Saudi Cup for Horse Racing

The Saudi Cup for Horse Racing is one of the international equestrian races held by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The competitions take place in the capital, Riyadh, specifically at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field. The event spans two consecutive days and is considered the most valuable in the history of global horse racing. The total prize money exceeded USD37.6 (approximately SAR141 million) in its fifth edition in 2024. Additionally, the Saudi Cup race in its third edition in 2022 also earned a Guinness World Record for the highest prize in a single horse race in the world, offering alone a prize of USD20 million (SAR75 million).

The Saudi Cup, launched by the Kingdom in 2020, is one of the international horse races in which participants from around the world compete. Held annually in February, it takes place one month after the Pegasus World Cup and one month before the Dubai World Cup, positioning it between two major global horse racing events.

The Jockey Club organizes and supervises the Saudi Cup in cooperation with several partners, among which are the Saudi Telecommunication Company (stc), Alrajhi Bank, and Saudia. Furthermore, Bentley Motors is the official sponsor of the cup.

Visitors from outside the Kingdom interested in attending the cup can apply for a one-month tourist visa via the Sharek e-platform, a platform specialized in many services related to the major sports events held in the Kingdom.

In 2020, the first edition of the Saudi Cup for horse racing was launched. The total prize money reached about USD29.2 million (approximately SAR109.5 million), and the competitions were held at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field. The distances of the championship races ranged between 1,200 m and three thousand m, with participation from competitors of both genders from various nationalities. For the first time in the Kingdom, a grass track was introduced. The race concluded with the crowning of twenty-two winners from five countries, amidst a large audience.

The second edition of the Saudi Cup started on February 19, 2021. The races took place on tracks varying between grass and sand surfaces. Approximately 126 horses, both local and international, participated. Unlike the first edition of the race, it was not attended by a large audience due to the precautionary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of attendees did not exceed 2,500 individuals.

Fourteen international horses competed in the final leg of the competition, the Saudi Cup race, which had a prize value of USD20 million (SAR75 million). This took place on a track that was 1.8 km long. At the end of the race, Prince Abdulrahman Bin Abdullah al-Faisal, owner of the horse Mishriff, was crowned the winner of the competition. The crowning ceremony was attended by Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, representing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the honorary president of the Jockey Club. The total prizes for this edition amounted to USD30.5 million (approximately SAR114 million).

The third edition of the Saudi Cup kicked off on February 25, 2022, sponsored by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The races were held on a track measuring 1,800 m, and the race lengths varied across dirt and grass tracks, ranging between 1,200 m and three thousand m. The total prize money for this edition exceeded USD35.1 (SAR131 million).

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman presented the Saudi Cup to Prince Saud Bin Salman, the owner of the winning horse, Emblem Road. The Crown Prince also congratulated the horse’s trainer, Mitab al-Mulawah, and jockey Wigberto Ramos, who received a horse model and the jockey's helmet.

The fourth edition commenced on February 24, 2023, with over 1,400 applications from participants. Notably, 57 percent of these were from local applicants - the highest percentage since the race's launch in 2020. The remaining applications came from competitors in twenty-two countries worldwide. This year also marked the transportation of horses from outside the Kingdom to the capital, Riyadh, through a contract with Naqel Express, which managed the transfer of the participating horses in six batches.

Competitors vied for a prize pool of USD35.35 million (approximately SAR133 million). Among the contenders were the distinguished horse "Taiba," with three international competition wins, and "Country Grammar," the previous main event winner at the Dubai World Cup’s twenty-sixth edition and second-place holder in the last edition of Saudi Cup.

The Japanese company Hiroo Race Co. Ltd, owner of the horse Panthalassa, ultimately claimed victory in this fourth edition of the Saudi Cup. The Crown Prince congratulated trainer Yoshito Yahagi and jockey Yutaka Yoshida, presenting them with a horse model and a jockey’s helmet.

The fifth edition of the Saudi Cup, held under the slogan "The Story Starts Here," took place on February 23 and 24, 2024. Jockeys competed for a total prize pool of USD 37.6 million (SAR141 million).

The 2024 Saudi Cup was won by Saudi owner Sharaf al-Hariri's horse, Senor Buscador. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman presented the trainer, Hamad Al Rashid, and jockey, Junior Alvarado, with a horse model and jockey helmet.