Pool competitions in the UK and Ireland commence at Newmarket, marking the beginning of their respective seasons.
World Pool* kicks off again in the UK and Ireland on May 3rd, starting with 2000 Guineas Day from Newmarket, and it's also the commencement of the World Pool Jockeys' Championship for the second year.
Scoring points will be based on the World Pool dividend for the winning riders of all UK and Irish World Pool races throughout the season, running from 2000 Guineas Day to British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18th.
Last year, Billy Loughnane took home the inaugural World Pool Jockeys' Championship title, racking up 187.50 points, over 90 points ahead of second-placed Oisin Murphy. Loughnane's victorious ride on Rashabar in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, which returned at 129.90 with World Pool, contrasted sharply with an industry SP of 80/1. The £50,000 prize for his win went to The Christy Lambe Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting community-driven mental health initiatives.
This season features new fixtures and additional races added to the World Pool calendar. On May 17th, all races on Lockinge Stakes Day at Newbury will be available via World Pool, while the first Irish World Pool fixture of 2025 will be a new one: Irish 2000 Guineas Day from the Curragh, globally pooled for the first time.
The G1 Irish 2000 Guineas has been a part of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' (IFHA) Top 100 Group 1 races for the previous two years, and World Pool's objective remains to highlight as many of these prestigious races as possible for its global customers.
Following Irish 2000 Guineas Day, World Pool will also be in action the following day at the Curragh for Tattersalls Gold Cup Day before returning to the UK for Derby Stakes Day at Epsom on June 7th.
This year marks the sixth year of World Pool at Royal Ascot, and all 35 races over the five-day event will once again be part of the World Pool.
Renowned jockey Ryan Moore has stepped up as a World Pool ambassador for 2025, offering insights into his rides on World Pool racedays, as well as tackling some of the biggest topics in racing. Moore's Derby win on City Of Troy, trained by Aidan O'Brien, was named a World Pool Moment of the Day last year, with groom David Hickey earning the £4,000 prize.
The Derby victory was then shortlisted and ultimately chosen as the World Pool Moment of the Year, with Hickey set for a VIP trip to Hong Kong later this year. All UK and Irish World Pool days featuring five or more races will see a Moment of the Day chosen, rewarding the winning groom with £4,000/€4,500.
Since 2019, World Pool has contributed over £50 million to British and Irish racecourses, with the 2024 season seeing total turnover reach HK$4.6bn (approximately £455m).
Sam Nati, Head of Commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, commented, "The British and Irish Flat season offers some of the best racing action worldwide, with the Classics on both sides of the Irish Sea steeped in history and Royal Ascot the crown jewel for our overseas customers with World Pool active on all five days. This year, we've expanded our offering for the UK and Irish season with new World Pool races added on Lockinge Day and the Irish 2000 Guineas making its World Pool debut, all while racing fans will eagerly await the thoughts of our ambassador Ryan Moore ahead of some of the biggest fixtures in global racing. We're also thrilled to welcome back the World Pool Jockeys' Championship for a second year, and we eagerly await crowning the top rider on British Champions Day at Ascot in October."
Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, stated, "The early stages of the 2025 flat season promise to be thrilling with top-class racing in the UK and Ireland. With so many of our best days now part of the World Pool calendar, everyone at the Tote is excited to collaborate with our UK and international partners to present the value of World Pool to racing fans while maximizing benefits for the sport."
Customers placing wagers with the Tote on UK and Irish World Pool days in 2024 enjoyed great value:
- Tote Win outpaced the Industry Starting Price in 55% of races and matched on the remaining occasions, returning an average of 9% more.
- A £1 stake on every British and Irish winner with World Pool generated £207.86 compared to the same bet at Industry SP.
- Tote Win overround was 112% compared to an industry Starting Price of 120%.
- Tote Exacta outperformed Forecast in 84% of races, returning an average of 37% more.
- Tote Trifecta outperformed Tricast in 84% of races where the Tricast operated, returning an average of 59% more.
Nick Mills, CEO of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents the media interests of The Jockey Club, Goodwood, and York Racecourses, said, "The return of the World Pool schedule to the UK and Ireland from May 3rd signals an exciting period for RMG and our racecourses, and we eagerly await working alongside HKJC and UKTG to further grow revenues and global interest in the sport."
Brian Kavanagh, CEO of the Curragh Racecourse, added, "The Curragh places a high value on its relationship with World Pool, which started with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in 2023 and has continued to develop since then. This year, the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas meeting on May 24th will be a World Pool event, and we look forward to a fantastic day of racing."
Upcoming World Pool fixtures include:
May- 3rd: South Australian Derby Day - Morphettville Racecourse, Australia (P)- 3rd: 2000 Guineas Day - Newmarket Racecourse, UK (F)- 17th: Doomben 10000 Day - Doomben Racecourse, Australia (P)- 17th: Lockinge Stakes Day - Newbury Racecourse, UK (F)- 24th: Doomben Cup Day - Doomben Racecourse, Australia (P)- 24th: Irish 2000 Guineas Day - Curragh Racecourse, Ireland (F)- 25th: Champions and Chater Cup - Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong (S)- 25th: Tattersalls Gold Cup Day - Curragh Racecourse, Ireland (P)- 29th: Irish Derby Day - Curragh Racecourse, Ireland (F)
(Dates listed are based on Hong Kong time zone GMT+8.)
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While no direct mention of a "World Pool Jockeys' Championship" in horse racing was found in the provided results, it could be hypothesized that such a competition might involve a scoring system where riders earn points for race placements, powered by partnerships with betting operators that link prize money to pooled global bets. The competition could rotate across major international tracks, leveraging global participation. Consult local racing authorities for specific UK/Ireland events details.
- The World Pool Jockeys' Championship will commence on May 3rd, with scoring points based on the World Pool dividend for the winning riders of all UK and Irish World Pool races throughout the season.
- Last year, the inaugural World Pool Jockeys' Championship title was won by Billy Loughnane, who racked up 187.50 points, over 90 points ahead of second-placed Oisin Murphy.
- This season, World Pool will be in action at the Curragh for Irish 2000 Guineas Day on May 24th, marking the First Irish World Pool fixture of 2025.
- The World Pool objective remains to highlight as many prestigious horse-racing events as possible for its global customers, including the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, which has been a part of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Top 100 Group 1 races for the previous two years.
