The world's most famous flat race, the Epsom Derby, is set to spark a betting bonanza tomorrow that could see turnover across the UK betting industry top £100 million.
As well as the Derby, England's footballers take on Kazakhstan, F1 World Championship leader Jenson Button is in action in Turkey, and cricket's Twenty20 World Cup continues, meaning Britain's bookmakers are braced for the second busiest day of the year, behind the Grand National.
"We're hopeful that the feast of top-class sporting action taking place this weekend will help punters forget about the recession, at least for one day, as turnover tends to hold up really well on the big days, and as far as flat racing is concerned, there is no bigger race than the Derby," Coral's David Stevens told Bettingpro earlier today.
"At least £50 million could be wagered on the Derby itself, a figure that could be doubled to £100 million when turnover on all the other major sporting events is taken into account, ensuring that Derby Day is second only to Grand National day in betting terms," added Stevens.
Irish runners dominate the betting for the Derby, with the Aidan O?Brien-trained pair Fame And Glory and Rip Van Winkle, and 2,000 Guineas winner, Sea The Stars, vying for favouritism, while England are 1-7 favourites to win in Kazakhstan.
Epsom Derby, current Coral betting
3-1 Fame And Glory, Sea The Stars, 9-2 Rip Van Winkle, 6-1 Black Bear Island, 7-1 Gan Amhras, 14-1 Masterofthehorse, 16-1 Age Of Aquarius, 20-1 Crowded House, 25-1 Kite Wood, 33-1 Golden Sword, 50-1 Debussy, Montaff,
England v Kazakhstan, current Coral betting
1-7 England, 25-1 Kazakhstan, 11-2 Draw
First goalscorer, current Coral betting
4-1 W Rooney, 5-1 J Defoe, P Crouch, S Gerrard, 6-1 E Heskey, 13-2 F Lampard, 15-2 T Walcott