Derby Days at Epsom in the UK and Eagle Farm in Australia have jointly achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new record for World Pool betting turnover. Across 12 exhilarating races spanning the two prestigious racedays, an impressive HK$385.2 million (approx. ÂŁ38.7m/AU$74.2m) was wagered.
This unprecedented milestone surpasses the previous record set earlier this year in March, during Dubai World Cup Day, Tancred Stakes Day, and Australian Cup Day, which collectively generated a turnover of HK$378.1 million (approx. ÂŁ38m/AU$72.6m).
Notably, the Epsom Derby experienced significant growth in turnover compared to the previous year, reaching HK$51.8 million (approx. ÂŁ5.2m), marking a substantial 24% increase from HK$41.6 million (approx. ÂŁ4.2m) in 2023.
Furthermore, with an additional race added to this year’s card, total turnover at Epsom witnessed a commendable rise, accumulating to HK$264.5 million (approx. ÂŁ26.6m), up from HK$249.1 million (approx. ÂŁ25m) recorded last year.
The standout moment of the Epsom Classic was City Of Troy’s impressive victory, earning groom David Hickey the prestigious World Pool Moment of the Day award and a ÂŁ4,000 prize. Additionally, the intense competition among jockeys in the UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship continued to captivate audiences, with Silvestre de Sousa maintaining his lead.
Eagle Farm’s Queensland Derby also contributed significantly to the overall turnover, with HK$120.7 million (approx. AU$23.2m/ÂŁ12.1m) wagered across four exhilarating races. Notable victories by I Wish I Win and Warmonger further added to the excitement of the day.
Both Epsom and Eagle Farm races offered unparalleled value to punters, consistently outperforming fixed odds starting prices and providing lucrative opportunities for Tote customers in the UK.
Looking ahead, Eagle Farm will once again host World Pool races on June 15, featuring the prestigious G1 Stradbroke Handicap and the G2 Q22, promising another thrilling betting experience for enthusiasts worldwide. The upcoming Gold Challenge at Greyville, South Africa, this Saturday, will mark the next exciting chapter in the World Pool saga.
Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the HKJC, said: “We have been delighted with the success of World Pool’s composite racedays so far this year and it was fantastic to combine all eight races from Epsom Derby Day with our first offering from Eagle Farm, featuring four races on Queensland Derby Day.
“To see record turnover across the cards is hugely exciting and shows the appeal of combining some of the biggest races internationally. We look forward to bringing World Pool customers further opportunities to bet on composite racedays in future.”
Alex Frost, Chief Executive at the UK Tote, said: “We were all privileged to see City Of Troy’s spectacular performance in the Derby which was a captivating spectacle for racing fans around the world. These global superstars are so precious for the sport and exactly what the World Pool is designed to showcase.
“World Pool once again provided customers in the UK and Ireland with remarkable value and liquidity and some significant overpays on winners in a market with an average Tote Win overround of 111%, compared to an industry Starting Price overround of 117%.”
Tom Sammes, General Manager at Epsom Downs Racecourse, commented, “We were absolutely delighted with the turnover performance of the World Pool races on Betfred Derby Day, including on the Derby itself, where we saw a fantastic renewal of the race won by City Of Troy. This shows the importance of World Pool and its value to customers of British racing, both domestically and further afield.”