Pegasus World Cup, Breeders Cup photo
Press release Breeders’ Cup
Breeders’ Cup and 1/ST Announce Marquee Race of Gulfstream Park Winter Season as ‘Win and You’re In’ Qualifier for the 2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
LEXINGTON, Ky. & HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) will be included in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series for the first time: Win and You’re In, Breeders’ Cup Limited and 1/ST will be 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 compensation for a corresponding race at the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held October 30-31 at the 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, held at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 24, 2026, will offer the winner an automatic starting position, along with paid pre-entry and entry fees (valued at $150,000). In addition, the nominator of the winning horse will receive a $10,000 reward.
All Breeders’ Cup Challenge winners will also receive travel benefits to the World Championships:
- $10,000 for start-ups located outside Kentucky in North America
- $40,000 for international startups outside North America
Since its debut in 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has established itself as one of the most prestigious luxury sports and lifestyle events in North America. 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 top racing on a global level,” said Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “The inclusion of the Pegasus World Cup fits in perfectly – it is a premier 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 of 1/ST. “The 10-year anniversary of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational will serve as a true gateway to the Breeders’ Cup Classic – connecting our passionate fans, riders and international audiences 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 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM (ET) on NBC and Peacock.
For more information and tickets to the 2026 Pegasus World Championship, visit pegasusworldcup.comor follow on socials @pegasusworldcup
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