Royal Ascot starts next Tuesday behind closed doors© Photo Healy Racing
Last year the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ascot Racecourse and Tote UK launched the World Tote Pool on selected races over the five days of the Royal meeting and saw some impressive figures for the inaugural venture.
Tote pools where the World Pool was operating saw a massive increase in liquidity. The 2019 Royal meeting saw £92 million wagered on the Tote compared to £18 million the previous year.
Last year the World Tote pools could not operate on the big handicaps across the week due an issue around field sizes for the Hong Kong Tote system. This year all Royal Ascot races will be restricted to 24 runners which will facilitate the World pools.
Only four bet types were available to World Tote punters in 2019 - Win, Place, Quinella (first two in either order) and Quinella Place (also known as Swinger where punters must pick any two horses to finish in first three places). This year Exacta (first and second in correct order) and Trifecta (first three in correct order) will also be available.
All five days of Royal Ascot will be simulcast Live in Hong Kong and shown on the NBC Sports Network in America. The revised times for the Ascot races (1.15pm - 4.40pm each day) also fits perfectly for evening viewing to the Hong Kong market as the coverage will run from 8pm until 11.40pm nightly.
Other countries betting into the World Pools include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France and Ireland.
To follow all the Royal Ascot Tote betting go to www.thetote.com
