New World Pool fixtures from Australia, South Africa, UK and Ireland for 2026
World Pool’s 2026 fixture list will feature a host of new big race days from Australia, UK, Ireland and South Africa.
World Pool’s new spate of fixtures will kick-off in South Africa little over a week into the new year, when 10 races on King’s Plate Day from Kenilworth on 10 January will be commingled for the first time.
A further new South African addition to the fixture list will see races on H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes Day (7 March) from Turffontein part of World Pool in Q1.
There are several Australian additions to the confirmed Q1 fixture list, most notably Golden Slipper Day, which will see all 10 races from Rosehill, including the Group 1 AU$5 million Golden Slipper, commingled on 21 March.
Before that, World Pool will be in action on new race days from Flemington on Australian Guineas Day and from Randwick on Chipping Norton Stakes Day, both on 28 February.
All five race days feature Group 1s that were listed in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Top 100 races in the last three years.
The new Q1 South Africa and Australia fixtures have been confirmed by the local Hong Kong government and could be joined by further Australian World Pool days pending government approval.
These include All Aged Stakes Day (18 April) and Winx Stakes Day (22 August) from Randwick, as well as Memsie Stakes Day (29 August) from Caulfield.
READ MORE: Horse racing news: World Pool posts strong growth in 2025
July Cup, Shergar Cup and Irish Oaks among potential fixtures for 2026
Several major race days in the UK and Ireland have been shortlisted to become World Pool fixtures this year, pending government approval.
July Cup Day (11 July) and Irish Oaks Day (18 July) may become full World Pool fixtures.
Ascot’s Shergar Cup (8 August), an event that sees leading riders from around the world compete in four teams – UK & Ireland, Europe, Asia and Rest of the World – to earn points in an attempt to win the Silver Saddle is also planned as a World Pool fixture this year.
Both Glorious Goodwood and York’s Ebor Festival are set to increase the number of World Pool fixtures from three to four for 2026, with the global pools potentially in action on King George Stakes Day (31 July) on day four of Glorious Goodwood and City Of York Stakes Day (22 August) on the final day of the Ebor Festival, which includes the famous Ebor Handicap itself.
The World Pool season in the UK will begin on 2000 Guineas Day on 2 May, while, the following day, the 1000 Guineas is scheduled to return as a World Pool fixture.
Oaks Day (5 June) from Epsom is another major UK fixture that will return as a World Pool raceday for the first time since 2022.
Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “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.
“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 what has been an excellent year in 2025.”
For the full World Pool fixtures up to March 2026, please visit here.
