Jill Medinger[portfolio_slideshow id=7324]
George Kamper’s striking images celebrate the record event.
Earlier this year, the richest horse race in the world was run at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, just outside Miami. The first-of-its-kind $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational surpassed the Dubai World Cup as the world’s richest Thoroughbred horse race. Entrants each ponied up $1 million for one of the 12 starting spots, and horse owners had a chance to win a $7 million purse as well as share in additional money from wagering and sponsors. The winner, Arrogate, triumphed over rival and 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, who is retiring after the race. Chrome won six of the seven races he ran last year—his only loss was to Arrogate.
Arrogate has won six straight races, the last three the Travers, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and now the Pegasus World Cup. The race took place in the shadow of a $30 million, 110-foot-tall Pegasus statue, the second largest sculpture in the U.S. after the Statue of Liberty. CNBC noted that “The race and the statue are the brainchild of 84-year-old billionaire Frank Stronach, whose company owns Gulfstream Park as well as several other prominent racetracks. His horses have won two of the prestigious U.S. triple crown events—the Preakness Stakes, which the family now owns, and the Belmont Stakes—as well as the Breeders’ Cup Classic.” His daughter, Belinda Stronach, is chairman and president of the Stronach Group.
In honor of the record-breaking race, Belinda and Seth Browarnik, founder of World Red Eye a Miami based lifestyle journal, created Pegasus magazine to celebrate the world of Thoroughbred racing. The debut magazine features a cover and fashion feature photographed by George Kamper (Equestrian Living’s photography director) created on the grounds of Gulfstream Park. The cover photo of the model and huge Pegasus required special lighting and safety procedures. In addition to the safety of the crew, Kamper’s challenges included creating lighting and effects on site that did not interfere with or scare the race horses. Like these images, “I think the race will take on the personality of this very modern city, which is fun, sexy, and very fashion-conscious,” says Belinda Stronach. Take a look at the results. We think they are stunning and worthy of helping to welcome the landmark sporting event.