World Pool returns for three days at York
World Pool
19/08/2024
Prize money boosts aided by World Pool revenue
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Live In The Dream won last year’s Nunthorpe at 28/1 (SP) but returned a Win dividend of £41.75 for World Pool punters (Credit: Focus on Racing)
Monday 19th August 2024 – World Pool will be in operation for the first three days of York’s Ebor Festival from Wednesday 21 August to Friday 23 August, with a full card of races on International Stakes Day, Yorkshire Oaks Day and Nunthorpe Stakes Day offered to punters from over 28 countries.
On all three days, seven World Pool bet types – Win, Place, Quinella, Quinella Place (Swinger), Tierce (Trifecta), Forecast (Exacta), Treble – will be available.
It marks the fourth year the globally commingled pools, run and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, have featured at York’s premier meeting, having made their debut in August 2021.
Wednesday’s G1 International Stakes is worth a record £1,250,000, an increase of 25% on 2023, and will be the richest race ever run on the Knavesmire, as well as being the joint most valuable all-age contest in Britain.
Commenting ahead of the three World Pool days, William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse, said: “All returns from World Pool to York since 2021 have been re-invested in the prize money and the benefit of that is some of the best horses and jockeys in the world are heading to the Knavesmire. We are huge supporters of World Pool and its transformational impact on world racing and thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club and all global race fans for their support. We are hugely looking forward to continuing our successful partnership with World Pool over the three weekdays of the Ebor Festival.”
Since 2021, all three headline races have featured horses that have won some of international racing’s biggest prizes; Mishriff won the International Stakes in 2021 after landing The Saudi Cup and Sheema Classic earlier that season, 2022 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Alpinista went on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while 2022 Nunthorpe winner Highfield Princess recorded Group 1 wins in Ireland and France following her York triumph. The International Stakes alone has a star-studded roll of honour, including all-time great Frankel in 2012, while the 2000m contest was named Longines World's Best Horse Race in 2020.
Derby added: “The record investment in prize money by the York Race Committee has been rewarded by some of the best racing of the year, so far. The meeting kicks off with the richest race we have ever staged, the £1.25m International Stakes, in which Grade 1 winner Durezza has travelled from Japan and looks set to race against the world’s highest rated turf colt, City Of Troy.
“Global fans of our sport are very familiar with two of the best jockeys in the world, Christophe Lemaire and Ryan Moore, who will hope their mounts can overcome a host of stars in the flagship event on Wednesday. One of the best plotlines in the 2024 Turf season is set for its latest instalment at York on Friday when Aussie ace, Asfoora, takes on home sprint star, Big Evs, once more in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.”
A World Pool Moment of the Day, with £4,000 on offer to the winning groom, will be chosen on each of the three days.
Last year’s three Moment of the Day winners were Nunthorpe Stakes winner Live In The Dream, who was a major success for a small yard, popular handicapper Ropey Guest and Acomb Stakes winner Indian Run.
Ropey Guest and Live In The Dream were among the most significant World Pool overpays at last year’s meeting, with Ropey Guest paying £50.35 against an SP of 40/1, and Live In The Dream returning at £41.75 on World Pool as opposed to an SP of 28/1.
The race to win the inaugural UK & IRE World Pool Jockeys’ Championship, which offers a £50,000 charity donation to the winner, is also hotting up.
Billy Loughnane is still on top with 149.55 points, with a large chunk of that coming from Rashabar’s shock Royal Ascot win at a World Pool Win dividend of £129.90, but Silvestre de Sousa closed the gap at Goodwood following his win aboard Big Mojo at £32.90. The Brazilian sits in second on 81.15 points, with Oisin Murphy in striking distance on 75.55.
Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products at the HKJC, said: “The roll call of winners in the three years since World Pool has been active at York takes a bit of beating and we’re looking forward to seeing some more stars on the Knavesmire this week.
“We’re pleased to once again be commingling the first three days of the meeting, offering punters the best possible value, which is demonstrated by some of last year’s overpays.
“Our World Pool Moment of the Day competition will take place on all three days, and is an initiative designed to recognise the achievements and dedication of stable staff, and the vital work they do behind the scenes in racing.”
Upcoming World Pool events:
August
Wednesday 21: International Stakes Day – York Racecourse (F)
Thursday 22: Yorkshire Oaks Day – York Racecourse (F)
Friday 23: Nunthorpe Stakes Day – York Racecourse (F)
September
Sunday 1: Grosser Preis von Baden Day – Baden-Baden Racecourse (P)
Saturday 14: Makybe Diva Stakes Day – Flemington Racecourse (P)
Saturday 14: Irish Champion Stakes Day – Leopardstown Racecourse (F)
Sunday 15: Irish St. Leger Day – Curragh Racecourse (P)
October
Saturday 19: King Charles III Stakes Day – Randwick Racecourse (P)
Saturday 19: Caulfield Cup Day – Caulfield Racecourse (S)
Saturday 19: British Champions Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
November
Saturday 2: Victoria Derby Day – Flemington Racecourse (F)
Sunday 10: Grosser Preis von Bayern Day – Munich Racecourse (P)
December
Sunday 15: Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini – San Isidro Racecourse (S)
*F: Full meeting - World Pool coverage on all races in the relevant meeting
P: Part meeting - World Pool coverage only on selected races in the relevant meeting
S: Single race - World Pool coverage only on this race in the relevant meeting
