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1/ST Announces $25 Million on the Line with Introduction of New Racing Series Linking Preakness 149, The California Crown and 2025 Pegasus World Cup

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149th Preakness Stakes Purse Increases to $2 Million to Kick Off Series

$5 Million Challenge Coast-To-Coast Pick’ Em Challenge Sweepstakes Connects 1/ST Premier Events

1/ST, the innovative brand behind North America’s most prestigious thoroughbred horse racing, entertainment and wagering events, has announced a $25 million dollar racing and incentive series connecting Preakness 149, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup.

Kicking off at Preakness 149, 1/ST’s three premier race days will feature more than $12.5 million in elevated purses and $7.5 million in incentives for both dirt and turf participants. 1/ST is offering a $5 million bonus in addition to the respective purses to the owner(s) of the horse who wins the 149th Preakness Stakes (GI), The California Crown (GI) and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (GI). For turf stars, 1/ST will award a $2.5 million bonus, added to the elevated purses, to the connections who win the Dinner Party Stakes (GIII), The California Crown John Henry Turf (GII) and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (GI).

Preakness 149 celebrations, taking place on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course, will mark the inaugural races in this new series. The 149th Preakness Stakes purse will increase to $2 million and the Dinner Party Stakes will increase to $500,000, making Preakness 149 race day the most lucrative in the event’s history with a total of $3.3 million on the line. The decision to elevate the purses for the 149th Preakness Stakes and for the Dinner Party Stakes reflects 1/ST’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and growing the thoroughbred horse racing industry to usher in a new era for racing in Maryland.

On September 28, The California Crown will debut at Santa Anita Park for a reimagined opening day experience for the track’s 2024 fall meet. The California Crown will replace the Awesome Again Stakes for three-year-olds and up and will be run on 1 1/8 mile offering a $1 million-dollar purse. The $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf along with the $750,000 California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint (GII), taking place on Santa Anita Park’s famed downhill turf course featuring American racing’s only right-hand turn, will add to the excitement of what will be California’s richest day of racing.

Since 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has become the premier luxury event in the sport and has set the standard for the modern thoroughbred horse racing experience. The 2025 Pegasus World Cup, to be held on January 25 at 1/ST’s Gulfstream Park, will feature the coveted $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. The live broadcast of the Pegasus World Cup – horse racing’s hottest party – will feature the presentation of the potential $7.5 million in bonuses for any owner(s) who manage to achieve this remarkable feat.

In its continued effort to engage the next generation and provide game-changing opportunities for existing customers, 1/ST is putting up $5 million for a Coast-To-Coast Pick’ Em Challenge sweepstakes to successfully pick the first four finishers of each race, in order, for the 149th Preakness Stakes, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The challenge is free to enter through the innovative 1/ST Bet app. If there is no perfect winning entry, the entry with the most overall correct selections will win a $100,000 cash prize.

“My team and I continue to believe and invest in the modernization of thoroughbred horse racing with a commitment to the highest level of international safety standards and horse care as we continue to elevate our already industry-leading wagering, entertainment and hospitality programs,” the Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer for 1/ST, Belinda Stronach, said. “To back this up, 1/ST is adding to the legacy of the Preakness by increasing the purse, creating a new marquee race event for the majestic Santa Anita Park – The California Crown – and continuing to build on the phenomenal success of the Pegasus World Cup. We’re proud to work with incredible partners who share our vision and see the future of world-class thoroughbred racing combined with unique and elevated guest experiences.”

“The $25 million in racing purses and bonus incentives available for Preakness 149, The California Crown and the Pegasus World Cup including a $5 million sweepstakes for bettors and fans shows our commitment to innovation and excellence in thoroughbred racing,” the President for 1/ST, Aidan Butler, said. “Providing lucrative opportunities for owners and bettors while also delivering exceptional entertainment experiences is our speciality.”

1/ST’s industry-leading horse care and safety protocols including increased veterinary oversight will be strictly enforced throughout the new racing series under the leadership of Dr Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer for 1/ST Racing.

For more information and to purchase tickets to Preakness 149, visit www .Preakness. com or @ PreaknessStakes on social.

