From the Breeder’s Cup Media Team / Claire Crosby:

PEGASUS WORLD CUP JOINS
BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES

Breeders’ Cup and 1/ST Announce Marquee Race of Gulfstream Park Winter Season to Serve as “Win and You’re In” Qualifier for 2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic

LEXINGTON, Ky. & HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 13, 2025) – The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) will for the first time be included in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, Breeders’ Cup Limited and 1/ST announced Thursday.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 94 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners will receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.

As part of the global series of automatic qualifying races for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Gulfstream Park, will offer the winner an automatic starting position along with pre-entry and entry fees paid (a $150,000 value). Additionally, the nominator of the winning horse will receive a $10,000 award.

All Breeders’ Cup Challenge winners also receive travel benefits to the World Championships:

  • $10,000 for starters based outside of Kentucky in North America
  • $40,000 for international starters based outside North America

Since its debut in 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has established itself as one of North America’s most prestigious luxury sports and lifestyle events. Remarkably, six of the nine Pegasus World Cup champions have also won a Breeders’ Cup race, underscoring the natural synergy between the two elite racing programs.

“The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is designed to celebrate and connect premier racing on a global stage,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “Including the Pegasus World Cup is a perfect fit – it’s a first-class event that now becomes part of an elite journey to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

“This partnership connects two of the sport’s most powerful stages,” said Aidan Butler, President, 1/ST. “The Pegasus World Cup Invitational’s 10th anniversary will serve as a true gateway to the Breeders’ Cup Classic – linking our passionate fans, horsemen and international audience in a new and meaningful way.”

The 2026 Pegasus World Cup will headline a day of world-class racing and entertainment from Gulfstream Park, presented by 1/ST, and broadcast live from 4:30pm – 6:00pm (ET) on NBC and Peacock.

For more information and tickets to the 2026 Pegasus World Cup, visit pegasusworldcup.com or follow on socials @pegasusworldcup.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP & 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); and The Preakness Stakes (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 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is 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. 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 racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through partnerships with host countries around the globe, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series.

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade 1 Championship races run during a two-day festival worth more than $34 million in purses and awards, will be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and the 2027 World Championships will be held Oct. 29-30 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.