Britain and Ireland are on course to benefit from additional World Pool meetings this year as part of an expanded fixture list, with the Shergar Cup, July Cup (G1), and Irish Oaks (G1) meetings all set to be included, pending Hong Kong government approval.
Glorious Goodwood and York's Ebor festival also could increase their fixtures from three to four, with King George Stakes day (July 31) and City of York Stakes day (Aug. 22), which includes the Ebor, potentially being added.
The World Pool's 2026 fixture list features several new meetings from Australia and South Africa, where 10 races on King's Plate day from Kenilworth Jan. 10 and races from Turffontein March 7 will be commingled for the first time. There are a number of Australian additions confirmed for the first quarter of the year, most notably Golden Slipper day, with all 10 races from Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, including the Golden Slipper (G1) March 21 set to feature.
Before then, the World Pool will be in operation for the first time on Australian Guineas Day at Flemington and Chipping Norton Stakes day at Randwick, both Feb. 28. The April 18 All Aged Stakes (G1) and Aug. 22 Winx Stakes (G1) from Randwick could be added, as well as Memsie Stakes day (Aug. 29) from Caulfield.
"World Pool continues to expand and strengthen with so many of the greatest races and race days from around the world, and we're delighted to be announcing further new fixtures for the first quarter of 2026," said Andrew Harding, executive director of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
"We look forward to World Pool's debut at new meetings in Australia and South Africa, as well as the returning fixtures in the first few months of the year, while we expect to be able to confirm further new World Pool race days in the UK, Ireland, Australia and other countries later in the year. These are hugely exciting times for World Pool, and we plan to further build upon an excellent year in 2025."
An increase in the number of race days included in the World Pool led to a near 20% increase in turnover on non-Hong Kong races in 2025. The number of meetings internationally commingled outside Hong Kong rose from 48 in 2024 to 57 in 2025, taking the total amount bet into the HKJC-powered pools to HK$9.3 billion (approx. US$1.2 billion), up from HK$7.8 billion in 2024.
