Pegasus World Cup Betting Guide
The Pegasus World Cup is renowned for being one of the top races for older horses.
Bettors and fans alike flock to the race each year for the chance to win big and witness a field made up of horses from all around the world.
The Pegasus World Cup is held in January every year. This page outlines the various races, how to qualify and how to bet on the Pegasus World Cup.
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How the Pegasus stakes work
A total of twelve stakes races are held, and seven of them are graded. However, it’s the Pegasus World Cup that every horse-and-jockey combo wants to win.
The Cup has long been the highlight of horse racing for a lot of people. The recent introduction of the Pegasus World Cup Turf has subsequently made it even better than before, as many new and exciting races are being held.
Last year, the horse Knicks Go took first place, winning the $3 million purse. One thing is for sure, at the Pegasus World Cup the cash up for grabs is just as fast as the horses.
The Pegasus World Cup used to boast one of the largest prizes, but in recent years, organizers have chosen to focus on making a full-day event with a stronger card. There is a total of $5.2 million up for grabs across seven stakes races throughout the day.
Additionally, few other races can claim to be genuinely international enough to be a “World Cup.” This is something that gives Pegasus pride.
Regardless of your horse racing tastes, you can be sure that there will be plenty of exciting races to watch and lucrative bets to be made at the Pegasus World Cup. You can build a strategy on how to bet your card, check Pegasus World Cup odds, and review the results of this year’s races all on Playfecta.
Best racing sites to bet on the World Cup
Not all gamblers are familiar with how online gambling has evolved and expanded over the years. If you’re interested in betting on the races without having to trek to the tracks, look no further.
For those in the US, the horse racing websites listed here represent some of the best and most exciting options available to future winners. We chose these websites because of their ease of access, quality of customer service, breadth of featured races and friendliness to newcomers.
Hundreds of races are featured from all around the world, ensuring that you won’t miss anything when it happens.
Before you place your bets, check your state laws with regard to online horse race betting. While it’s not illegal at the federal level, some states still have limitations on the minimum age to bet and which operators can accept wagers.
Remember, you always need to bet inside the confines of the law; otherwise, you might find that your winnings vanish into thin air.
How to bet on the Pegasus World Cup
Odds are you are champing at the bit to get a taste of the betting action on the Pegasus World Cup.
And why wouldn’t you be? It’s one the most significant dates on the sports betting calendar after all.
Hold your horses though, because as they say, fools rush in. Before you do anything, you need to understand the best ways that you can bet on this exciting race held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL.
As always, we are here to help. The following info looks at the ways you can wager on the Pegasus World Cup.
Online betting
At the national level, horse race betting is legal in the United States. However, online gambling is not always regulated in the same manner as in-person gambling at the state level.
Despite horse racing’s long and venerable tradition all over the world, some places still don’t see fit to allow easy betting upon these races.
In states where betting online on horse races is legal — and there are plenty — what you’ll find is that the choice at hand is massive. Thousands of sites will be competing for your attention so that you can bet on the Pegasus World Cup with ease.
Simple and straight to the point, betting online is the way to go if you want an effective way to wager on the hottest horse races.
Betting at the teller
When you walk up to the teller working at the racetrack counter, you’ll need to give them enough information about your wager to put in your bet.
First, tell them the racetrack you’re betting at and the race number. You’ll also need to specify the amount of money you want to gamble, the type of bet you are placing and the horse’s number.
If you have all of this information with you, then obtaining your ticket won’t take more than a minute or two.
While it might seem intimidating at first, betting at a teller is pretty straightforward.
Just make sure that you get your ticket and keep it safe. If you don’t, then you’ll be kicking yourself if your selected horse romps home to victory. After all, you won’t be able to claim any of your winnings without a ticket.
Off-track betting
Off-track betting (OTB) facilities are specifically designed for people who live far from the action but can’t bear to miss out on the fun of a day at the races.
One good example of an OTB facility is a casino, like the ones you see in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Off-track betting sites offer all the services and amenities that a racetrack would. They also provide all sorts of ways to watch the races as they happen.
Let’s put it this way, if you don’t fancy facing the hot Florida sun or staring at a computer screen, then heading to an OTB facility is the best way to go if you want to bet on the Pegasus World Cup.
Regardless of whether you bet at the track, off the track or online, you should never settle for second-best in service and customer satisfaction.
This guide will subsequently help steer you in the right direction. We’ll make sure you only give your hard-earned money to the places that truly deserve it.
No matter what the race is and when, you’ll never have to miss the action thanks to us.
Is it legal to bet on the Pegasus World Cup?
Yes, it is. The Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 is the reason why this is so.
Revisions to gambling laws in 2006 did not apply to horse betting. This means that its legality was not changed at the federal level. However, individual states can still decide how they want to regulate the industry. Some states are more restrictive than others on the sport, in general, while others regulate online betting more.
