Saudi Cup for Horse Racing 2022
The Saudi Cup for Horse Racing 2022 was the third edition of the Saudi Cup for Horse Racing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was launched on February 25, 2022, under the patronage of Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, on a track of 1,800 m. The races were held on both dirt and turf tracks, ranging in length from 1,200 m to three thousand m, with total prize exceeding SAR131 million.
Saudi Cup for Horse Racing 2022 in Guinness World Records
The 2022 edition of the Saudi Cup for Horse Racing set a new Guinness World Record as the most valuable horse race in the world, with a prize exceeding SAR75 million.
Horse racing events in Saudi Arabia are held annually at the end of February at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Square in Riyadh City, organized by the Saudi Jockey Club. Participants from around the world compete for the highest prize in the history of global horse racing. The races are broadcast worldwide, including in the United States of America, Europe, China, South America, and East Asia.
Races of the Saudi Cup for Horse Racing 2022
The 2022 Saudi Cup for Horse Racing featured eight races on the first day with a total prize of SAR13.5 million, and eight races on the second day. Moreover, 240 horses from sixteen countries participated in all races, while sixteen horses from six countries competed in the Saudi Cup race. The second day’s races included several cup competitions:
- First race: NEOM Cup, turf track of 2,100 m, and prize of SAR5.62 million.
- Second race: 1351 Cup, turf track of 1,351 m, and prize of SAR5.62 million.
- Third race: Red Sea Cup, turf track of three thousand m, and prize of SAR9.37 million.
- Fourth race: Jockey Club Cup, sand track of 1,800 m, and prize of SAR3.75 million.
- Fifth race: Obaiya Arabian Classic, sand track of two thousand m, and prize of SAR7.5 million.
- Sixth race: Saudi Derby, dirt track of 1,600 m, and prize of SAR5.62 million.
- Seventh race: Riyadh Sprint Cup, dirt track of 1,200 m, and prize of SAR5.62 million.
- Eighth race: "Saudi Cup", dirt track of 1,800 m, and prize of SAR75 million.
Cultural events accompanying the Saudi Cup for Horse Racing 2022
The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Saudi Cup 2022, presented a range of events in the “Al-Kuhaila” and “Al-Obaia” courtyards at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Square. These included the Saudi Cup Design Competition Exhibition, which invited designers and entrepreneurs to create winning trophies for race participants, in addition to hologram technology shows and a virtual reality room that allowed visitors to experience horse racing in Saudi Arabia through multimedia platforms.
The events also included the Heritage Horse Museum, which featured numerous artifacts and the Seven Kings Horse Sculptures designed by Wafa Al-Qunibit. As 2022 was the “Year of Saudi Coffee,” the Ministry of Culture presented a coffee break in Al-Kuhaila Courtyard, offering flavors from various regions across Saudi Arabia.
The events also featured a variety of activities, including live music, artistic performances, traditional dances from different regions of Saudi Arabia, a celebrity walkway adorned with traditional attire, and a dedicated kids' area offering numerous horse-related activities.