World Pool Turnover on Overseas Races Soars to HK$9.3 Billion in 2025

[Wandering Eyes]

World Pool turnover on overseas races in 2025 totalled HK$9.3 billion (around €1 billion), representing a 20% increase on the 2024 figure of HK$7.8 billion (€855 million).

In total, the Hong Kong Jockey Club-powered pools were active across 57 racedays staged outside of Hong Kong. Most notably, those racedays included the Randwick card on October 18 which saw Ka Ying Rising extend his winning sequence in The Everest. Total turnover on The Everest reached a new record for a single race of HK$83 million (€9.1 million), smashing the previous high of HK$66.2 million (€7.3 million) wagered on the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023.

The year saw 329 races run under the World Pool banner, 70 of which were positioned in the IFHA Top 100 within the last three years, across 10 jurisdictions. For the first time, all of Hong Kong's Group 1 contests were run as World Pool races, accounting for HK$1.6 billion (€175 million) and taking the total turnover for all World Pool races to HK$10.9 billion (€1.2 billion).

Meanwhile, World Pool's Moment of the Day initiative saw HK$1.2 million (€132,000) awarded to 30 different grooms on World Pool racedays throughout the year.

Following a public vote, Kevin Daffy – who trains, owns and leads up Australian galloper Oh Too Good – received the prize for World Pool Moment of the Year after the horse's triumph in the Jewellers Vase on the Might And Power Stakes undercard at Caulfield on October 11. Daffy will follow in the footsteps of the 2024 winner, David Hickey – groom of City Of Troy – in enjoying a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong in 2026.

Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “It's been a very positive year for World Pool. We've had more racedays and jurisdictions involved than ever before, and we've seen turnover records broken too.

“World Pool's growth over the past 12 months has played a key role in the globalisation of racing and all the benefits that come with that, not least the increased revenue streams for racecourses and rights holders which leads to greater prize-money.”

He added, “Heading into 2026, we're confident that World Pool will continue to act as a positive force for racing globally and we will be confirming an expansion of fixtures very soon, bringing World Pool to even more racing fans in the new year.”

World Pool returns in 2026 with the running of the King's Plate in South Africa on January 10. For upcoming fixtures and further information, visit the World Pool website.

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