Pool competitions in the UK and Ireland commence at Newmarket, marking the start of the season for both regions.
Rewritten Article
Get ready for the thrilling 2025 World Pool season, rockin' off in the UK and Ireland on Saturday, May 3 with the premier 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket[1]. Kickstarting the global pari-mutuel betting, this event is more than just a horse race - it's the starting line for the World Pool Jockeys’ Championship, running all the way till the grand finale, British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18, 2025[1].
This season, we've amped up the excitement with a fresh lineup of races across the UK and Ireland[1]. Here are some key fixtures you won't want to miss:
- May 3, 2025: 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket (Opening fixture)
- May 17, 2025: Lockinge Stakes Day at Newbury (All races included)
- May 24, 2025: Irish 2000 Guineas Day from the Curragh (First World Pool fixture in Ireland)
- May 25, 2025: Tattersalls Gold Cup card at the Curragh
- June 7, 2025: Derby Stakes Day at Epsom
- October 18, 2025: British Champions Day at Ascot (Season finale)
Last year, the Championship was a nail-biting race won by Billy Loughnane with 187.50 points, bolting past second-placed Oisin Murphy by over 90 points[2]. Loughnane's game-changing win on Rashabar in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023, which returned at 129.90 with World Pool, compared with an industry Starting Price of 80/1, played a crucial role in his victory[2]. Loughnane was not only a master rider but also a stand-up bloke, choosing to donate the £50,000 prize to The Christy Lambe Foundation, an organization that supports community-driven mental health action[2].
Ryan Moore, a world-leading jockey, has signed up as a World Pool ambassador for 2025[3]. Keep an eye out for his insights on World Pool racedays as well as the hottest topics in racing[3]. Moore's triumph aboard City Of Troy in the Derby in 2023 was hailed as a World Pool Moment of the Day, with groom David Hickey bagging a sweet £4,000 prize[3]. This memorable moment was then shortlisted and ultimately selected as the World Pool Moment of the Year[3], with Hickey looking forward to 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, and the winning groom will receive a cheque for £4,000/€4,500[3]. Since 2019, World Pool has pumped over £50 million into British and Irish racecourses, a figure that continues to grow[4]. The 2024 season saw total turnover soar to HK$4.6bn (approx. £455m)[4].
Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and racecourses under its umbrella, including The Jockey Club, Goodwood, and York Racecourses, are excited to join forces with HKJC and UKTG in growing revenues and global interest in racing[5]. Curragh Racecourse is especially stoked to extend its relationship with World Pool, as four of their dates will be pooled this year[5]. Get ready for an exciting season filled with world-class racing action, Fortune and Glory!
[1] https://www.toteglobal.com/worldpool/[2] https://www.racingpost.com/news/hkjc-presses-on-with-world-pool- Fixture-calendar-revamp/446243[3] https://www.theirishfield.com/2023/11/06/ryan-moore-to-be-world-pool-ambassador-for-2025-racing-season/[4] https://www.thehindu.com/sport/horse-racing/world-pool-delivers- £50-million-for-british-irish-racing/article66519963.ece[5] https://www.racingpost.com/news/racecourse-media-group- hails-world-pool-opening-of-2025-uk-and-irish-season/473936
- The 2025 World Pool season, commencing on May 3 at Newmarket's 2000 Guineas Day, will be broadcasted across UK and Irish racecourses, including The Jockey Club, Goodwood, and York Racecourses, thanks to their partnership with World Pool, UKTG, and HKJC.
- With the average turnover soaring to HK$4.6bn (£455m) in the 2024 season, World Pool continues to drive revenue and global interest in horse-racing, pumping over £50 million into British and Irish racecourses since 2019.
- Tune into Ryan Moore's insights on World Pool racedays and the hottest topics in racing, as he serves as a World Pool ambassador for the 2025 season. Grooms like David Hickey, who received £4,000/€4,500 for being part of the Moment of the Day, will also be a highlight of these events.
- The Curragh Racecourse is particularly thrilled to extend its relationship with World Pool, as four of their dates will be pooled this year, adding to this racing season's excitement. Get ready for an unparalleled horse-racing experience, as the World Pool season promises Fortune and Glory!
