The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) reported a near 20 percent increase in World Pool turnover on non-Hong Kong races in 2025, driven by an expansion in the number of racedays and jurisdictions included in the commingled betting platform.
According to a report from the Racing Post, turnover on overseas races rose to HK$9.3 billion ($1.19 billion), up from HK$7.8 billion ($1.00 billion) a year earlier.
The growth was underpinned by a rise in the number of international meetings commingled into World Pool from outside Hong Kong, which increased from 48 in 2024 to 57 in 2025, representing an 18.75 percent year-on-year increase. The additional fixtures broadened World Pool’s global footprint and helped lift betting volumes across multiple markets.
A key highlight of the year was a record-breaking single-race turnover, fueled by the participation of Ka Ying Rising, widely regarded as Hong Kong’s top horse, in The Everest at Randwick Racecourse. The race generated HK$83 million ($10.65 million) in World Pool bets, surpassing the previous record of HK$66.2 million ($8.50 million) set during the 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, when Hong Kong sprinter Wellington competed.
Andrew Harding, executive director of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the platform had delivered a strong performance over the past year. “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,” he said.
Harding added that World Pool’s expansion has supported the globalization of horse racing by creating additional revenue streams for racecourses and rights holders, contributing to higher prize money. Looking ahead, he said the club expects further growth in 2026, with plans to expand the fixture list and reach more racing fans worldwide.
In 2025, all of Hong Kong’s Group 1 races were included in World Pool for the first time, generating HK$1.6 billion ($205 million) in turnover. This brought total World Pool turnover across all races to HK$10.9 billion ($1.40 billion) for the year. Overall, 329 races were run under the World Pool banner across ten jurisdictions.
