Saudi Arabia will host the richest race in the world next year when it stages the inaugural running of the $20 million (£16.5m) Saudi Cup on February 29.
The prize-money on offer for the nine-furlong contest on dirt at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh eclipses that of the Dubai World Cup, worth $12m this year (£9.9m), and the Pegasus World Cup, run at Gulfstream Park in Florida, which was worth a peak $16m in 2018.
In announcing details during a launch event at Saratoga in New York that drew some of America’s leading trainers, Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia chairman Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal declared that the Saudi Cup – which will be limited to 14 invited runners – is being designed to be long-lasting as well as lucrative.
“This is an event that we plan on having for decades, well beyond your or my time,” he said. “What we hope is for this event to be on the international calendar, to be one of the main races sought after.
“We also would like for it to be an opportunity for people to come and visit that part of the world, see the culture, see the people, and understand it.
“We’d like it to be a memorable experience, we’d like for it to be a special experience, and we’d like it to be an opportunity for us to showcase horseracing in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The Pegasus World Cup was first run in 2017 and its value in 2018 eclipsed that of the Dubai World Cup, which is currently worth $12m. However, the 2019 running was split into dirt and turf races with the main Pegasus World Cup worth $9m.
The winner of the Saudi Cup will earn a $10 million prize, but many of the beaten horses could still take home the largest earnings of their careers. Second-place will be worth $3.5 million and there is $2 million for third, $1.5 million for fourth; $1 million for fifth and $600,000 for sixth. Payments will go down to the tenth-place finisher, who will bank $200,000.
Entry to the race will be free and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia will pay for all shipping of horses as well as travel and accommodation for connections.
