NBC Sports Group, the Home of Horse Racing, Adds another Premium Property to Portfolio Which Features Exclusive Triple Crown & Breeders’ Cup Rights and Newly-Added Royal Ascot
NBC Partners with The Stronach Group For The Pegasus World Cup Invitational
NBC’s Live Coverage of Pegasus World Cup Invitational Will Be Streamed on NBCSports.com & the NBC Sports app
STAMFORD, Conn. – SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 – NBC Sports Group has reached an agreement with The Stronach Group for exclusive United States media rights to the inaugural running of the $12 Million USD Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The world’s richest thoroughbred race will be contested on January 28, 2017 at The Stronach Group’s premier destination, Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
The inaugural running of this industry leading thoroughbred invitational is the vision of The Stronach Group founder, Frank Stronach, and 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.
NBC will air a live 90-minute telecast from Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 28, 2017. All coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs. Powered by Playmaker Media, the NBC Sports app is available on Apple iOS, Android and select Samsung devices, as well as on Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Win10, and Xbox.
As the home of horse racing, NBC Sports Group’s presentation of The Pegasus World Cup Invitational will complement its exclusive, long-term media agreements for all of the Triple Crown races – Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes – the Breeders’ Cup, and the newly-acquired Royal Ascot.
“We are excited to work with The Stronach Group to present such a unique and lucrative race as we continue to present the best horse racing in the world,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with NBC to bring the world’s richest thoroughbred horse race to audiences across The United States. The Stronach Group is committed to modernizing and elevating the sport of thoroughbred horse racing for the next generation of fans, while providing a deeper experience to our existing fans and racing enthusiasts with exciting new events like The Pegasus World Cup Invitational.” said Belinda Stronach, Chairman & President, The Stronach Group.
The innovative Pegasus World Cup Invitational, to be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt, is restricted to 12 horses and is the first event of its kind in horse racing. Twelve owners have reserved a spot in the starting gate for $1 million USD. They can race, lease, share a starter, or sell their place in the gate. The owners will share equally in the net income from betting, media rights and sponsorships. The winner of the race will earn a world-record $7 million USD.
Wagering on The Pegasus World Cup Invitational can be done through Xpressbet.com.
NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup, and beginning in 2017 the Royal Ascot. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown. NBC Sports’ coverage of 2016 Kentucky Derby averaged 15.5 million viewers – marking the fourth consecutive year the “Run for the Roses” has topped 15 million viewers on NBC. NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2016 Preakness Stakes averaged 9.4 million viewers, up 6% from Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah’s first-place finish at Pimlico last year (8.9 million viewers), and the third time in four years that its Preakness Stakes audience topped 9 million viewers.
AWARDS FOR NBC’S HORSE RACING COVERAGE: NBC Sports Group’s coverage of American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown run in 2015 earned two Sports Emmys: Outstanding Camera Work for the entire Triple Crown series, and Outstanding Open/Tease for the 141st Kentucky Derby, narrated by Ashley Judd. Since its involvement in the Triple Crown, NBC Sports Group has been honored with 16 Eclipse Awards for its thoroughbred racing coverage including the award for Television – Live Program for the 2015 Belmont Stakes, 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 2013 Kentucky Derby. NBC Sports Group’s previous wins in that category include: Preakness (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008), Kentucky Derby (2007, 2012), Belmont (2004) and Breeder’s Cup (2001). Additionally, NBC Sports Group has won four Eclipse Awards in the features category: “California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion,” which was televised on NBCSN in June 2014, a 2002 feature on War Emblem (Preakness broadcast), a 2005 feature on Afleet Alex (Kentucky Derby broadcast) and a 2009 feature on Mine That Bird (Preakness broadcast).
THE STRONACH GROUP: The Stronach Group (TSG) is an industry leader in world-class horse racing, entertainment and pari-mutuel wagering technology. Within its portfolio of racing and gaming businesses, TSG holds some of the greatest brands in the industry including; Santa Anita Park, “The Great Race Place”; Pimlico Race Course, home of the legendary Preakness Stakes®; Gulfstream Park, one of Florida’s newest entertainment destination centers featuring a casino and outdoor retail village; Laurel Park; Golden Gate Fields; and Portland Meadows; and also includes industry leading pari-mutuel technology subsidiaries AmTote and Xpressbet. For more on The Stronach Group, visit www.thestronachgroup.com.
-NBC SPORTS GROUP-