JEDDAH: The world has a new richest race, with the announcement of the creation of the $20 million Saudi Cup, to be run at King Abdul Aziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 29, 2020.
The prize for the winning horse will be $10 million, with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.
For some context, Europe’s most lucrative event, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has a prize fund of $5.6 million, while the Dubai World Cup 2019 offers a prize purse of $12 million and $7.2 million for the winner.
Details of the contest were announced by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, at a launch event in Saratoga, New York, on Wednesday.
The race will be run on over a distance of nine furlongs (1,800 meters) on dirt, and will have a maximum field of 14 starters. The race will be free to enter and to participate in.
“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,” said Prince Bandar.
“We look forward to welcoming international horsemen and women, the media, racing enthusiasts and the public to Riyadh in 2020.”
The Saudi Cup will take place four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup (2019 prize purse $9 million) at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks prior to the Dubai World Cup.
This means that the top horses in training have the opportunity to compete in all three of the most valuable dirt races in the world.
In terms of turf races, the richest is in Australia (the Everest) and is worth $9.8 million. In Japan, the mark is $6 million for the Japan Cup.
King Abdul Aziz Racetrack, with a 2,000-meter circumference, a three-furlong (600-meter) chute and a state-of-the-art dirt racing surface, was opened in 2003.
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia will arrange and fund the shipment of all invited horses. It will also arrange and pay for the flights and hotel accommodation of the horses’ connections.
In addition to the Saudi Cup, there will be further international races on the undercard ahead of the showcase race.
Further details of these supporting races and the full race program will be announced at a later date.
