CJRFantasy returns with new game mechanics and improved event prizes
23rd January 2024 – The Pegasus World Cup is set to launch the 2025 international racing season with its ninth edition on Saturday, 25th January at Gulfstream Park, Miami.
This year’s event introduces CJR90, an adaption of the former Golden Hour that will now become a 90-minute magazine show promoting the two principal races – the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) presented by Qatar Racing – integrating luxury lifestyle, fashion and entertainment features from horse racing’s hottest party. Renowned for her insightful work and style with ITV Racing and Australia’s Network 10, presenter Francesca Cumani will host live coverage of the event, which will be broadcast in over 150 territories.
Francesca Cumani shared her enthusiasm about hosting the inaugural CJR90 for 1/ST and HBA Media:
“Having travelled the globe covering world racing for CNN, it is great to be back in the States to present the first-ever CJR90.
“Gulfstream Park, powered by 1/ST, is a top-tier venue that highlights horse racing as a thrilling spectacle and I’m excited to bring the energy and prestige of the Pegasus World Cup — the first Crown Jewels Racing event of the 2025 calendar — to global audience.”
CJR90 aims to enhance the event’s appeal, offering both racing enthusiasts, wider sports fans, and casual viewers an exciting proposition that differs from traditional, longer-form racing programmes. With Francesca’s live presentation, viewers can also expert comprehensive coverage and expert analysis of the races. The show, from 21.30 – 23.00 GMT, will be available to watch in over 150 territories through broadcast distribution courtesy of HBA Media, including by Channel 7 in Australia and SportsNet in Canada for the first time.
Alongside the host broadcaster, NBCU (USA), the international coverage for the Pegasus World Cup includes:
Aidan Butler, President at 1/ST, added:
“We are once again thrilled to be working with HBA Media. The HBA team bring our marquee events such as the Pegasus World Cup, Preakness Stakes and California Crown to a worldwide audience. As 1/ST expands its global footprint, it is vital to garner this best-in-class production and distribution. With top class racing coupled with fashion and entertainment, our events are a natural fit in HBA’s CJR rights package.”
Frank Sale, Chief Executive of HBA Media, said:
“Our longstanding partnership with the innovative team at 1/ST has played a key role in establishing the Pegasus World Cup as a globally recognised event within HBA’s premium package of rights. Their commitment to making racing more engaging and accessible through diverse and entertaining content has helped showcase the sport in a different light and we are proud to be such close partners. HBA is more than confident that 1/ST’s strategy around their major race days will continue to captivate wider audiences and that fits exactly with what HBA is looking to achieve”.
The Pegasus World Cup is a feature of the Crown Jewels Racing (CJR) broadcast package, which showcases the best horseracing events in the world, evenly spaced throughout the year. Broadcasters can elect to take the full world feed (produced by NBCU) or the CJR90 programme (produced by Carr-Hughes Production and HBA Media). The CJR promo can be viewed here and is complemented by horse racing’s only international fantasy predictor game – CJRFantasy – which returns with new game mechanics and improved prizes.
Entering its second year, CJRFantasy is proving an engaging tool to help unify the global horse racing calendar, providing broadcasters and their fans around the world with a new platform to challenge their knowledge and prizes. This year, CJRFantasy will receive significant strength and support in the US through an enhanced involvement with 1/ST.
The 18-game season launches for the Pegasus World Cup with a mega £5,000 raceday experience prize, alongside a new ‘Out The Money’ booster and an ‘Ice Cold’ bonus. The monthly CJRFantasy game schedule takes in the Saudi Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Florida Derby, Grand National, the Preakness Stakes, Epsom Derby, Royal Ascot (Gold Cup), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sussex Stakes, The Juddmonte International, Irish Champions Stakes, California Crown, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, British Champions Stakes, Breeders’ Cup, Melbourne Cup and the Hong Kong Cup.