To stay connected on The California Crown, visit @ CaliforniaCrownOfficial on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube and @ TheCaliCrown on Snapchat. Tickets for California Crown go on sale in the spring 2024.

For more information on the Pegasus World Cup, visit www .PegasusWorldCup. com or follow on social @ PegasusWorldCup.

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1/ST and Goodwood Racecourse stage a new round of Group 1 pathways between the UK and North America

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A notable pair of Group 1 turf stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in England this week will earn the winners an automatic berth on the 2026 Pegasus World Cup Day program January 24 at Gulfstream Park.

The one-mile Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes for three-year-olds and up on Wednesday July 30 will serve as a qualifier for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), while the 1 1/4-mile Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares of three years and older on Thursday July 31 will also act as a qualifier for the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2).

Held in late January on a card headlined by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) for older horses on dirt, the Pegasus Turf is contested over 1 1/8 miles, whereas the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf is run at 1 1/16 miles.

Among the contenders for the Sussex is millionaire five-year-old Carl Spackler, winner of eight of 12 races in the U.S. including three Grade 1 stakes before being sold privately to China’s Yulong Investments to race overseas. Carl Spackler made his first two career starts at Gulfstream, the second a maiden triumph in February 2023. He was sixth in the June 17 Queen Anne Stakes (G1) in his European debut. He now takes on the best of the British and Irish in a clash of the generations, headed by leading three-year-old miler, Field Of Gold, and last year’s Irish Guineas (G1) victor, Rosallion.

The Nassau has also drawn a competitive field, spearheaded by Aidan O’Brien’s Whirl, winner of the recent Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), and See The Fire, third in a white-hot Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

European-based horses have made their mark in the Pegasus Turf since its debut in 2019. Magic Wand ran second in both 2019 and 2020 before Warm Heart captured the 2024 edition in a track-record time of 1:44.45 in the finale of her esteemed career. Both Irish-bred mares were trained by the aforementioned O’Brien.

This partnership creates an easily accessible pathway for horses to compete both in North America and the United Kingdom, and helps to encourage top-tier racehorses to travel and increase international participation at both fixtures – while also bolstering elite fields for global audiences and deeper fan engagement.

Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST, said:
 Thanks again to our friends at Goodwood Racecourse, with our ongoing partnership now in its second year. We look forward to welcoming the victors of the Sussex Stakes and Nassau Stakes back to Gulfstream Park in late January 2026 for one of the most lucrative racedays on the East Coast.

“These reciprocal pathways mark the latest strides in 1/ST’s bid to broaden the appeal and international participation in the world’s major races. We’ve already seen such incentives reap immediate rewards when Crimson Advocate won at Royal Ascot in 2023, having punched her automatic spot via our Royal Palm juvenile series at Gulfstream Park. Now, Miami can hopefully work its magic again with the Qatar Goodwood Festival! I look forward to seeing the stellar action unfold in person on the South Downs this week.”

Wednesday, July 30: Qatar Sussex Stakes – Pegasus World Cup Turf
Race 4: 10:05 (ET); 15:05 (BST)
The winner of the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) receives an automatic invitation into the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) on January 24, 2026, at Gulfstream Park plus a $25,000 travel allowance and VIP hospitality for the winning connections.

Thursday, July 31: Qatar Nassau Stakes – Pegasus World Cup Filly $ Mare Turf
Race 4: 10:05 am (ET); 
15:05 (BST)
Winner of the Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) receives an automatic invitation to the Pegasus World Cup F/M Turf (G2) on January 24, 2026, at Gulfstream Park plus a $25,000 travel allowance and VIP hospitality for the winning connections.

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BESTSEAT360 AND 1/ST TRANSFORMED THE HORSE RACING VIEWER EXPERIENCE AT THE 2025 PEGASUS WORLD CUP

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Bestseat360 proudly produced an unprecedented multi-view streaming experience for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup, held at Gulfstream Park on January 25, in collaboration with 1/ST CONTENT, a pioneering force in enhancing the visibility and engagement of U.S. horse racing. This year’s event introduced a streaming experience that set a new benchmark for the industry, featuring 13 live races streamed on the Pegasus World Cup website.

