Saudi Cup

The Saudi Cup is an international horse race held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. Its first edition was launched on 28 February 2020, and it was described as the richest and largest event in the history of global horse racing.[1]

The race comprises rounds of varying distances and grades, and draws elite horses and jockeys from around the world. It is the leading event of the Riyadh racing season, which includes a number of major championships and accompanying events.[5][6][9]

The first edition was organised by the Equestrian Club and held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Honorary President of the Equestrian Club.[1]

Racing takes place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, and each edition runs over two days on the course's track in Al-Janadriyah.[1][3][5]

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced that the Riyadh racing season 2025–2026 runs from 16 October 2025 to 14 February 2026, headed by the Saudi Cup 2026 in its seventh edition.[6]

The first edition was launched on 28 February 2020 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, with prize money of USD 29.2 million, and it ran for two days with leading jockeys of both sexes from various countries taking part.[1]

In that first edition, New Zealand jockey Lisa Allpress entered the record books as the first female jockey to win a race round in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[2]

The second edition was held on 19 and 20 February 2021 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Al-Janadriyah, with total prize money of more than USD 30 million.[3]

Further editions followed: the fifth on 23 and 24 February 2024, the sixth on 21 and 22 February 2025 and the seventh on 13 and 14 February 2026, with elite horses from around the world taking part and eight rounds of varying distances and grades staged.[4][5][8][9]

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, patronised the Saudi Cup race evening on Saturday 5 Sha'ban 1444 AH, corresponding to 25 February 2023, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.[11]

On the evening of Saturday 23 Sha'ban 1446 AH, corresponding to 22 February 2025, he honoured the horse racing evening for the Saudi Cup under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and the horse Forever Young was crowned with the race title.[10]

Prize money for the first edition amounted to USD 29.2 million, and the total for the second edition exceeded USD 30 million.[1][3]

The prize for the main round stands at about USD 20 million, which makes the race the richest in the world.[5][9]

In the Riyadh racing season 2026–2027, the largest in the season's history, the Saudi Cup carries prize money of more than USD 38 million, within total season prize money of SAR 236.3 million.[7]

Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Equestrian Club, linked the holding of the race for the first time to the social, economic and cultural transformations in the Kingdom and their alignment with Vision 2030.[1]

The Saudi Cup round (Grade 1) joined the Win and You're In challenge series, which grants the winner automatic qualification to the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Three of the five Saudi Cup winners have previously taken part in the Breeders' Cup festival: Midnight Bisou, Mishriff and Senor Buscador.[5]

The main round (Grade 1), run over 1,800 metres on the dirt track, represents the peak of competition in Thoroughbred racing, alongside the upgrade of the Howden Neom Cup to the top international grade.[9]

The Ministry of Culture presented the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia with a musical composition dedicated to the second edition of the Saudi Cup.[3]

The Culinary Arts Commission took part in the seventh edition with two booths for the Irth café and six booths for local restaurants and cafés, offering Saudi hospitality that highlights variety.[8]

Q: What is the Saudi Cup? A: An international horse race held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, whose editions are among the richest horse races in the world.[1]

Q: When was the first edition of the Saudi Cup launched? A: It was launched on 28 February 2020 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.[1]

Q: What is the value of the main round's prize in the Saudi Cup? A: USD 20 million, the highest in the race.[5][9]

Q: Where is the Saudi Cup held? A: At King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh; the editions run on its track in Al-Janadriyah.[1][3]

Q: How long does the Saudi Cup run? A: It is held over two days in each edition.[1][5]

The Saudi Cup combines global standing in horse racing with the world's highest prize money and royal patronage, and it is held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh within the Riyadh racing season.[1][5][6] Related topics on the platform include Riyadh City, Riyadh Season, King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman.