Pegasus World Cup Launches Crown Jewels Racing Contest

This Saturday marks the start of an exciting international partnership as 1/ST Racing, in collaboration with HBA Media, unveils a free-to-play Crown Jewels Racing contest linked to the prestigious GI Pegasus World Cup. The Crown Jewels Racing contest offers a fantastic prize: a VIP trip for two to the 2025 GI California Crown at Santa Anita Park, including flights, accommodations, and race day hospitality.

The Crown Jewels Racing contest is part of a larger series of international racing fan engagement at sporting events managed by HBA Media. The Pegasus World Cup functioned as the inaugural event of this championship which included several more competitions that culminated in a grand prize and a two-day VIP trip to the 2026 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the most anticipated races in the sport.

HBA Media, based in the UK is a key player in the global collaboration in horse racing media rights. Peter Rotondo, Senior Vice President of Racing and Wagering for 1/ST Racing, explained the importance of this collaboration: “HBA is a company that focuses on global collaboration in horse racing. They have partnerships with some of the most important racing fan engagement at sporting events around the world and ensure these races are broadcast globally.”

The Crown Jewels Racing contest through this cooperation is now connected to a global collaboration in the horse racing network of major races, including iconic fan engagement at sporting events such as the GI Belmont Stakes, the GI Preakness Stakes, the GI Kentucky Derby, the Breeders’ Cup, Cheltenham, and more. By working with HBA, 1/ST Racing ensures the Pegasus World Cup and other races in the series gain visibility across international platforms.

Even though the Pegasus World Cup will be shown exclusively on NBC and Peacock in the U.S., those residing in other countries will easily watch the event using HBA’s wide coverage areas. This also gives a chance to U.S. races to connect with the world audience successfully.

Rotondo highlighted the benefits of this collaboration “What makes this partnership special is that HBA holds the media rights to multiple major races. In the world of horse racing, it can be difficult to get different entities to work together. But HBA has brought together a variety of prestigious races under one umbrella, which makes it easier for broadcasters to acquire and share this content globally.”

By consolidating rights to top races, HBA has created a streamlined process for media companies looking to cover fan engagement at sporting events worldwide, giving them access to high-profile racing content across different markets.

For the international broadcast of the Pegasus World Cup, HBA is bringing in Francesca Cumani, a prominent host from ITV Racing and Channel 10, to provide features and coverage. Cumani will be in Miami and at Gulfstream Park, offering an inside look at the atmosphere of the event. While U.S. viewers will experience the event on NBC, global collaboration in horse racing audiences will get a fresh perspective through Cumani’s unique reports, showcasing both the race and the lifestyle surrounding it.

Rotondo mentioned that although the broadcast will not be available in the U.S. through HBA’s distribution channels, American viewers can still participate in the Crown Jewels Racing contest, giving them an opportunity to win prizes while enjoying the international excitement of the game.

In the last few years, HBA Media has filled up its list of racing rights with big games in several countries around the world including the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan, Singapore, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, and Hong Kong.

Through HBA this tremendous worldwide network has been cast in a lead role in the international media that covers horse racing. The Crown Jewels Racing contest is the new face of fan engagement with horse racing around the world, proposing an innovative idea that sets up the fans for more than just watching and winning exclusive and exciting prizes; they also get the opportunity to gather together, network, and meet each other.

The Crown Jewels Racing contest is only the beginning. By hosting the 2025 California Crown and the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the project is meant to ensure a larger number of horse racing enthusiasts from all corners of the globe the complete package for virtual enjoyment. The deal between 1/ST Racing and HBA Media is the steppingstone for a continuous expansion of the global collaboration in horse racing coverage and participation, which will make the horse racing scene to be more accessible and engrossing for the crowds across the world

For fans of the sport, the Crown Jewels Racing contest is a chance to be part of something larger than just a race. Whether you’re in the U.S. or abroad, the opportunity to win exclusive prizes while participating in this global collaboration in horse racing is one that shouldn’t be missed.