Press Release

Tote Superpools grow by nearly 50% at Royal Ascot

Saturday 20th June 2020

In the absence of a Bet With Ascot on course venture, this year’s World Pool was promoted by the Tote off course as “Tote Superpools” which operated across all 36 races and saw 20 leading racing nations, including the UK, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, South Africa and the US betting into a single pool.

This created far greater liquidity for racing fans with wagers growing to £137 million, from £92.2 million in 2019. This represents a 49% increase, despite no on course liquidity, and saw huge pools on all races with the biggest investment being £5.3 million on the Sandringham Stakes at the end of Thursday. In total there were 18 pools in excess of £1 million.

These record pools created some exceptional value for racing fans. The Tote Win price beat the Industry Starting Price (SP) on 19 occasions across the 36 races and with Tote Guarantee in place the Tote has matched SP on the remaining occasions. This resulted in a 9% higher return on the Tote based on placing a £1 bet on each winner during the week.

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “We have all enjoyed the most incredible week of racing at Royal Ascot. We are very grateful to every member of the Ascot team for all of their hard work in making this possible and are delighted to be able to work alongside them to showcase the Royal meeting to a UK and international racing audience through the Tote.

“In only its second year, World Pool, operating under the banner of “Tote Superpools” in the UK, has proved very popular with racing fans. We have seen a record increase in volumes and exceptional value offered throughout the week. We look forward to World Pool returning to Ascot for Champions Day in October and continuing to progress international cooperation to strengthen and grow pool betting on British racing.”

The 19 races where the Tote Win price beat Industry SP

Tuesday

• Buckingham Place Handicap, Motakhayyel, £18.30 v 14/1

• King Edward VII Stakes, Pyledriver, £20.90 v 18/1

• Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Nazeef, £4.35 v 10/3

• Ascot Stakes, Couer de Lion, £24.25 v 16/1

Wednesday

• Silver Royal Hunt Cup, Sir Busker, £13.50 v 12/1

• Royal Hunt Cup, Dark Vison, £11.40 v 15/2

• Copper Horse Handicap, Fujaira Prince, £4.45 v 3/1

Thursday

• Golden Gates Handicap, Highland Chief, £25.05 v 20/1

• Jersey Stakes, Molatham, £6.95 v 11/2

• Britannia Stakes, Khaloosy. £7.25 v 9/2

Friday

• Albany Stakes, Dandalla, £9.80 v 13/2

• Norfolk Stakes, The Lir Jet, £7.25 v 9/2

• Commonwealth Cup, Golden Horde, £7.00 v 5/1

• Queens Vase, Santiago, £4.85 v 10/3

• Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, Scarlet Dragon, £51.40 v 33/1

Saturday

• Queen Mary Stakes, Campanella, £6.90 v 9/2

• Coventry Stakes, Alpine Star, £5.60 v 9/2

• St James' Palace Stakes, Palace Pier, £5.20 v 4/1

• Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Hello Youmzain, £5.85 v 4/1

ENDS.

For further information, please contact:

Susannah Gill
Communications and Corporate Affairs Director
UK Tote Group
susannah.gill@uktotegroup.com
07751 870 929

Notes to Editors

About UK TOTE GROUP

UK Tote Group is the proud owner and steward of the Tote, the UK’s leading pool betting operator.

The Tote has been a core part of British horseracing since 1928 when it was established by Parliament under Winston Churchill as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to provide the public with a safe way to bet and vital funding for the sport.

UK Tote Group is committed to fulfilling Churchill’s founding mission through a revitalised Tote which provides better value and an improved experience to customers, as well as increased funding to British horseracing. 

The 90-year-old British company is backed by racehorse owners and breeders from around the world and has an exclusive partnership with British racecourses to provide pool betting services to the six million people who attend race meetings in Great Britain every year, alongside an alliance with Tote Ireland.

The Tote employs 90 people who are based in the Tote’s main office in Wigan and a satellite office in London.