Pegasus World Cup
Introduced in 2017 as the richest race on the planet , the Pegasus World Cup is the epitome of American lavishness. The nine-furlong (1? miles ) race is run over a dirt track at Gulfstream Park, Florida and is intended as a showdown for experienced racers of four years old or above.
For its second running in 2018, the prize pot was boost by $4 million to $16 million with an entry fee for each of the 12 slots of $1 million. The organizer added the rest.
The winner, Gun Runner, collected an astonishing $7 million in 2018.
However, for 2019 the prize pot will be split across two Grade 1 races -- the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the new Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational over 1 3/16 miles.
The revamped Pegasus World Cup Invitational will command a prize fund of $9 million with $4 million going to the winner, while the turf race will offer a pot of $7 million with the winner bagging $3 million.
Entry to each race costs $500,000 with an owner scooping a bonus $1 million if they win both events.
In 2018, the Pegasus World Cup boasted the highest prize money in the world with bumper prize money of $16 million.
Simply put, the sport of kings can yield a king's ransom.
Here is a look at some of the richest events on the horse racing calendar.
The Dubai World Cup
Due to the new format of the Pegasus World Cup, the Dubai World Cup can now regain its position as the richest horse race in the world.
Held at the Meydan Racecourse, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Grade 1 race has been run every year since 1996, marking the end of the UAE racing season.
The prize fund has been boosted to $12M and the winner of the 2019 edition will take home an eye-watering $7.2 million.
Godolphin, the racing stable of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has particularly enjoyed the event. It celebrated its record seventh victory in 2018 as Thunder Snow, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, set a new dirt-track record.
Run over mile-and-a-quarter (10 furlongs), the race invites four-year-olds or above from the Northern Hemisphere and three-year-olds or above from the Southern Hemisphere.