The world has a new richest race, with the announcement of the creation of the $20m Saudi Cup, to be run at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 29th, 2020.
The race will be run on Saturday February 29th, 2020 over a distance of nine furlongs (1800m) on dirt and have a maximum field of 14 starters. The race will be free to enter and free to run in.
The prize for the winning horse will be US$10,000,000 with horses down to 10th place sharing another US$10,000,000 between them.
Announcing the creation of the Saudi Cup, His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, said: “The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race is, without doubt, the most significant event in the history of horseracing in Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horseracing’s world stage.
The Saudi Cup will take its place in the international calendar at the end of February and will be run four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, and four weeks prior the Dubai World Cup at Meydan, meaning that the top horses in training have the opportunity to compete in all three of the most valuable dirt races in the world.
The prizemoney of the Saudi Cup places it in esteemed company. The Pegasus World Cup had a peak value of US$16 million in 2018 while the Dubai World Cup is currently worth US$12 million. In terms of turf races, the richest in Australia (the Everest) is worth US$9.8 million, in Japan the mark is US$6 million for the Japan Cup and Europe’s most lucrative event (the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe) has a prize fund of US$5.6 million.
The Saudi Cup, will also have a glittering support card for its inaugural running. With HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club Of Saudi Arabia, announcing five new international races this week.
Three of the five new races on the undercard will be run on a new turf course, with the other two to be run on the highly acclaimed dirt track on which the 1800m (9f) Saudi Cup itself will be contested. Prize money for the five races totals US$6,800,000.
They are:
- A staying handicap on turf over 3000m (15f), with a total race value of US$2,500,000, a first prize of US$1,500,000, and weights ranging from 62kg to 54kg.
- A middle-distance turf race over 2100m (10.5f) for four-year-olds and upwards, with a total race value of US$1,000,000 and a first prize of US$600,000.
- A turf sprint over 1350m (6.7f) for four-year-olds and upwards, with a total race value of US$1,000,000 and a first prize of US$600,000.
- A dirt sprint over 1200m (6f) for three-year-olds and upwards, with a total race value of US$1,500,000 and a first prize of US$900,000.
- A dirt mile race for three-year olds over 1600m(8f), with a total race value of US$800,000 and a first prize of US$480,000.
‘We believe the new races will help make Saudi Cup Day a wonderful sporting occasion,’ said HRH Prince Bandar. ‘And we will be thrilled to welcome international competitors to these new races. I am especially pleased that we will be having turf racing in Riyadh for the first time. Things are really beginning to take shape.’
To read more information about the Saudi Cup day please CLICK HERE.