SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Dubai’s Super Saturday meeting saw the World Pool’s global turnover reach HK$224,802,517 (approx. $28.6m) across the eight races in Meydan on 4 March.
This value is an increase of HK$18.9m (approx. $2.4m) on the 2022 edition of the flat racing tournament, with the Ras Al Khor conditions race having the highest turnover of them all.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) revealed that pari-mutuel organisations from over 20 countries contributed to the HK$33,518,763 (approx. $4.3m) wagered on the competition, which was won by Godolphin’s Al Suhail.
Sam Nati, HKJC Head of Commingling, commented: “World Pool continues to grow year-on-year and we couldn’t be happier to exceed 2022’s Super Saturday turnover total.
“Having runners from Hong Kong engaged at the meeting really added to the international flavour that is World Pool.”
The HKJC, the founding operator behind the World Pool, first expanded the concept to Dubai’s Super Saturday back in 2020 – since then multiple other international fixtures have been incorporated.
Both G1 races on the card saw turnover exceeding HK$30m, with HK$33,366,784 (approx. $4.3m) bet on the G1 Jebel Hatta.
Meanwhile, the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 contributed HK$31,560,463 (approx. $4m) to the total turnover on the day.
Salute The Soldier won the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 for a second time and in doing so the Bhupat Seemar-trained eight-year-old became 2023’s fourth World Pool Moment of the Day winner.
His groom won a total of HK$40,000 as well as gaining entry into the World Pool Moment of the Year competition.