Licensed and regulated offshore facilities offer plenty of gambling options for Americans. It’s also entirely within the law to bet through them. Consider this to be a nice legal loophole that lets you legally wager on top races, like the Pegasus World Cup, without concern.
Most popular bets at the race
Chances are, you’ll place bets on traditional pools: win, place and show. But, if you’re feeling an appetite for risk, consider placing a bet on a more exotic pool.
Exacta bets require you to place the first two winning horses correctly, and the wagers go up to the correct order of the first five finishers. The earnings from these bets multiply exponentially, but they’re tough to achieve.
You didn’t think that we would throw you in at the deep end, did you? As we said, an exacta bet requires you to predict the correct order of the first two finishing horses. Simple enough, really.
Next up, you have the trifecta, where you’ll need to predict the correct order of the first three finishing horses.
Then there is the superfecta, which requires you to predict the correct order of the first four finishing horses, and the super high five, which is the same bet just with five horses.
It’s safe to say that when betting on the Cup, you’ve got quite the menu of wagers. Make sure you choose wisely, though.
An example bet
You have plenty of betting options ahead of you at the Pegasus World Cup. However, a specific pick tends to be most popular with the punters.
The superfecta goes by plenty of different names (quartet in Australia, quadrifecta in Brazil, and so on). Nevertheless, the idea remains the same, simply pick the first four finishing horses to win.
The order is not quite as relevant in a bet like this unless you want to ramp up the risk. Just remember that it’s the first four horses over the finish line.
So, at the Pegasus World Cup, you could pick horses 2, 5, 6 and 11 as your first four. Expect some bumper returns with this kind of wager, as the odds will certainly be lengthy.
Past winners at the Pegasus World Cup
Well, usually here we would have a lengthy table that tells you about all the previous winners of a historical horse race. Heading into its sixth year, The Pegasus World Cup is still a young ‘un when it comes to significant horse races.
Naturally, this changes our approach a little bit. Over three years, the winners have been: Knicks Go (2021), Mucho Gusto (2020), and City of Light (2019).
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Life Is Good | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher | 1:48.91 |
| 2021 | Knicks Go | Joel Rosario | Brad Cox | 1:47.89 |
| 2020 | Mucho Gusto | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Bob Baffert | 1:48.85 |
| 2019 | City of Light | Javier Castellano | W.M. McCarthy | 1:47.71 |
| 2018 | Gun Runner | Florent Geroux | Steven M. Asmussen | 1:47.41 |
| 2017 | Arrogate | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | 1:46.83 |
Pegasus World Cup derby odds
The odds in the Pegasus World Cup are partially calculated based upon the performance of the horses at the Grade 1 level. Horses are typically scrutinized for their performance at the Breeders’ Cup, although not all horses compete at the famous championships.
The starting odds are calculated using the pari-mutuel system. The final odds are computed by calculating the amount of money bettors in and outside the country place on each horse. Knowing how to take advantage of this system can help you win big.
Sometimes, it pays to be a contrarian. If few people have bet upon your horse, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t win. If anything, your payout will be massive if they do win.
Conversely, if a lot of people bet on a horse, then the winnings will not be as significant. Keep these factors in mind when placing your wagers.
Outside of that, we’ve run down the field below, so set your eyes on the runners and riders and pick your favorite.
How the Pegasus World Cup stakes runs
The Pegasus World Cup used to be famous for being one of the world’s wealthiest races for thoroughbreds everywhere. The purse was a colossal $16 million in 2018. In favor of a richer race card for the day, organizers have pulled back on the purse, which is $5.2 million in 2022.
The race consistently attracts the best jockeys and horses from all around the world, who compete at the dirt track at Gulfstream Park for riches and glory.
It should be noted; however, that not all racehorses who compete here are bred for dirt-track racing. The race is run over a distance of 1,800 meters and is held each year at Gulfstream Park. All horses at least 4 years old are allowed to compete.
There is an open nature to the Pegasus World Cup.
Still, it’s fair to say that this track takes no prisoners. When betting on this famous race, you really need to look for a well-balanced horse to back that has both stamina and power. It’s easy to get mixed up in the Sunshine State fanfare at the Pegasus World Cup. If you plan on betting on it, though, don’t overlook the track conditions.
Pegasus World Cup Stakes Schedule – 2022
| Race | Distance | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| Pegasus World Cup | 1/1-8 miles dirt | $3 million |
| Pegasus World Cup Turf | 1/1-8 miles, turf | $1 million |
| Filly and Mare Turf | 1/1-6 miles | $500,000 |
| Inside Information | 7 furlongs | $200,000 |
| William McKnight | 1/1-2 miles | $200,000 |
| La Prevoyante | 1/1-2 miles | $150,000 |
| Fred Hooper | 1 mile | $150,000 |
How to watch the Pegasus on T.V & online streaming
If you want to catch the action as it happens, you can watch it live on NBC from 4:30-6 p.m. EST on Jan. 29. You can also go to www.PegasusWorldCup.com to watch the race via live stream. Meanwhile, if you live in Australia, you can watch it for free on Racing.com.