In a landmark first for the U.S. racing landscape, the multi-view experience allowed fans to interact with a variety of camera angles, including innovative jockey cams, drones and automated trackside cameras. This collaboration with JockeyCam, renowned for its cutting-edge POV camera technology used in prestigious events like the Royal Ascot, Saudi Cup, Kentucky Derby, Melbourne Cup and Breeders’ Cup, adds a new dimension to race viewing.

“By working with partners like Bestseat360, 1/ST CONTENT continues to innovate and reshape the media landscape of horse racing with a focus on the type of engagement and storytelling that modern audiences are looking for,” said Pete RotondoSVPRacing and Wagering1/ST.

“The integration of Bestseat360’s interface offers racing enthusiasts the best seat at the racecourse or from the comfort of their own homes,” said Craig MeekFounder Director for Bestseat360.

“We are thrilled to be introducing an interactive Multiview video player that will revolutionize sports betting and enhance how punters engage with their bets. Using smart AI algorithms, viewers will be able to easily identify their horses during the race, making their experience more immersive.”

Bestseat360 is set to expand its innovative Multiview platform across various sports in the U.S., UK, Europe, and Australia. Their flexible business model includes sponsorship, advertising, and pay-per-view options, making this revolutionary technology accessible to a broader audience and ensuring the continued growth of engagement in horse racing and other sports.

The successful streaming of the 2025 Pegasus World Cup not only highlights the event’s significance but also sets the stage for future advancements in the viewing experience, ensuring that horse racing continues to captivate and engage fans worldwide.

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1/ST and Goodwood Racecourse announce Group 1 pathways between the United Kingdom and North America

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1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company, and Goodwood Racecourse, one of the United Kingdom’s leading racecourses, today announce a new initiative that will see a reciprocal partnership between 1/ST-owned racecourses in North America and Goodwood Racecourse in the United Kingdom.

This exciting new partnership will see horses gain automatic entry following success at the Pegasus World Cup meeting at Gulfstream Park on January 25, and at Goodwood Racecourse’s world-famous five-day festival, the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.

The Pegasus World Cup Turf winner in 2025 will be granted automatic entry to the 2025 running of the Qatar Sussex Stakes. Likewise, the victor of the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf will gain automatic entry to the Qatar Nassau Stakes in 2025.

Additionally, the winner of this year’s £1m, Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes will gain automatic entry to the Pegasus World Cup Turf in 2026 and the winner of the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes will gain automatic entry to the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 2026.

This new partnership will create an easily accessible pathway for horses to compete both in North America and the United Kingdom and help to encourage top-tier racehorses to travel and increase international participation at both fixtures – while also bolstering elite fields for global audiences and deeper fan engagement.

Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST, 
said: “Thanks again to our friends at Goodwood Racecourse as our partnership enters its second year. We can’t wait to see how our Pegasus World Cup Turf winners fare on the other side of the pond and look forward to welcoming the victors of the Qatar Sussex Stakes and Qatar Nassau Stakes back to Gulfstream Park in late January 2026 for one of the most lucrative racedays on the East Coast.

“These reciprocal pathways mark the latest strides in 1/ST’s bid to broaden the appeal and international participation in the world’s major races. We’ve already seen such incentives reap immediate rewards when Crimson Advocate won at Royal Ascot in 2023, having punched her automatic spot via our Royal Palm juvenile series at Gulfstream Park. Now, Miami can hopefully work its magic again with the Qatar Goodwood Festival!”

Edward Arkell, Director of Racing at Goodwood Racecourse, added: “We are thrilled to announce this fantastic new initiative, and I would like to thank 1/ST for their enthusiasm and support. By pairing two of our most prestigious races with a pair of turf races at the Pegasus World Cup meeting, we are confident that we have unlocked a well-scheduled gateway.

“This partnership also highlights the importance of collaborating with the best horseracing in the World and allows us the opportunity to showcase the obvious benefits of working alongside the North American horseracing circuit.”

The post 1/ST and Goodwood Racecourse announce Group 1 pathways between the United Kingdom and North America appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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