Pegasus World Cup 2020 purses reduced, but entry fees waived

The Stronach Group, owners of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, announced Sunday a new era for the event before its Jan. 25 renewal at Gulfstream Park. 

Owners of horses age 4 and up from North America and beyond will be invited to participate in the series, which aims to attract the world's best horses and riders. All entry fees for the 2020 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational will be waived, a change of course from previous years in which slots were purchased by owners for their horses.

Under a new medication-free format, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) will be run on the dirt at 1 1/8 miles and will offer a $3 million total purse with 2% of the purse donated to Thoroughbred aftercare. The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) will be run at 1 3/16 miles and will offer a $1 million purse with 2% of that purse also donated to Thoroughbred Aftercare. The $4 million total purse contribution is entirely provided by The Stronach Group.

“We are investing in the future of our sport by creating new opportunities for horsemen and horses to run without medication,” said Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group. “The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series has always been about innovation. The new and exciting medication-free format, along with giving back to horse care, showcases the leadership our industry is taking together to evolve beyond past achievements to create a more modern, sustainable and safer sport.”

Photo: Gulfstream Park 

“The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series is evolving toward a single goal -- to provide a level of safety deserving of every horse and every rider, reflecting the new standard of care, on race day and beyond, while providing a lucrative opportunity for horse owners.” added Craig Fravel CEO of racing for The Stronach Group. 

Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for The Stronach Group, will be overseeing the Pegasus World Cup race day with an expanded team of veterinarians to monitor all horses, including those entered on the undercard races, in the barns, during training and on race day.  The house rules at Gulfstream Park are consistent with IFHA standards and reflect the rules in place at other Stronach Group properties, including Santa Anita Park.

In addition to stringent out-of-competition testing and enhanced medication protocols, including a 14-day stand down on intra articular injections and a 48-hour stand down of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory injections, the complete transparency of veterinary records for the 14-day period leading up to the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series races will be required for all horses.

“Running the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational medication-free is a stepping stone to what will be the eventual phase out of the use of race day medications for all graded stakes races by 2021 and puts this event squarely in line with the changing culture of our sport,” Benson said. “The health and safety of our athletes, equine and human, are our top priority.”

Since it was launched in 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has become one of the most anticipated events on the racing calendar with its previous winners Arrogate (2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Champion), Gun Runner (2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Champion), City of Light (2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Champion) and Bricks and Mortar (inaugural 2019 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Champion). 

The 2020 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series will be broadcast live on NBC from 4:30-6:00pm ET.  

                                                                                  ~ Horse Racing Nation Media