What’s so great about the Pegasus World Cup, TV or stream is you can easily watch this famous race in Florida from anywhere in the world.
History of the Pegasus World Cup
The Pegasus World Cup is brand-spanking new to the horse racing scene. Its first race was held in 2017 at the Gulfstream Park.
The Pegasus World Cup was masterminded by Austrian entrepreneur and horse breeder and owner Frank Stronach. He specifically timed the race so that it would occur in what is usually an off-season for horse racing.
The Cup serves as the replacement for the Donn Handicap, which was run at the same course from 1959 until 2016. The race acquired its Grade 1 status almost immediately, with it piquing the interest of horse racing fans around the world.
Winter season race
The timing of the Pegasus World Cup has been met with praise from horse racers and breeders around the world.
Previously, they had lamented how slow the winter months usually were. Bob Baffert, who trained the inaugural champion Arrogate, recognized the potential for great horses to have one last go at such a race. He remarked that American Pharaoh could have had an excellent run at the Cup if it existed during his triumphant 2015 season.
Clearly, what the Pegasus Cup is doing is filling a void. With the winter season feeling so drab and dreary for punters, this new event has breathed fresh life into it.
The Cup is funded much like a business. Each year, a total of 12 slots are purchased by shareholders for a cool $1 million each. Once they own a share, they are allowed to either race their horse or recruit another to run for them. Each shareholder shares in all the profits obtained from their share’s horse’s performance in the race.
When the first race was held in 2017, it featured two of the most exciting dirt horses on Earth: California Chrome and Arrogate. They were hot off their performance during the 2016 Breeders’ Cup races.
Arrogate went on to achieve a triumphant victory, holding a 4.75 length lead over his next two competitors: Neolithic and Shaman Ghost.
Extending the career of Thoroughbreds
The Pegasus World Cup is known for its ability to put aging champions back in the limelight, something that the horse racing world has widely commended.
The president of Gulfstream, Tim Ritvo, had this to say:
“We’re hoping that we can extend horses’ careers or give horses opportunity. We could have this continued schedule, where a horse can make $12 million or $15 million in earnings for the year. He could still be a good stallion at 5 or 6. And we can extend the career of these horses, and really grow a bigger fan base. So, that’s kind of the hope and the thought.”
In 2022, the purse was divided between the main dirt racetrack and the turf race, at $3 million and $1 million, respectively. Based upon that, it’s clear that one race slightly outshines the other.
Money aside, nobody should ever overlook the short but important history of the Pegasus World Cup. Especially with it being a winter race that isn’t afraid to give older horses the spotlight.
Pegasus World Cup News
Pegasus World Cup FAQ
The Pegasus World Cup prides itself on being held in January. Usually, this is considered a slow period for horse race aficionados.
The most recent race was run on Jan. 23, 2021, held as a series of two invitational races. It is always held at the Gulfstream Park in Florida, with 2022’s race set to take place on Jan. 29.
A total of 12 horses run the dirt track at Gulfstream Park.
The primary race is worth $3 million.
The winner takes home the lion’s share, with other horses in the race still racking up the big bucks.
The purse of the 2022 Pegasus World Cup no longer comes close to the Dubai World Cup, which is $30.5 million, but it’s still a race worth watching.
The Pegasus World Cup is exclusively open to thoroughbreds and is held each year at the Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL.
The track is dirt and 1 1/8 miles long, with horses at or older than 4 years who can compete.
Furthermore, it is almost exclusively for experienced horses and veterans of the track. Consequently, it’s the old boys that steal the show at the Pegasus World Cup.
The big race at the Pegasus World Cup will post at about 4:30 p.m. EST.
No fillies have won the Cup yet. Don’t read too much into that, though, as only three Pegasus World Cup races have been held so far.
Expect a filly to pick up a victory eventually, as every big race has had a filly winner in the past. The Pegasus World Cup will be no exception.
The Pegasus World Cup appeals to a wide range of clientele.
Ticket prices can be as cheap as $80 a seat, or more than a $1,000 for those willing to splurge.
There’s something for everybody. If you want a regular seat in the stands, then you won’t pay much, which is excellent for the casual horse racing fan. For those with more expensive tastes, there are VIP lounges, luxury hotel suites, fancy restaurants and bars, and more.
There isn’t a set amount of time that the Pegasus World Cup has to last. However, since it’s only nine furlongs in length, races typically don’t last longer than two minutes or so.
The record for fastest completion of the race belongs to 2017’s champion Arrogate, who finished in 1:46.83. This time is electric when you consider the fundamentals of the track. Therefore, expect this record to stand for a long time.