Pegasus World Cup
| Grade I race | |
| Location |
Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2017 (planned) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Four-year-olds and up |
| Purse | $12 million |
The Pegasus World Cup is a planned American Thoroughbred horse race to be run at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.[1][2] With a purse of $12 million, the Pegasus World Cup will surpass the Dubai World Cup as the richest horse race in the world. It will be run over the dirt at the distance of 1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) and is open to horses four years old and up.
History
Frank Stronach first proposed the idea for the race during the Thoroughbred Owners Conference at Gulfstream in January 2016.[3] His original proposal called for an annual 1 1⁄4-mile (10 furlong) race to be run at either Gulfstream or Santa Anita Park in mid to late January, which would not interfere with the Breeders' Cup or the Dubai World Cup.[3]
The Stronach Group officially announced plans for the race in May 2016, with the first running scheduled for January 28, 2017.[1]
Under the format, the race would feature 12 starters, with each entrant required to pay $1 million to purchase a position in the gate. The entrant would then have the right to race, lease, contract or share a starter, or sell their place in the gate, and would have the first right of refusal for subsequent races.[2] Entrants would also have an equal share in the net income from the race.[4]
Each entrant would be permitted to pre-enter two horses. A pre-entered horse that does not draw into the Pegasus World Cup would be eligible to compete in the newly-created Poseidon Stakes, which will be run under similar conditions but will offer a $400,000 purse and require a $20,000 entry fee.[5]
One week after the formal announcement, the Stronach Group announced that all 12 slots for the race had been purchased.[6] The initial purchasers were:
- California Chrome LLC, the ownership group behind the champion horse of the same name
- Coolmore Stud, home to the world's largest thoroughbred breeding operation
- Dan Schafer
- Frank Stronach, founder and honorary chairman of the Stronach Group
- Jerry and Ronald Frankel
- Jim McIngvale, founder of Gallery Furniture
- Reddam Racing, owner of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist
- Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, owner of classic winner Mucho Macho Man
- Rosedown Racing
- Ruis Stable
- Sol Kumin
- Starlight Racing, whose champion horses include Ashado, Harlan's Holiday and Shanghai Bobby
The first running of the race will carry Grade I status, which was transferred from the discontinued Donn Handicap by the American Graded Stakes Committee.[7] A new stakes race would normally have to wait two years before being eligible for any graded or listed status.
References
- 1 2 "$12 Million Pegasus World Cup – World's Richest Thoroughbred Race – Set For Jan. 28 At Gulfstream" (Press release). Hallandale Beach, FL: Gulfstream Park. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- 1 2 Wincze Hughes, Alicia (11 May 2016). "Stronach creates world's richest Thoroughbred race". kentucky.com. Lexington Herald-Ledger. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- 1 2 McCarthy, Charlie (1 April 2016). "Stronach Indicates $12M Race Plan Still Alive". bloodhorse.com. The BloodHorse. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ "Gulfstream plans $12 million Pegasus World Cup for Jan. 28". usatoday.com. The Associated Press. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ Hegarty, Matt (9 August 2016). "New stakes on Pegasus World Cup card gives stakeholders options". drf.com. Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ↑ Lintner, Jonathan (19 May 2016). "Nyquist, Chrome owners buy into new World Cup". courier-journal.com. Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ↑ "Pegasus World Cup to Carry Grade I Status". bloodhorse.com. The BloodHorse. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.