Belinda Stronach | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘It Did Not Disappoint’: Belinda Stronach On ‘Different Circumstances’ of 2021 Pegasus World Cup

On Saturday, the fifth running of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. Gulfstream Park was transformed by 1/ST into a socially distant entertainment experience welcoming 1,500 fans (15% of typical Pegasus World Cup capacity) to the race track for the first time since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, 1/ST, hosted celebrity guests including, Amar'e Stoudemire (Six-time NBA All-Star Player and NBA's Brooklyn Nets Assistant Coach), Tyga (Rapper, Singer & TV Personality), Jasmine Sanders (Sports Illustrated Cover Model), Denis Savard (NHL Hall of Famer), Brian Poli-Dixon (Artist & Former NFL Player), David Grutman (Groot Hospitality Founder) and Isabela Rangel Grutman (Model).

Colonel Liam owned by Robert and Lawana Low, ridden by the Award-winning Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Todd Pletcher, won the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Odds favorite, Knicks Go owned by Korea Racing Authority, ridden by Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario and trained by Brad Cox, won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and an automatic entry into the 2021 $20 million Saudi Cup. Belinda Stronach presented the winning owners of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Invitational with crystal Pegasus trophies provided by the official trophy partner, Baccarat. The winning trainers and jockeys from the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series races were presented with Championship Rings designed by local Miami jeweler, BooDaddy Diamonds.

Despite the limited crowd in attendance, total handle for the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series topped $40.7 million dollars, the third highest handle in the race's history, due in part to the success of the 1/ST Bet app. Part of the 1/ST Technology suite of handicapping and betting products, 1/ST Bet uses AI-technology to deliver a user-friendly mobile wagering experience that suits everyone from the experienced horseplayer to the first-time bettor.

“The 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held under much different circumstances then all those that have come before it, but it did not disappoint,” said Belinda Stronach. “Today, thanks to the cooperation of the horsemen, our many partners, guests in attendance and the 1/ST team, the Pegasus World Cup successfully blended a day of safe, world-class Thoroughbred horse racing with a socially distant entertainment experience setting a new standard for events in our sport during the COVID-19 era.”

This year, 1/ST again teamed up with Groot Hospitality to create a socially distant Pegasus Swan Garden pop-up offering guests an exclusive VIP experience in a “Tulum meets Swan” setting. 1/ST also teamed up with Red Rooster Overtown to curate a menu of Southern classics and elevated sips for the racing connections in Gulfstream Park's Flamingo Room. Notorious Pink Rosé, Evian Natural Spring Water and Ferraelle Naturally Sparkling Water kept guests cool under the race day sunshine.

Musical performances took place both at the track and off-site. At Gulfstream Park, Yoli Mayor, the Miami-born semi-finalist on Season 12 of America's Got Talent on NBC, performed the national anthem, and Jakissa Taylor Semple, aka DJ Kiss, provided the beats in the trackside Pegasus Swan Garden. As part of NBC's Pegasus World Cup in-broadcast performance Aloe Blacc, the singer-songwriter of hits including “I Need a Dollar,” “The Man,” and “Wake Me Up,” performed live from Red Rooster Overtown as a tribute to Miami's diverse and vibrant culture.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, 1/ST has developed and implemented industry-leading COVID-19 safety measures at its tracks and facilities across the United States. The 2021 Pegasus World Cup implemented strict social distancing protocols and new health and safety guidelines for riders and spectators. On premise attendance for this year's event was reduced to 15% to allow all guests to socially distance accordingly. Thermal sensing cameras at all entrances checked guest temperatures, and masks were required. Cleaning protocols provided regular sanitizing of public spaces, and cashless wagering via 1/ST Bet eliminated the handling of currency.

The medication-free format, for both the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards and reflects the commitment that 1/ST made in April 2019 to eliminate Lasix in all graded stakes races in 2021.

As part of 1/ST's mission to prioritize the care and safety of Thoroughbred racehorses before, during and after their careers, the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series recognized the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as a charitable partner of choice with a $50,000 donation.

Keep up with the Pegasus World Cup on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @PegasusWorldCup #PegasusWorldCup #RunWithUs.

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Stronach Group And PETA Urge Ban On Sale Of Thoroughbreds To South Korea, Citing Slaughter Concerns

The Stronach Group has joined together with animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a call to ban the sale of Thoroughbreds to South Korea without better assurances for aftercare. PETA released a video investigation of horse slaughter in South Korea in spring 2019, claiming the practice is a common way of dealing with unwanted horses and that Korean slaughterhouses violated the country's Animal Protection Act.

