English and Irish 1000 Guineas join World Pool calendar for 2024
World Pool
25/01/2024
Fillies’ Classics to be globally commingled by The Hong Kong Jockey Club
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Tahiyra (right) won last year’s Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh | Credit: Focus on Racing
Thursday 25th January 2024 – For the first time, World Pool, the largest globally commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), will be active for both the English G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas (May 5) at Newmarket and the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (May 26) at the Curragh in 2024.
The Curragh Classic will be joined by the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on the same card, with punters from 28 countries able to bet into the same pools on both contests. The English 1000 Guineas and one other contest on the card will follow on from the entire G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas (May 4) card, which has been a World Pool event since 2022.
Alongside the Guineas meetings, World Pool will be in operation on a further seven new race days in the first half of 2024, including five new fixtures from Australia and two from South Africa.
One of the major successes of 2023 was the expansion of World Pool in Australia, and this is set to extend further with Blue Diamond Stakes Day (February 24), Australian Cup Day (March 30), Tancred Stakes Day (March 30), Doncaster Mile Stakes Day (April 6) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day (April 13) all new World Pool fixtures this year.
Also new to the World Pool circuit in 2024 are South African Derby Day (April 6) and the Gold Challenge (June 8).
In total, there will be 21 World Pool fixtures in the first six months of 2024, including notable returning fixtures, Cape Met Day (January 27), Saudi Cup Day (February 24), Dubai World Cup Day (March 30), Derby Stakes Day (June 1) at Epsom, as well as all five days of Royal Ascot (June 18-22).
Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “We’re excited to be continuing the expansion of World Pool in 2024 by adding new race days from Australia, South Africa, the UK and Ireland to our growing list of fixtures.
“We want World Pool to be in action for the biggest races throughout the year, so it’s fantastic to add two more historic Classics to our roster in 2024, with the English 1000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas joining the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and English 2000 Guineas as World Pool race days.
Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “It is exciting to see World Pool continuing to expand around the globe in 2024. In what is an increasingly competitive environment, it’s testament to the quality of British and Irish racing that an extra World Pool day has been added in each country for the start of the Flat season.
“We look forward to working with all our partners to promote World Pool to racing fans in the UK and Ireland to ensure it continues to offer exceptional value to customers and financially support a sustainable future for the sport.”
Suzanne Eade, HRI CEO, said: “It is great to see Irish racing being a key part of the expansion of World Pool, and the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas together with the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup from the Curragh being recognised in the plans for 2024.
“World Pool, in partnership with Tote, and the commingling opportunities provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been a key enabler in supporting the health and quality of global racing.”
Martin Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents the international pool betting interests of The Jockey Club and Horse Racing Ireland, plus Goodwood and York racecourses, said: "The addition of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas – two of the most prestigious Classics – further strengthens the World Pool schedule. We look forward to another successful year for World Pool and working with all parties to help grow income for the sport and further enhance its popularity.”
Upcoming World Pool events in first half of 2024 include:
January
Saturday 27: Cape Town Met Day – Kenilworth Racecourse (P)
February
Saturday 24: Blue Diamond Stakes Day – Caulfield Racecourse (P)
Saturday 24: Saudi Cup Race Day – King Abdulaziz Racecourse (P)
March
Saturday 30: Australian Cup Day – Flemington Racecourse (P)
Saturday 30: Tancred Stakes Day – Rosehill Gardens Racecourse (P)
Saturday 30: Dubai World Cup Day – Meydan Racecourse (P)
April
Saturday 6: South African Derby Day – Turffontein Racecourse (P)
Saturday 13: Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day – Randwick Racecourse (F)
May
Saturday 4: 2000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (F)
Sunday 5: 1000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (P)
Saturday 18: Lockinge Stakes Day – Newbury Racecourse (P)
Sunday 26: Irish 1000 Guineas Day – Curragh Racecourse (P)
June
Saturday 1: Derby Stakes Day – Epsom Racecourse (F)
Saturday 8: Gold Challenge – Greyville Racecourse (S)
Tuesday 18: King’s Stand Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Wednesday 19: Prince of Wales’s Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Thursday 20: Gold Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Friday 21: Commonwealth Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Saturday 22: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Sunday 30: Irish Derby Day – Curragh Racecourse (F)
*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
