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Belinda Stronach: The woman behind the Pegasus World Cup

By George Ramsay, for CNN

Updated 5:35 AM ET, Tue January 23, 2018

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Belinda Stronach is the brains behind Saturday's Pegasus World Cup, which is the world's richest horse race with a $16 million prize purse.
Photos: Horse racing's new powerplay
Belinda Stronach is the brains behind Saturday's Pegasus World Cup, which is the world's richest horse race with a $16 million prize purse.
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A former politician, Stronach ran to become leader of the Canada's Conservative Party in 2004. She served as an MP from 2004-2008, switching her allegiance to join the Liberal Party in 2005.
Photos: Horse racing's new powerplay
A former politician, Stronach ran to become leader of the Canada's Conservative Party in 2004. She served as an MP from 2004-2008, switching her allegiance to join the Liberal Party in 2005.
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Now she is immersed in the racing industry, running her family's Stronach Group empire. Here she is pictured at the 2016 Breeders' Cup in California with actress and model Emily Ratajkowski.
Photos: Horse racing's new powerplay
Now she is immersed in the racing industry, running her family's Stronach Group empire. Here she is pictured at the 2016 Breeders' Cup in California with actress and model Emily Ratajkowski.
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Arrogate (left), ridden by Mike Smith, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/06/sport/breeders-cup-classic-california-chrome/">edged out</a> California Chrome to win the Breeders' Cup Classic in November 2016 and the pair met up again with a first prize of $7 million on the line in the Pegasus World Cup at Florida's Gulfstream Park.
Photos: Horse racing's new powerplay
Arrogate (left), ridden by Mike Smith, edged out California Chrome to win the Breeders' Cup Classic in November 2016 and the pair met up again with a first prize of $7 million on the line in the Pegasus World Cup at Florida's Gulfstream Park.
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Arrogate -- named <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/24/sport/arrogate-longines-worlds-best-racehorse-2016/index.html">World's Best Racehorse in 2016</a> -- beat California Chrome in a classic final duel to win the inaugural 2017 Pegasus World Cup, then worth $12 million in total.
Photos: Horse racing's new powerplay
Arrogate -- named World's Best Racehorse in 2016 -- beat California Chrome in a classic final duel to win the inaugural 2017 Pegasus World Cup, then worth $12 million in total.
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Gun Runner, winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic in November 2017, is favorite for the second running of the Pegasus World Cup. But he is up against the first five finishers in the Breeders' Cup Classic, while the 12-horse field has won more than $22 million in prize money collectively.
Photos: Horse racing's new powerplay
Gun Runner, winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic in November 2017, is favorite for the second running of the Pegasus World Cup. But he is up against the first five finishers in the Breeders' Cup Classic, while the 12-horse field has won more than $22 million in prize money collectively.
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belinda stronach richest horse racebelinda stronach gal 5belinda stronach gal 1belinda stronach gal 4Arrogate Pegasus World Cup richest raceGun Runner Pegasus World Cup richest horse race
Former politician and CEO Belinda Stronach is hoping to shake up the world of horse racing with a record-breaking $16 million event.