World Pool organisers set sights on 'considerable widening' of customer base

The World Pool, the collaboration between global pari-mutuel operators and the Hong Kong Jockey Club which launched in 2019 with 12 racing days, will feature at least 22 events in 2023 – and organisers have their sights set even higher.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chief executive of the HKJC, said: "The vision is that every race in the top 100 of Group 1s will try to promote a World Pool.”

The association is strongest with Britain, he added, pointing to record turnover of £6.74 million on this year’s Derby, and short-term aspirations involve Australia and Germany, while he described ongoing interaction with the French PMU as providing "interesting discussions" without promising hope of an imminently successful outcome.