The 2019 GI Pegasus World Cup card, to be held Jan. 26, 2019, will add a Grade I turf stakes to its docket, The Stronach Group announced Tuesday. The race, which will be run at 1 3/16 miles and known as the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, will have a $7-million purse, with a $3-million share paid out to the winner. The Pegasus World Cup, meanwhile, will offer $9 million with a $4-million winner's share.
“The appetite for a turf race is strong and the decision to include a premier turf race is part of the ongoing evolution of the Pegasus World Cup,” said Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group. “We are excited to expand this event for both horse owners and fans, adding to what is already an incredible day of entertainment and world-class racing at Gulfstream Park.”
Any horse owner who purchases a spot in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational will be given preference to purchase a spot in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. The cost to secure an entry spot and enter a horse is $500,000 per race.
“As an international owner, I am thrilled that the Pegasus World Cup will include a turf race,” said John Magnier of Coolmore. “Coolmore, like The Stronach Group, believes in growing our sport and there is no better way to do that than to provide a new platform to showcase the world's best Thoroughbreds.”
With Gulfstream Park's only pre-existent Grade I turf event being the GI Gulfstream Park Turf H., it is expected that the race will be repurposed as the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. In its previous creation of the Pegasus World Cup in 2017, Gulfstream made use of the GI Donn H.'s top-level status.
The Stronach Group will offer a $1-million bonus to the owner who wins both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.
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