Q&A: 1/ST EXPERIENCE CEO Jimmy Vargas Talks Entertainment Initiatives & Future of Horse Racing

Photography by Ryan Troy on May 2nd, 2021 in Celebrity, Editorials, Lifestyle

Jimmy Vargas

Hallandale Beach, FL – May 2, 2021 – 1/ST, the entertainment, technology, media and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core, recently appointed Jimmy Vargas as Chief Executive Officer of the company’s entertainment, hospitality and venue business, 1/ST EXPERIENCE.

World Red Eye caught up with Miami-native Vargas at Hallandale’s Gulfstream Park to discuss the future of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, and his vision for the sport as a whole. Read the full Q&A below.

Jimmy Vargas

WRE: You joined 1/ST a few years ago, what have been some of your most noteworthy projects and biggest achievements since joining?

Jimmy Vargas: I joined 1/ST in 2018 as Executive Vice President, Entertainment and I was really excited about the opportunity to work directly with Belinda Stronach (1/ST Chairman, CEO and President) to help build on the work she was doing to innovate the sport. I was initially brought in to oversee entertainment at marquee races, relationships and strategy and helped reimagine some of the biggest events like the InfieldFest at Preakness, tapping talent like Post Malone, Odesza, 21 Savage, Kygo, Diplo, the late Juice Wrld, FISHER and Frank Walker, as well as spearheaded the inaugural Clubhouse Festival featuring Steve Aoki and Tyga at Laurel Park Racetrack. Just this week, we announced the upcoming Preakness LIVE, a reimagined entertainment experience for Preakness 146 taking place Saturday, May 15. Preakness LIVE will feature legendary DJ, D-Nice, 2 Chainz, and Jack Harlow broadcast live in part NBC during the race day broadcast from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET and live on D-Nice’s #ClubQuarantine Instagram.

In the South of Florida market, I am responsible for executing the hottest race on the Florida racing calendar – which we work closely with World Red Eye on – the annual Pegasus World Cup production at Gulfstream Park. We’ve had performers like Snoop Dogg, Nelly, T-Pain and Mark Ronson plus celebrity fans like Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Vin Diesel, Lenny Kravitz and Pharrell, to name just a few. I also oversee partnerships with Miami hotspots like Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster, and of course Groot Hospitality’s world-famous LIV Nightclub, Komodo and Swan who have been amazing partners to the Pegasus World Cup, plus brands like Pepsi, Baccarat, Tito’s Vodka and many others.

Jimmy Vargas

Q: You were recently appointed to CEO of 1/ST EXPERIENCE – what will you bring next to this new role?

A: 1/ST EXPERIENCE was created to focus on the guest experience as a whole – from venue management, operations, asset development and more – to elevate the customer experience at and beyond the racetrack. We are modernizing all the touch points related to the sport. I’m leading an amazing integrated team of marketing, hospitality, partnership, venue and event management experts with a focus on attracting a new generation of fans and always engaging fresh art, entertainment, music and culinary partners and happenings. Some exciting projects on the horizon include the Racing and Community Development Act 2020, or as we call it, our “Racing for the Future” initiative to preserve the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and develop Laurel Park as the home of sustainable, year-round racing in Maryland with a huge investment in community redevelopment efforts. There are also some exciting changes coming up at Gulfstream Park that we will be sharing more on soon.

142nd Preakness Stakes presented by The Stronach Group at the Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2017

Irad Ortiz Jr. & Bricks & Mortar at 2019 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Featuring LIV Stretch Village at Gulfstream Park on January 26, 2019

Pegasus World Cup Invitational 2017 at Gulfstream Park on January 28, 2017

2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Featuring LIV Pop-Up at Gulfstream Park on January 27, 2018

A Taste of 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Culinary Preview at Gulfstream Park on January 16, 2019

Jimmy Vargas

WRE: You have really deep roots in the Miami market, tell us a bit more about your career here.

JV: I’m a Miami native and I’m so inspired by the ongoing growth and creativity of our city and its only getting better. Prior to joining 1/ST, I worked alongside David Grutman at Miami-based powerhouse Groot Hospitality on projects from LIV at the Fontainebleau, LIV at Hard Rock Stadium, Story, Komodo, Komodo Lounge and OTL. I was there since the company’s inception on all entertainment marketing initiatives, and so glad I still get to work alongside the Groot team for the incredible marketing efforts and pop-ups they produce at the Pegasus World Cup annually. Prior to Groot Hospitality, I was a partner in Gorillas Lifestyle Marketing overseeing strategic experiential marketing efforts for amazing brands like MOCA, Lexus, Pepsi and Microsoft; and helped to launch Gen Art Miami, the nation’s leading arts and entertainment organization in support of emerging talent in fashion, film, music and the visual arts. I’ve always leaned on the diversity of our city and our melting pot of incredible cultures as inspiration for everything I do professionally.

Jimmy Vargas

I’ve always leaned on the diversity of our city and our melting pot of incredible cultures as inspiration for everything I do professionally.

Jimmy Vargas

2019 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Featuring LIV Stretch Village at Gulfstream Park on January 26, 2019

Jimmy Vargas

WRE: As a champion of modernizing the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, what do you see for the future of the sport and the technology, entertainment and real estate tied to it?

JV: Thoroughbred racing is the last legacy sport to be truly modernized. I look to the NBA as the best example of a sport with a 360-degree lifestyle brand and am extremely inspired by all of the opportunities to share the 1/ST EXPERIENCE initiatives with new audiences. I’m always looking to bring fresh energy and opportunities to the brand and tap into the local market quite a bit. Personally, the gaming and Esports areas are very exciting to me, the opportunities are endless. As a company, we are just getting started.

Jimmy Vargas

1/ST EXPERIENCE was created to focus on the guest experience as a whole… to elevate the customer experience at and beyond the racetrack. We are modernizing all the touch points related to the sport.

Jimmy Vargas

Jimmy Vargas

WRE: You gained international attention for producing the first full-scale and socially distant drive-in concert of the pandemic with the Preakness Drive-InFieldFest fairly early on in the pandemic. Tell us about that experience.

JV: In the early days of the pandemic, just a year ago in May 2020, we wanted to bring an entertainment experience to Preakness that would be safe in a COVID-19 world. We got creative and jumped into motion, working closely with city officials and health experts to produce the first full-scale safe and socially distant drive-in concert with DJ D-Nice at Gulfstream Park. The live set was exclusively for 200 first responders as a well-deserved thank you, while we streamed the event on YouTube and D-Nice’s #ClubQuarantine. It was exciting, emotional and a huge achievement for our team.