THE Curragh is exploring the possibility of adding the Irish Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes racedays to the World Pool schedule.
Already this year the Curragh has 24 races open to World Pool betting. How much this is worth to the track depends on betting turnover but an industry estimate is that each eligible race generate €70,000 for the host. Using that formula, last Sunday’s Irish Derby card earned over €600,000 for the Curragh and Horse Racing Ireland.
Launched in 2019, World Pool is effectively run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and they decide which racedays can take part. The criteria appears to include having at least one Group 1 race on the day and at least eight runners in each race, up to a maximum of nine races.
Hong Kong-based punters typically account for around 70% of the money bet into the pool.
Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of the Curragh, said: “It is an important source of revenue that has grown from eight Curragh races in 2023 to 24 this year. As the World Pool covers the best races in the world, it is important to have the leading Irish meetings included.”
Asked if there was scope to further increase the Curragh’s involvement in World Pool, Kavanagh said: “Yes, Group 1 days such as Irish Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes could be suitable but obviously that is something for discussion with the World Pool authorities.”
He said there were no plans to disrupt the Curragh’s Irish Champions Festival card, which has four Group 1 races, all of which are already World Pool races.
Prize money
Roughly 55% of World Pool revenue goes to the racecourse and 45% to the Tote/Horse Racing Ireland, Kavanagh explained. He added that “All Curragh profits are used for three purposes – grow prize money, improve facilities, promote racemeetings. For the past two years we have put a strong focus on growing prize money.”
Last Sunday’s Irish Derby card included six handicaps, mainly in order to ensure big fields which would maximise World Pool turnover. The move attracted criticism in some quarters, including those who felt that the day should focus on quality.
Kavanagh said: “As with all of our meetings, we will review the programme in detail and feed our findings into decisions for next year. I think you have to be happy with the programme over the whole weekend and with the number of runners (310) and international participation (11 UK, 1 French).
“To get 10 runners in the Derby including the Epsom 1-2-3 was great and once again the Pretty Polly delivered a fantastic race.
“We have had positive feedback about the spread of winners (nine separate trainers) and the competitiveness of the racing on the Sunday while others have suggested that there should be a two-year-old race on the card.”
Naas Racecourse chairman Dermot Cantillon envies the Curragh’s near monopoly on World Pool participation in Ireland. “I welcome the World Pool. It is very positive in generality for Irish racing.
“We have done a good job at Naas and we have been trying to break into the premiership by getting a Group 1 race but so far we have practically been ignored. The system seems to be designed in such a way that the big get bigger and we cannot progress.
“Group 1 races are a lot more spread out in Britain than they are in Ireland. Only the Curragh and Leopardstown have them here and that gives them a major advantage.”
Brian Kavanagh commented: “World Pool is still in its infancy. It’s going in the right direction and I believe in the future it will cover more than just Group 1 racedays.”