The Hong Kong Jockey Club, in partnership with Ascot and Totepool, will launch the new Ascot World Pool for Royal Ascot 2019.
The Club will for the first time simulcast all five days of Royal Ascot, from 18 June (Tuesday) to 22 June (Saturday). The historic meeting features eight Group 1 races of world renown, including the Queen Anne Stakes, the King’s Stand Stakes, the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the Gold Cup and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, as well as eight Group 2 contests and three Group 3 events.
The newly-established, pari-mutuel-based World Pool will offer a strong value proposition to all overseas and Hong Kong customers on the Royal Ascot meeting. It also further positions Hong Kong as the international hub of commingling.
Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to provide a global tote offering for one of the world’s leading racing brands, Royal Ascot. This moment represents the beginning of a new era in international racing and solidifies Hong Kong’s position as the global hub for commingling. The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s wagering operation is recognised as being among the world leaders in integrity and management processes, as well as with regard to its wagering technology.”
Mr. Guy Henderson, Ascot Racecourse Chief Executive Officer, said: “Royal Ascot is one of the world’s great sporting occasions, and while it is noted for its distinguished history and traditions, we aspire to be one of horseracing’s leading innovators. We are excited to partner with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Totepool to launch the world’s first global pool around Royal Ascot at this year’s meeting, a development which supports our overall strategy of engagement on all levels internationally. The new, extended media rights contracts within and around the World Pool venture will see wider coverage of Royal Ascot than ever before, specifically in Hong Kong where all five days will be simulcast for the first time.”
Overseas pari-mutuel wagers placed through partners from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States will be commingled into Hong Kong’s pools directly or via Totepool during Royal Ascot. This will ensure maximum liquidity and stronger opportunities for customers across the globe on the Royal Ascot meeting.
Mr. Richard Cheung, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Customer and International Business Development, said: “The creation of Ascot World Pool is another great step forward for the Club’s commingling strategy. The Club has been working closely with its partners from Royal Ascot and Totepool since 2018 in preparation for a successful launch to Royal Ascot 2019.”
Subject to changes, the details of the Royal Ascot races are as follows:
Day 1 – King’s Stand Stakes Day – 18 Jun 2019 (Tue)
