Pegasus World Cup
The Pegasus World Cup is the first major event of the year in the handicap division. The race covers 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, and the purse is a staggering $3 million. Year in and year out the race draws a fascinating mix of proven Breeders' Cup stars, horses trying to step up from other graded stakes races to the biggest of the big time, and even a few well-regarded up-and-comers.
The 2025 edition of the race happens Saturday, January 25. If you bet horse racing online, the Pegasus World Cup is a race you do not want to miss. The race usually draws a large field and long shots regularly finish in the money. So, if you study the race and make smart exotic wagers, you can hit it big!
Best Racebooks to bet on the Pegasus World Cup
Even before you start handicapping the Pegasus World Cup, you can get a head start on a profitable Pegasus World Cup betting season by choosing the right online racebook. You have many options for where to bet and it can seem complicated at first, but our online betting experts are here to help you get the best odds and betting bonuses.
These are your best options to bet the Pegasus World Cup online:
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Pegasus World Cup odds
Many top sportsbooks will open Pegasus World Cup futures odds once connections begin announcing which horses are expected to run in the race. This typically happens in the weeks leading up to the race.
Pegasus World Cup fast facts
The Pegasus World Cup is one of the newest races on the horse racing calendar – but also one of the richest and most important. Whether you're new to betting the Pegasus World Cup online or just need a refresher, here are the basics.
| Venue: | Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida |
| Distance: | 1 1/8 miles |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Date: | Saturday, January 25, 2025 |
| Purse: | $3 million |
| Age: | 4-year-olds and up |
| Inaugural Year: | 2017 |
| TV Coverage: | NBC, Peacock |
| Major Prep Races: | Breeders' Cup Classic, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile |
History of the Pegasus World Cup
The Pegasus World Cup began in 2017, taking the place of the Donn Handicap on the Gulfstream Park racing calendar. In the first few years the race offered dizzying eight-digit purses, but also used a model where owners bought slots into the race and then found horses to occupy those slots. In recent years, the Pegasus World Cup jettisoned the slot-buying model. The purse has settled to $3 million, but that still makes it one of the richest handicap races of the year.
Pegasus World Cup Winners
The Pegasus World Cup has an impressive list of winners, who form a snapshot of the best horses to race on the dirt through the 2010s and 2020s. Take a look back on these superstars:
2017 - Arrogate
Coming off a victory over California Chrome in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Arrogate continued his brief, dizzying run of magical form in the Pegasus World Cup. The Bob Baffert trainee stalked the pace, cleared off with about a quarter mile to go, and won geared down by 4 1/2 lengths over Shaman Ghost.
2018 - Gun Runner
Gun Runner became the second straight horse to parlay Breeders' Cup Classic glory into Pegasus World Cup glory. The Hall of Famer, trained by Steve Asmussen, ended his career with an emphatic victory in the Pegasus World Cup, finishing 2 1/2 lengths clear of West Coast, a well-regarded Bob Baffert trainee who had chased him home in the Breeders' Cup Classic almost three months before.
2019 - City of Light
City of Light ushered in the era of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile as a top last-out race for the Pegasus World Cup, as he came off a win in the 2018 edition of that race to look better than ever at Gulfstream. Close to the pace early, this Michael McCarthy trainee turned back a challenge from Classic winner Accelerate to win by open lengths over the late-running Seeking the Soul.
2020 - Mucho Gusto
Bob Baffert became the first trainer to win the Pegasus World Cup twice with Mucho Gusto. Laid off since a fourth-place effort in the Oklahoma Derby, Mucho Gusto was still bet down to the second choice. He stalked the pace and won in dominant fashion over long shot Mr Freeze.
2021 - Knicks Go
Coming off a win in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, this Brad Cox trainee proved himself nicely at 1 1/8 miles when winning the 2021 Pegasus World Cup. He took a little pace pressure early, but opened up and won easily in the end over long shots Jesus' Team and Independence Hall.
