THE Curragh can expect a dividend of approximately €500,000 from its Irish Derby day association with World Pool.

Set up by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, World Pool is a collaboration between global totes which allows bettors from all over the globe to bet into a single pool.

Last Sunday was the first time that Derby day was included as a World Pool fixture and it attracted total betting of HK$251 million (€29.5 million).

Asked whether reports of a €500,000 payout for the Curragh were accurate, racecourse boss Brian Kavanagh said: “It’s hard to put a precise figure on the return to the Curragh and Tote Ireland (70:30 split) until the exchange rates and various deductions are finalised but that figure shouldn’t be far off the mark.”

For first time since 2011 the Irish Derby was run on a Sunday and the attendance figure of 10,897 was slightly down on the previous year’s figure of 11,242, when the race was run on a Saturday.

However, the three-day attendance figure was up 25% on last year “with equivalent increases in food and beverage sales.”

Bookmaker betting was up by 29% over the three days and on course Tote betting by 46%.

“Lots of learnings and ideas for next year, but generally the feedback has been positive with good comment on the atmosphere over the three days,” Kavanagh said.

“Obviously, the day was marred somewhat by the fatality to San Antonio, and we send our best wishes to Wayne Lordan, but it was great to see Auguste Rodin complete the Derby double.

“Our prize money was up by €356,000 (15%) over the weekend and it was great to see so many different trainers getting a winner over the weekend with some of the smaller outfits landing some big pots.

“I was pleased with the way the programme held up over the weekend with good field sizes and competitive racing throughout. We increased the minimum values of our races throughout the weekend and appreciated the strong support from the owners and trainers as field sizes are an important factor for the World Pool.”

Leopardstown is thought to have earned €500,000 from World Pool on Irish Champion Stakes day last year and that fixture will again be part of World Pool next September.