Pegasus World Cup Invitational the world’s richest horse race.
The world’s richest thoroughbred horse race, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational was run on Saturday, January 28th, at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and was won by 2016 Breeders Cup Classic Champion, “Arrogate” owned by Juddmonte Farms, winning the eye watering $12 million purse and the new trophy created by Mark Raynes Roberts.
The Pegasus World Cup Invitational trophy was commissioned by Frank Stronach, Founder and Hon. Chairman, The Stronach Group, and created by crystal artist, Mark Raynes Roberts.
The vision of Mr. Frank Stronach, Founder and Honorary Chairman of The Stronach Group and Ms. Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President; the race attracted 17,000 race fans on race day to the world’s premier thoroughbred racing event at Gulfstream Park. With twelve owners having reserved their spot in the starting gate for $1 million USD, the race was run over a mile and an 1/8″ on dirt. The 12 places in the starting gate have been purchased for $1 million apiece the profits from the entire day were divided up among the gate owners, with the $12 million in entry fees making up the race’s purse. An innovation in horse racing and an exciting new spectacle on the racing calendar.
Mr. Stronach commissioned world renowned crystal artist and designer, Mark Raynes Roberts, to create the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational crystal trophy, who was inspired by the 112ft tall “Pegasus” bronze sculpture, which Mr. Stronach had erected at Gulfstream Park, Florida, which is part of The Stronach Group’s mission to attract a new audience to horse racing with the addition of a full entertainment package including luxury shopping and casino.
The inspiration and design process for the creation of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational crystal trophy, which incorporated 10 hand-cut pieces of optical crystal which were hand-engraved by artist, Mark Raynes Roberts.
Mr. Stronach has known the artist for many years having first commissioned Raynes Roberts back in 1986 for Magna International Inc., the global auto-parts company he founded and ran for over fifty years which now has annual sales of $30 billion. Now focused on The Stronach Group and the evolution of horse racing into fully packaged entertainment experience, the artist created several crystal designs for Mr. Stronach to review which would capture the imagination of the race going public for the world’s richest horse race.
Mark Raynes Roberts, artist and designer of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational crystal trophy, puts the finishing touches to his trophy on race day morning at Gulfstream Park, Miami, Florida.
“The trophy is an iconic symbol of the excitement, dedication and ultimate achievement of our sports’ athletes and owners. Befitting of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the world’s richest thoroughbred horse race, the grand, unique and multi-dimensional sculpture created by Mark Raynes Roberts, represents a new pinnacle of accomplishment for our fine sport.
Belinda Stronach, Chairman, The Stronach Group
Arrogate wins the 2017 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park with Mike E. Smith up for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Juddmonte Farms, 2017 Pegasus World Cup. Trophy: Mark Raynes Roberts
“I am very proud to have created this prestigious thoroughbred trophy and it is an honour to be part of this exciting new event for thoroughbred horse racing in North America”
Mark Raynes Roberts
The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakeholders, together with The Stronach Group, are on the leading edge of an industry game-changing catalyst to modernize the sport and engage a new generation of fans. The inaugural running of this industry-leading thoroughbred invitational exemplifies The Stronach Group’s commitment to modernizing and elevating the sport of horse racing for the next generation of fans, while providing lucrative opportunities for thoroughbred owners.
For information on the Pegasus World Cup: www.pegasusworldcup.com