Hong Kong Jockey Club and UK Tote’s World Class Commitment
The UK Tote Group and Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) have announced a new five-year agreement. The extension will allow both parties to build on their existing collaborative partnership. It has developed significantly since the purchase of the Tote by the UK Tote Group in October 2019.
So far, the high point of the relationship has been the development of the World Pool. Now in its fifth year, World Pool features 28 pool betting operators from around the globe. They commingle wagers into a single pool operated by the HKJC for 25 high-profile race meetings. Resultantly, World Pool races boast enormous liquidity.
Hollie Doyle promoting the UK Tote at Glorious Goodwood 2022. ©GettyImages
Tote Pool Investing Into the Sport
According to UK Tote, “the new agreement between the parties sees the UK Tote become the exclusive pool partner for World Pool in the UK and Ireland. This will ensure collaboration on exciting developments, including new bet types and further improvements to the customer experience.”
A press release delivered on the eve of Royal Ascot also boasted: “World Pool is generating new funds and significant financial returns for British and Irish racing via media rights payments for participating racecourses. These funds are being used to invest in prize money to support British racing’s feature meetings. The funds generated by World Pool can be expected to accelerate as World Pool grows in future years.”
The Figures Tell Their Tale
In 2023 there will be 25 World Pool days. That number includes 18 meetings in Great Britain and Ireland between May and October. They will offer over £31 million in prize money. Last year, World Pool saw record global turnover of £650 million, with £521 million bet on the British and Irish race days. It was an increase of 44 percent from the previous year.
With the deepening collaboration between the UK Tote and the HKJC, Tote customers in the UK and Ireland will continue to enjoy betting into multi-million-pound pools on top-class racing from Hong Kong’s two racecourses, Happy Valley and Sha Tin. The meetings include FWD Champions Day in April and the LONGINES Hong Kong International races in December.
On announcing the new contract, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club said: “The UK Tote is our principal commingling partner, and we are very pleased to be extending our relationship for the next five years with this new agreement. The UK Tote has been instrumental in the growth of World Pool over the last four years, and this new agreement underpins our very valued partnership.”
What Are the World Pool Bet Types?
- Win 17.5% Takeout
- Place 17.5% Takeout
- Quinella 17.5% Takeout
- Swinger/Quinella Place 17.5% Takeout
- Trifecta/Tierce 25% Takeout
- Exacta/Forecast 19.5% Takeout
- Treble 25% Takeout
What Are the Future World Pool Meetings?
Derby Day and Royal Ascot have come and gone, but there are several more World Pool days on the British and Irish racing calendar in 2023. These include some of horse racing’s most famous events – this weekend’s Irish Derby, Coral-Eclipse Day, QIPCO King George Diamond Day, the first three days of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Longines Irish Champions Day at Leopardstown, and QIPCO British Champions Day.