2022 - Life Is Good
Knicks Go attempted to become the first horse to win the Pegasus World Cup twice, but Life Is Good was better on the day. The Todd Pletcher trainee used his speed to blast to the lead and keep command at every call, with Knicks Go chasing home in second place.
2023 - Art Collector
The first long shot to win the Pegasus, this Bill Mott trainee was already a Grade 1 winner but bypassed the Breeders' Cup. Mott had him ready to go, and he won in stalk-and-pounce fashion, galloping home well clear of Bob Baffert's more fancied candidate Defunded.
2024 - National Treasure
Trainer Bob Baffert won the Pegasus World Cup for the third time in 2024, when 2023 Preakness winner National Treasure held off a late-running Senor Buscador to take the crown.
Pegasus Turf Races
In addition to the Pegasus World Cup, there are two other races run under the Pegasus banner, both on the grass.
The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf has been part of the festivities since 2019. The initial running started with a bang: Bricks and Mortar used it as the springboard to a Horse of the Year campaign, winning six times including five Grade 1 events. Colonel Liam became the first two-time winner in 2021 and 2022, while 2024 winner Warm Heart became the first filly and the first overseas contender to win it.
The newest Pegasus race is the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf, which joined the card in 2022. The first winner, Regal Glory, went on to win three Grade 1 races from coast to coast through the rest of her 2022 campaign. 2024 winner Didia also proved to be a top-class racemare; she went on to win the New York Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and finish third to Moira in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Wagering History of the Pegasus World Cup
If you follow the trends of the eight editions of the Pegasus World Cup so far, you'll notice a major trend. The winner is usually a well-bet horse: seven of the eight winners have been either the shortest-priced horse or the second favorite in the betting pool. The only exception is Art Collector (2023), who was a 15-1 long shot despite his years of proven Grade 1 class.
Exotic payouts get more interesting. Even as favorites often win, double-digit long shots virtually always find their way into the trifecta. If you are looking to score big on the Pegasus World Cup, study the long shots and use live ones in your underneath rungs of exotic bets.
Don't forget running style in the Pegasus World Cup. Deep closers have been able to close for second or third if they are good enough, but they do not tend to win. This is Gulfstream Park after all, with a well-earned reputation for being a speed-friendly track. Classy horses who typically run on or near the lead tend to be the best bets on the win end.
How to Watch the Pegasus World Cup
Watching the Pegasus World Cup is easy. You can watch it on regular TV, as NBC will broadcast starting at 4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 25. The Pegasus World Cup will also be streamed on NBC's affiliate platform, Peacock. In addition, the Pegasus World Cup card will be live streamed on the Gulfstream Park website, just like every race day at the track.
Pegasus World Cup Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Pegasus World Cup?
The Pegasus World Cup happens the last Saturday in January at Gulfstream Park. In 2025, the race happens on Saturday, January 25.
Why should I bet on the Pegasus World Cup?
The Pegasus World Cup features the best dirt route horses competing for a colossal $3 million purse. It draws a big field year after year, meaning that at least one live horse is ignored in the betting board. That means, if you take the time to find them, you can score big with exotic wagers.
What is the Pegasus World Cup betting menu?
The Pegasus World Cup betting menu offers all the classic wagers. You can bet individual horses to win, place, or show. You can also bet intra-race exotics like exactas, trifectas, superfectas, and Super High Fives, as well as multi-race bets like the Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, or Pick 6.
Can I bet on the Pegasus World Cup online?
Yes: betting the Pegasus World Cup online is safe, legal, and easy. Online betting sites offer a full range of bets including futures, fixed-odds wagering, and props that you won't find at the track, and you can play from anywhere with an internet connection.
Where can I find out the best places to bet on the Pegasus World Cup online?
You can find out the best places to bet the Pegasus World Cup online right here. Read our reviews, find out the site with the best features and benefits for you, and then bet with confidence!
