Pool fixtures, please visit: https://worldpool.hkjc.com/full-fixture.aspx.
