World Pool passes £75m in revenue for UK and Irish racecourses

A busier fixture list delivered World Pool’s strongest season yet in Britain and Ireland, with Tote customers often beating the starting price.

World Pool, the commingled betting pools hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), has generated more than £75 million for UK and Irish racecourses since its debut at Royal Ascot in 2019, after turnover on this year’s British and Irish fixtures rose 30% to a record HK$7.66 billion, according to the HKJC.

More fixtures and record turnover

World Pool ran on 34 race days in the UK and Ireland in 2026, covering 222 races, up from 25 fixtures and 161 races in 2025. Its contribution to UK and Irish racecourses stood at £65 million after the 2025 season.

International (non-Hong Kong) turnover on Royal Ascot passed HK$500 million for the first time, with HK$528 million commingled by the HKJC’s international partners across 35 races, up 7% on 2025. Irish Derby Day at the Curragh also set an international turnover high of HK$53.7 million across nine races, up 7% and the third successive annual rise.

Prices against the starting price

For customers in the UK and Ireland betting through the Tote, 53% of World Pool race winners returned a bigger price than the starting price (SP), and 67% of all runners beat SP. Notable overpays included Almeraq in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot (39.25 against 25/1 SP), Item in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes (13.60 against 10/1) and Alphonse Le Grande in the Cesarewitch (30.25 against 18/1).

The highest World Pool Trifecta paid £104,688.10 to a £1 stake, in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. On all UK and Irish World Pool fixtures, the Tote also guaranteed to match SP on any horse that returned at lower World Pool odds.

Osborne takes the jockeys’ title

Saffie Osborne won the 2026 World Pool Jockeys’ Championship with 186.30 points from 13 winners, ahead of World Pool ambassador Ryan Moore (103.85) and Billy Loughnane (101.50). Of her rides, 78% overpaid with World Pool. Osborne was crowned on British Champions Day at Ascot and split her £50,000 charity prize equally between HEROS and Lambourn Riding for the Disabled.

World Pool also chose 26 Moment of the Day winners in the UK and Ireland this season, giving £4,000 or €4,500 to stable staff each time, more than £100,000 in total.

Jon Knapman, head of commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, commented:

‘These strong figures help provide a key funding mechanism for the sport, and we’re proud to report that World Pool revenue generated for UK and Irish racecourses since 2019 has now surpassed £75 million.’

Knapman added that Royal Ascot continues to drive turnover growth, and that international turnover passing HK$500 million showed the meeting’s global appeal. World Pool has also widened its European presence this year, appointing Mickaël Barzalona as ambassador for French racing, while UK racing’s data market has seen fresh deals such as Podium’s racing data agreement with UK newcomer Bet Ahoy.

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