The Ultimate Guide to the 2026 Pegasus World Cup

The 2026 Pegasus World Cup is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

The Pegasus World Cup is a Grade 1, 1⅛-mile dirt race at Gulfstream Park that brings together the best older horses in the world to open the global racing season. With a multi-million-dollar purse and an international field, it serves as racing’s first major championship of the year. A win can define the Horse of the Year race and launch a horse toward the Saudi Cup, Dubai World Cup, and Breeders’ Cup later in the season.

You can bet on the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, through an off-track betting site, or on online wagering apps like TwinSpires. Common bets include Win, Place, Show, plus Exactas, Trifectas, Superfectas, and multi-race wagers like Pick 3s and Pick 4s.

For the Pegasus World Cup, official odds typically start being released in the weeks leading up to the race, often once the entries are finalized and horses are confirmed as targeted for the race. Early and “future” odds may appear even earlier on betting sites, but the most accurate odds come out closer to race week and after the entries and post positions are drawn — usually in the days before Pegasus World Cup Day.

For Pegasus World Cup Day (Jan. 24, 2026) at Gulfstream Park, racing typically begins late morning (around 11:00 AM ET), with the feature Pegasus World Cup Invitational race slated for the late afternoon/early evening, around 5:40 – 5:45 PM ET. This mirrors recent years where the headline race runs in the early evening after the undercard.

You can watch the Pegasus World Cup live in the United States on NBC and stream it online via Peacock with coverage typically starting in the late afternoon/early evening on race day. International viewers may also have access through broadcasters like Sky Sports Racing in the U.K. and other partners depending on your region. Check your local listings or streaming service for exact times and availability.

The Pegasus World Cup is open to older Thoroughbreds (4-years-old and up) from around the world. It is an invitational Grade 1 race, meaning only elite horses are selected to compete. The field typically includes champions, Grade 1 winners, and top international dirt stars from the U.S. and abroad. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, it is not limited to 3-year-olds, making it a true global championship for proven racehorses.

Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park features a full stakes-packed card in addition to the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The main companion races are the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational, giving fans championship-level racing on both dirt and turf. The day also includes multiple other graded and high-purse stakes races, making it one of the richest and most competitive race days of the entire year.

The winner of last year’s Pegasus World Cup (2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational) was White Abarrio, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., winning the $3 million race at Gulfstream Park in January 2025.