24th January 2023 – The $3 million Pegasus World Cup presented by Baccarat (G1) on Saturday, 28th January will reach over 135 territories through broadcast distribution courtesy of HBA Media. Held in Miami, the first major flat event of 2023 has attracted legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, who will ride in the feature race for his final time as he starts his international ‘swansong’ ahead of retirement at the end of the year.
Dettori has held the mantle of horseracing’s greatest star for three decades and will launch and conclude his illustrious career in the States – starting this Saturday at the Pegasus World Cup and ending at the Breeders’ Cup in November.
Since its inception in 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has become the USA’s premier entertainment and horseracing event. Outside of the ‘Frankie factor’, headline music performances from OneRepublic and Kygo have helped boost international interest. Three new broadcasters will showcase the NBC produced world feed for the first time to ensure the Pegasus World Cup can be watched by fans in every major continent.
Distributed by HBA Media, the headlining agreements for the event are:
These fresh partnerships will deliver expanded reach for the event and unlock new audiences across the globe.
A further collection of major networks will showcase the 2023 Pegasus World Cup presented by Baccarat. Alongside the host broadcaster, NBC (USA), international coverage includes:
All broadcasters continue to be supported with an expanded suite of promotional and highlights content to help attract an engaged audience and enhanced interest in the event.
A total of eight races (seven graded) worth $5.3 million in combined purse winnings will be offered on Pegasus Day, led by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup presented by Baccarat (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf presented by Qatar Racing (G1). The two feature races will co-headline the race card at 1/ST’s Gulfstream Park in South Florida which is being distributed to a global audience through a 90-minute bespoke on-air package live at 16:30 local time / 21:30 GMT.
Trainer Brad Cox is confident that his stable star and leading fancy – CyberKnife – can deliver a big career finale performance in the Pegasus World Cup, having followed the same pre-race training campaign to former champion, Knicks Go. Other notable contenders include progressive five-year-old Proxy, trained by Michael Stidaham wearing the famous Godolphin blue colours, who earned G1 credentials last year. While White Abarrio, a G1 course and distance winner, will run for defending champion trainer Saffie Joseph Junior.
Frank Sale, Managing Director of HBA Media, said:
“We are pleased to have landed new broadcast agreements for the seventh running of the Pegasus World Cup. It is a pleasure to work with the terrific team at 1/ST and we are delighted to have ensured that Miami’s most fashionable race day continues to grow.”
Gregg Colvin, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST CONTENT, added:
“We are excited to be working with HBA Media to bring the Pegasus World Cup to an expanded global audience. The interest in the Pegasus World Cup and the influence it has on the international racing calendar reflects 1/ST’s commitment to excellence and innovation as we work to redefine the experience of our sport.”
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Press contact: Hannah Walker / hannah@hbamedia.tv / +44 (0)7971 598287
About 1/ST
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment, media, content and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.
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