Bella Thorne, Snoop Dogg, Mark Ronson, Evander Holyfield And Dennis Rodman Witness History At The 2019 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla., Jan. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stronach Group's $16 Million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series took place in front of 10,000 fans on Saturday, January 26^th at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series' $16 million purse was split between two Grade 1 stakes races making these Thoroughbred races the richest in North America. The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) was run on the turf at 1 3/16 miles and awarded a $7 million purse. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), contested at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt, handed out a $9 million purse. This year's race card featured some of the best Thoroughbred horses from Canada, Japan, Mexico and the United States and included four 2018 Breeders' Cup winners.

"The 2019 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was everything we hoped for and more," said Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, The Stronach Group. "It delivered a once-in-a-lifetime experience that combined an energetic, fun and diverse crowd with the best of Miami hospitality, A-list entertainment and world-class Thoroughbred horse racing. I can't wait for next year!" 

Celebrity attendance included Snoop Dogg(Award-Winning Rapper);Mark Ronson(Oscar-nominated DJ/Producer);Bella Thorne(Actress); Evander Holyfield(Former World Champion Boxer);Dennis Rodman(Former NBA All-Star);Amanda Cerny(YouTube Star & Actress);Alec Monopoly(Artist);Caroline Vreeland(Singer, Actress, Model);Ariadna Gutierrez(First runner-up in Miss Universe 2015); Rafael de la Fuente(Actor);Demetrius Andrade (World Champion Boxer); Frank Walker(DJ & Producer);Nicole Walker(VP of The Stronach Group & Champion Equestrian);David Grutman(Miami Entertainment Executive);Isabella Rangel Grutman(Model); and Brian Poli-Dixon(Artist & Former NFL Player); among others.

City of Light, owned by Mr. & Mrs. William K. Warren Jr., ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano and trained by Michael McCarthy, took home $4 million in winnings in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1). Bricks and Mortar, owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, ridden by the 2018 Eclipse Award-winning JockeyIrad Ortiz Jr. and trained by the 2018 Eclipse Award-winning Trainer Chad Brown took home $3 million in winnings in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Belinda Stronach presented the winning owner, jockey and trainer each with a Pegasus World Cup Invitational Championship Ring. Commissioned by The Stronach Group, the 18K yellow gold Championship Ring is inspired by the iconic Pegasus statue at Gulfstream Park and boasts over 3.5 carats of VVS round brilliant cut diamonds, valued at $50,000. Each ring was made by hand from start to finish taking over 150 hours to complete.

The Stronach Group teamed up with Groot Hospitality's LIV for the second year, to offer an entertainment experience unlike any other. The highly anticipated return of the trackside club known as the Pegasus LIV Stretch Village delivered incredible race-day entertainment, VIP hospitality and post-race performances to a packed house of 2,000 fans. Mark Ronson DJ'ed for an hour and a half before closing out his set with a remix of Shallow, the song he co-wrote with Lady Gaga for "A Star Is Born" that is currently nominated for a 2019 Oscar for Best Original Song. Snoop Dogg then took to stage for over an hour, performing his hit songs including All I do Is Win; P.I.M.P.; Drop It Like It's Hot; Gin and Juice; The Next Episode and Who Am I (What's My Name)?, among others. Pegasus LIV Stretch Village also showcased a restaurant row offering bites by Komodo, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, LadyFingrs, Adena Grill and other local eateries.

This year's partnership with Groot Hospitality also featured an exclusive pop-up with David Grutman's new hotspots Swan & Bar Bevy in the recently renovated Flamingo Room at Gulfstream Park. The Flamingo Room was home to the premier VIP Pegasus World Cup luxury experience, delivering the finest in hospitality and entertainment with panoramic race-day views, as guests were treated to a lavish food and beverage celebration including G.H. MUMM champagne and Kettle One Botanicals. 

NBC Sports aired a live 90-minute program featuring both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. The broadcast also showcased the Pegasus "blue" carpet, celebrity and live entertainment event elements from Gulfstream Park. All coverage was streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app (NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets & connected TVs) and was broadcast to an international audience via HBA Media. 

The Pegasus World Cup recognized After The Impact Fund, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund as the 2019 Charities of Choice. The Pegasus World Cup is proud to have supported these charities that make a tremendous impact in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Follow Pegasus World Cup on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @PegasusWorldCup #PegasusWorldCup #RunWithUs. 

For more information please contact:
Vanessa Menkes Communications
Julie Fogel, Julie@VanessaMenkes.com
Vanessa Menkes, Vanessa@VanessaMenkes.com

About The Stronach Group
The Stronach Group (TSG) is a world-class entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing at the core. The company's mission is executed through the distinct but interconnected pillars of Racing and Gaming, Entertainment, Technology and Real Estate Development. TSG is dedicated to delivering the best in class Thoroughbred horse racing content and operations. The company holds some of the greatest brands in the industry including, Southern California'sSanta Anita Park, "The Great Race Place"; South Florida's Gulfstream Park, home to the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series and retail destination, The Village at Gulfstream Park; Pimlico Race Course, home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Laurel Park and Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland; Oregon's Portland Meadows; and the San Francisco Bay Area's, Golden Gate Fields. TSG is a leader in digital and mobile wagering technology through its subsidiaries AmTote and Xpressbet and is a major distributor of horse racing content to a global audience through Monarch Content Management.

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SOURCE The Stronach Group