Pegasus World Cup launches the 2025 Crown Jewels Racing international season, with the inaugural CJR90 show presented live by Francesca Cumani
- CJRFantasy returns with new game mechanics and improved event prizes
Thursday, 23rd January 2025 – The Pegasus World Cup is set to launch the 2025 international racing season with its ninth edition on Saturday, 25th January at Gulfstream Park, Miami.
This year's event introduces CJR90, an adaption of the former Golden Hour that will now become a 90-minute magazine show promoting the two principal races - the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) presented by Qatar Racing – integrating luxury lifestyle, fashion and entertainment features from horse racing’s hottest party. Renowned for her insightful work and style with ITV Racing and Australia's Network 10, presenter Francesca Cumani will host live coverage of the event, which will be broadcast in over 150 territories.
Francesca Cumani shared her enthusiasm about hosting the inaugural CJR90 for 1/ST and HBA Media:
"Having travelled the globe covering world racing for CNN, it is great to be back in the States to present the first-ever CJR90.
“Gulfstream Park, powered by 1/ST, is a top-tier venue that highlights horse racing as a thrilling spectacle and I’m excited to bring the energy and prestige of the Pegasus World Cup — the first Crown Jewels Racing event of the 2025 calendar — to global audience."
CJR90 aims to enhance the event's appeal, offering both racing enthusiasts, wider sports fans, and casual viewers an exciting proposition that differs from traditional, longer-form racing programmes. With Francesca's live presentation, viewers can also expert comprehensive coverage and expert analysis of the races. The show, from 21.30 – 23.00 GMT, will be available to watch in over 150 territories through broadcast distribution courtesy of HBA Media, including by Channel 7 in Australia and SportsNet in Canada for the first time.
Alongside the host broadcaster, NBCU (USA), the international coverage for the Pegasus World Cup includes:
· Sky Sports Racing, Virgin Media TV (UK & Ireland)
· ESPN (Latin America)
· Channel 7 (Australia)
· Sportsnet (Canada)
· Viaplay (Scandinavia & the Netherlands)
· FanCode (India)
· Setanta (Balkans and Eurasia)
· Sport24 (Global Airlines)
· WeDo TV (DACH & Southeast Asia)
· SuperSport (Africa)
· SportsMax (Caribbean)
· Polsat (Poland)
· Silknet (Georgia)
· EuroVision (UK and 20 European territories)
· D-Smart (Turkey)
· Anuvu (Global Cruise Ships)
· Reuters (Global News)
· TransWorld Sports (Global Magazine Show)
Aidan Butler, President at 1/ST, added:
“We are once again thrilled to be working with HBA Media. The HBA team bring our marquee events such as the Pegasus World Cup, Preakness Stakes and California Crown to a worldwide audience. As 1/ST expands its global footprint, it is vital to garner this best-in-class production and distribution. With top class racing coupled with fashion and entertainment, our events are a natural fit in HBA’s CJR rights package.”
Frank Sale, Chief Executive of HBA Media, said:
“Our longstanding partnership with the innovative team at 1/ST has played a key role in establishing the Pegasus World Cup as a globally recognised event within HBA’s premium package of rights. Their commitment to making racing more engaging and accessible through diverse and entertaining content has helped showcase the sport in a different light and we are proud to be such close partners. HBA is more than confident that 1/ST’s strategy around their major race days will continue to captivate wider audiences and that fits exactly with what HBA is looking to achieve”.
The Pegasus World Cup is a feature of the Crown Jewels Racing (CJR) broadcast package, which showcases the best horseracing events in the world, evenly spaced throughout the year. Broadcasters can elect to take the full world feed (produced by NBCU) or the CJR90 programme (produced by Carr-Hughes Production and HBA Media). The CJR promo can be viewed here and is complemented by horse racing’s only international fantasy predictor game – CJRFantasy – which returns with new game mechanics and improved prizes.
Entering its second year, CJRFantasy is proving an engaging tool to help unify the global horse racing calendar, providing broadcasters and their fans around the world with a new platform to challenge their knowledge and prizes. This year, CJRFantasy will receive significant strength and support in the US through an enhanced involvement with 1/ST.
The 18-game season launches for the Pegasus World Cup with a mega £5,000 raceday experience prize, alongside a new ‘Out The Money’ booster and an ‘Ice Cold’ bonus. The monthly CJRFantasy game schedule takes in the Saudi Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Florida Derby, Grand National, the Preakness Stakes, Epsom Derby, Royal Ascot (Gold Cup), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sussex Stakes, The Juddmonte International, Irish Champions Stakes, California Crown, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, British Champions Stakes, Breeders’ Cup, Melbourne Cup and the Hong Kong Cup.
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For further information, please contact:
Hannah Tufnell – Head of Marketing and Communications, HBA Media
Hannah@hbamedia.tv / +44 (0) 7971 598 287
About The Stronach Group and 1/ST
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group's 1/ST business (pronounced "First") is North America's preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group's continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company's premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST's media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing's largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group's commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group's TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company's live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.
About HBA Media:
· HBA Media provide multiple live international horseracing packages to broadcasters as well as umbrella deals which include the co-ordination of programme delivery, daily management and troubleshooting.
· HBA Media’s aim is to reposition horseracing to be competitive with the likes of football, rugby, and cricket in the world of sports broadcasting.
· HBA Media is proud to work with a whole host of prestigious racing federations and major global networks including Ascot Racecourse Limited, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, France Galop, Eurosport, Dubai Media Incorporated, Abu Dhabi Media, TVG, The Japan Racing Association, Singapore Turf Club, The German Jockey Club, The German Tote, Italian Racing, Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Racing Club, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, NYRA, The New Zealand Racing Board, Racecourse Media Group, The Stronach Group, Breeders' Cup, Phumelea Gaming, the Saudi Cup and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
