Thanks to an unprecedented agreement, bettors in the U.K. will be able to join the fray of the Breeders Cup this weekend.
Totalbet.com, the e-betting joint venture between the Tote and PA Sporting Life Limited, has become the first U.K. betting site to offer direct-to-pool betting on U.S. horse racing pools.
Under the agreement users with Totalbet.com to make Win, Place, and Exacta pool bets on eight Grade One races at the Breeders' Cup.
The races will take place on Saturday at Churchill Downs and each race is expected to attract a pool fund of over $1 million. Assuming those numbers are reached U.K. bettors will be introduced to some of the biggest pots ever and allow them to get massive payouts from a minimum GBP2 pound stake.
Lee Richardson, managing director of Totalbet.com, said the alignment with the Breeders Cup, increases his sites position as the leader for U.K. bettors.
"By linking up with the Breeders' Cup, and being the first U.K. site to provide U.S. direct-to-pool bets, Totalbet.com has again enhanced its position as the ultimate destination for U.K. bettors," he said.
With the Breeders' Cup being one of the preeminent international races outside of the famous Triple Crown, U.K. bettors will be able to not only venture into uncharted, they will also be able to support their fellow countrymen.
There are 26 entries in the Breeders' Cup from Europe and a handful of those have British ties.
Among some of the favorites from the U.K. in the race are: Montjeu, Giant's Causeway, Crimplene, Kalanisi and Petrushka.
Richardson is hoping that with the addition of the U.K. bettors, their racing counterparts will follow suit with success in the Breeders' Cup.
"Our Breeders' Cup raiders have always done best when racing in Kentucky," he said. "Let's hope British pool players can also take money off the Americans."
The 2000 Breeders' Cup looks to be one of the best in recent memory. Two horses, Lemon Drop Kid and Fusaichi Pegasus will be battling in the Classic, the last race of the day, with the winner likely to be named Horse of the Year. If either horse fails to win the Classic, the Horse of the Year honors will be wide open.
Fusaichi Pegasus is the early odds-on-favorite, with 8-5 odds. Lemon Drop Kid, Albert the Great and Tiznow all were listed at 5-1 odds as of Friday morning.
Totalbet.com successfully launched the U.K.'s first-ever-online horserace pool betting in September and the site has seen revenue growth beyond initial expectations. The exclusive addition of U.S. pools in the 2000 Breeders' Cup will create even more large payout opportunities for Totalbet.com punters.