From the Party People to the Celebs & Entertainers it was a Smash Hit, But the Overall Star at the End of the Day/Race was “Art Collector”
The Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida was the place to be. This year marked the seventh edition of this action-packed American Thoroughbred horse race. Over 10,000 fans showed up at Gulfstream Park in South Florida to partake in the revelry trackside while watching the races between sips of libations and plenty of bites to choose from.
Pegasus is not your ordinary race day. Yes, the babes showed up showing off creative and colorful hats and bright dresses and suits, de rigeuer for marquis horse races like Ascot and the Kentucky Derby. But the race day here was done “Miami Style.” That means lots of liquor, VIP tables and live entertainment with top performers and international DJ’s setting the tone for party people to vibe the day away.
Like most mega events in South Florida, this one lived up to its reputation and beyond. And remember, what happened at Pegasus, stayed at Pegasus! This year they pulled out all the stops to one up themselves with star-studded entertainment and hospitality that served up the best of the best in food, beverage, and ambiance.
1/ST (pronounced “First”), the company behind Pegasus has made it their mission to modernize the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing and turn it into world class entertainment. It has become the premier event on the racing and Miami social calendars attracting fans, scenesters and celebrities. The likes of Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Gene Simmons, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell Williams, Usher, Vin Diesel and more have been trackside for Pegasus. And the racehorses participating at Gulf Stream have also been legendary including California Chrome, Gun Runner, Mucho Gusto and Life is Good to name a few.
The 2023 music headliners included American pop rock band, OneRepublic and Norwegian DJ/Producer, Kygo as well as a surprise performance by Joe Jonas. The crowds showed their delight by bopping to the music in front of the outdoor stage while capturing instagrammable moments on their mobile phones.
This year’s notables in attendance were Venus Williams, Chantel Jeffries, Alix Earle, Bad Bunny, Maluma and more. It seems that Influencers continue to be the new “celebrities” at cool events in South Florida.
For the 2023 editiion of Pegasus chief honcho, Belinda Stronach announced new partnerships that took the event to the next level.
“The Pegasus World Cup is everything Miami is – dynamic, unique, sexy, colorful and fun! I can’t think of better partners to collaborate with than David Grutman, Groot Hospitality, and Palm Tree Crew, to bring the best in food, entertainment and the VIP Miami lifestyle to horse racing’s hottest event,” said Belinda Stronach, Chairwoman, CEO and President, 1/ST.
Groot Hospitality, formed by David Grutman is a Miami Beach based collective of top hotspots including nightclubs LIV and Story, restaurants Gekko, Komodo, The Key Club, Papi Steak, Strawberry Moon and Swan, plus the Goodtime Hotel. Pharell Williams is a partner in the hotel and Swan while Bad Bunny partnered on Gekko.
1/ST tapped Groot Hospitality’s LIV for a trackside takeover of Gulfstream Park’s Carousel Club. LIV with Palm Tree Crew curated a uniquely Miami experience featuring top-tier entertainment, celebrities, VIP hospitality, programming and post-race A-list performances. Groot Hospitality restaurants Komodo, Papi Steak, Key Club and Gekkō served Carousel Club guests trackside as they enjoyed Whispering Angel, the Official Rosé of the 2023 Pegasus World Cup and cigars by Davidoff.
In the Flamingo Room, which offers a premium luxury setting with a bird’s eye view of the track, and in the Private Luxury Suites, guests were delighted by Groot Hospitality’s newest hotspots Gekkō and The Key Club, alongside signature offerings from Komodo, Papi Steak and Swan. Gekkō boasts premium steak cuts, jaw-dropping sushi inventions and delicious seafood options, while The Key Club is known for its fresh-catch fish and flavorful steaks. Guests enjoyed a live performance by Brian Newman, the iconic jazz vocalist and trumpeter who is currently the bandleader and arranger for Lady Gaga’s Jazz & Piano Las Vegas residency show, and who has collaborated with legendary performers Wynton Marsalis and Tony Bennett.
The 2023 Pegasus World Cup was presented by Baccarat, the official trophy provider. The winners were awarded with handcrafted 20-inch black crystal trophies incorporating Greek mythology inspired symbols of power, joy, light and energy. The big race’s winner was “Art Collector” who came from behind but finished in first place.
At the end of the day, this female operated racetrack run by Belinda Stronach, Chairman, CEO & President of 1/ST, deserves a big round of applause. This Next Gen proprietor put the sexy South Beach ambiance and attitude into the richest horse race in America at her Gulfstream Park owned racetrack.
