Nine Race Days Added to 2024 World Pool Calendar

Nine new race days have been added to the World Pool calendar in the first six months of 2024, including the Newmarket fixture on Sunday, May 5 which features the G1 QIPCO 1,000 Guineas. One other race on the card will be included during a bumper weekend of action on the Rowley Mile, following on from the entire G1 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas card on Saturday, May 4 which has been a World Pool event since 2022.

The other additions to the schedule include the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, both run at the Curragh on Sunday, May 26, plus five new fixtures from Australia–starting with G1 Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield on Saturday, February 24–and two from South Africa.

The World Pool, the largest globally commingled horse racing pools, was created and is powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). In total, there will be 21 World Pool fixtures in the first half of 2024, with bettors from 28 countries able to bet into the same pools on those given days.

Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, Wagering Products, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “We're excited to be continuing the expansion of World Pool in 2024 by adding new race days from Australia, South Africa, the UK and Ireland to our growing list of fixtures.

“We want World Pool to be in action for the biggest races throughout the year, so it's fantastic to add two more historic Classics to our roster in 2024, with the English 1,000 Guineas and Irish 1,000 Guineas joining the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and English 2,000 Guineas as World Pool race days.”

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Ascot and Tote Sign Five-Year Agreement to Improve Pool Betting

A five-year agreement aimed at strengthening and growing pool betting in the UK was signed by Ascot Racecourse and the Tote on Thursday.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the agreement ensures all pool bets placed on racing from Ascot Racecourse will continue to support liquidity in the UK pool which has been operated by the UK Tote Group since October 2019. The “Bet with Ascot” brand is included under this umbrella of bets as long as the bets are placed on the Tote website, through bookmakers and third-party partners on course.

This agreement also dovetails with the initiative that assists Ascot with being central to the World Pool since it began at Royal Ascot in 2019. Tote operators from 28 countries currently commingle pools which are hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

Alastair Warwick, chief executive of Ascot Racecourse, said, “We are delighted have a new agreement in place with the Tote which will allow us to build on what has been achieved domestically and internationally over the last four years. As one of the original architects of World Pool, alongside the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Tote, we are excited to support the further development of World Pool to ensure both racing fans and the sport benefit from it. We will ensure that Ascot's top-class racing continues to be at the forefront of British racing's efforts to see that the sport is watched and bet on by a growing domestic and global audience.”

Alex Frost, chief executive of the UK Tote Group, added, “The Tote is immensely proud to be a partner of Ascot Racecourse which hosts some of the most prestigious racedays in the sporting calendar. This new agreement ensures Ascot Racecourse and the Tote are perfectly positioned to work together to achieve a strong UK Pool, alongside the continued development of World Pool, which are crucial elements to the future financial sustainability of the sport.”

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Blue Diamond Stakes Latest Addition To World Pool In 2024

Australia's G1 Blue Diamond S. in February will be part of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's World Pool for the first time in 2024, the HKJC announced on Wednesday.

Held at Caulfield, the Blue Diamond on Feb. 24 will become the sixth World Pool event in Australia, after the Turnbull S. Day, The Everest Day, Caulfield Cup Day, Cox Plate Day and Victoria Derby Day. A trio of Australian races filled out the top five World Pool turnover races of 2023, with the HK$60 million (approx. £6 million) staked on October's Cox Plate meaning it was the second highest turnover of any race last year, and the fifth highest World Pool turnover race ever run.

The first World Pool event of 2024 will be held at Kenilworth Racecourse–the Cape Town Met Day on Jan. 27. Next on the calendar will be the Blue Diamond S., which is run on the same day as the Saudi Cup meeting at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. All three World Pool fixtures will be for selected races at the meetings.

Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, Wagering Products of the HKJC, said, “The introduction of World Pool in Australia in 2023 was a major success story with six new race days being opened up to global punters and exceptional turnover being generated.

“We're hoping to build on that momentum in 2024 and are thrilled that World Pool will be operational on Blue Diamond S. Day for the first time. We are excited to be covering such an important 2-year-old contest, as well as returning to Kenilworth for Cape Town Met Day and King Abdulaziz for Saudi Cup Day.”

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Dubai Sheema Classic Win Of Equinox Voted World Pool Moment Of The Year

The dramatic victory of the world's highest rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March has been voted the World Pool Moment of the Year. It is the second year of the award, which was given to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and her groom Annabel Willis in 2022.

The groom of near black superstar, Tomohiro Kusunoki, is the recipient of a VIP trip to the 2024 Hong Kong Derby or the 2024 Champions Day along with three guests. Trained by Tetsuya Kimura, Equinox received 47% of the vote to defeat Group 1-winning sprinter Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and other top-level winners Ozzmosis (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). There were 27 individual World Pool Moment of the Day winners in 2023, with each winning groom receiving £4,000 (approx. HK$38,350), and an independent panel from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) narrowed that down to the four finalists.

Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, wagering products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “It's a great pleasure to reveal Equinox as our 2023 World Pool Moment of the Year winner and present his groom Tomohiro Kusunoki with the winning prize of a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong next year.

“Extraordinary performances like Equinox's Dubai Sheema Classic win don't happen by chance and World Pool are proud to support the dedication and daily care provided by grooms and stable staff of these great equine athletes. We look forward to welcoming Tomohiro and his guests to Hong Kong next year.”

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