A subsequent investigation by the Korean government resulted in fines for the Jeju Livestock Cooperative Association and two of its employees for killing horses in front of others, which is judged to be an unnecessary stressor. Workers shown hitting horses in the head were not fined, according to PETA.

The Stronach Group's Belinda Stronach joined with PETA to issue the call for a sales ban after learning stallion Private Vow was slaughtered in Korea sometime this year. Private Vow had been sold to stud in South Korea in 2015 after seven years at Red River Farms in Louisiana.

The Blood-Horse contacted Red River's Jay Adcock, who said he had no idea the 17-year-old stallion had died until he saw the statement from PETA on Wednesday. Private Vow had been sold from the farm that purchased him from Adcock to a private breeder before his death.

The Stronach Group urged that sales companies, breeders, and owners should prohibit the sale of Thoroughbreds to South Korean “without the meaningful and binding assurances that these noble animals will be protected after their racing and breeding careers.”

The Stronach Group Joins PETA in Urging Ban on Sale of Horses to South Korea

After viewing PETA’s video expose of the slaughter of racehorses in South Korea, including the stallion Private Vow, The Stronach Group is endorsing PETA’s efforts to ban the sale of North American Thoroughbreds to South Korean racing interests.

PETA can now show that Private Vow was sold to South Korea for stud duty in 2014 and ended up being slaughtered for meat in July. He sired 196 foals in the U.S. and South Korea.

Belinda Stronach, chair and president of The Stronach Group, said, “The Stronach Group is urging all North American auction companies, breeders, and owners to develop policies that prohibit the sale of Thoroughbred racehorses or brood mares to South Korea without the meaningful and binding assurances that these noble animals will be protected after their racing and breeding careers.”

Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing, said, “As part of the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission we are committed to the care and safety of Thoroughbreds before, during and after their racing careers which is why we are endorsing PETA in this effort.”

PETA has asked the Korea Racing Authority to introduce a retirement system modeled on the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, allocate 2% of prize money to aftercare, end its support for horse slaughter, and ensure that imported North American horses will not be slaughtered.

“The over 400 American racehorses exported to South Korea every year deserve peaceful retirements, not terrifying deaths on a slaughterhouse floor,” says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. “PETA is calling on North America’s Thoroughbred horse racing industry to stop the horse racing industry to stop selling horses to South Korea until the slaughter ends.”

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Paul Williams Named Chief Executive Officer Of 1/ST Technology

1/ST announced today the appointment of Paul Williams to Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Technology and to Chief Technology Officer, 1/ST. Williams joined The Stronach Group in 2018 as the company's first Chief Technology Officer, focused on building and delivering the digital and technology road map to maximize the company's world-class platforms and to expand the opportunities for innovation across The Stronach Group's racing and gaming verticals.

As Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Technology, Williams will work directly with 1/ST Racing and 1/ST Content to amplify the company's innovative racing and content programs. He will lead the consolidation of 1/ST's digital businesses to drive revenue for some of horse racing's largest and most recognized racing and gaming brands including, AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST Bet, XB Select, XB Net, PariMAX and Betmix.

In addition, Williams will continue his responsibilities as Chief Technology Officer, 1/ST to build on the industry-leading internal and external IT infrastructure that is currently in place at 1/ST. He will focus on strengthening and improving the digital systems that support company-wide platforms to increase cyber defense capabilities, digital efficiencies and innovative customer interfaces.

“Paul's added appointment to Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Technology, represents the ongoing evolution of 1/ST as Thoroughbred horse racing's premier operator,” said Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, 1/ST. “I have tremendous confidence in the 1/ST team and their collective commitment to evolving our racing and gaming platforms with continued forward-thinking that will drive our company's growth for the future.”

“As we look to the future of Thoroughbred horse racing and to gaming in general, the opportunities for expansion and innovation are endless,” said Williams. “By structuring the 1/ST Technology, 1/ST Racing and 1/ST Content businesses as congruent brands, we will be able to offer our customers world-class racing and gaming products that reflect the new era in our sport.”

Since joining The Stronach Group, Williams has improved the Xpressbet legacy platform and has successfully engaged a new generation of customers with the development and roll out of the 1/ST Bet app, an innovative mobile platform that has changed the wagering experience for everyone from the first-timer to the experienced horse player.

Williams has a passion for building immersive technologies supported by world-class infrastructure and has led several large-scale global technology teams throughout his career. He formerly served as Chief Information Officer of IBEXGlobal and Chief Information Officer at Cantor Gaming and as Global Director of Trading Infrastructure at Cantor Fitzgerald, LLC.

For more information on 1/ST and 1/ST BET please visit www.1st.com and www.1stbet.com or @1ST_Racing and @1stbet.

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