Saudi Arabia will host the richest horse race ever staged with the inaugural Saudi Cup, worth US$20 million, to be run at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 29 next year.
The concept was launched at a gala event at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds in Saratoga, New York where most of the world's biggest thoroughbred identities had gathered for the just completed Saratoga Sale.
His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club Of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Abdullah bin Khalid Al Saud and the race’s Global Ambassador Harry Herbert were at the launch, which confirmed the race will be staged over nine furlongs on dirt.
It has been deliberately timed to sit between the G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational on January 25 at Gulfstream Park and the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Mar 28.
“The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horse racing 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 horse racing’s world stage,” said Prince Bandar.
“We chose the timing very carefully,” Prince Bandar said. “We think it fits in nicely between those two races. It is close enough to the Dubai World Cup so that people who do come to that part of the world can stay. It’s a wonderful area to train. And I think we were very lucky that we had that opening between those two races.”
“We think it fits in nicely between those two races. It is close enough to the Dubai World Cup so that people who do come to that part of the world can stay." - Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal
Prince Bandar confirmed that the first three horses home in the Pegasus would receive invites to the Saudi Cup and said that interest across the world had been strong.
“We’ve had positive feedback from the States, from Europe and from Japan,” he said. “We are very excited to have them excited about such a race. I think we will have to prove ourselves in the upcoming years. We understand that, but we think we have the right team and the right people. We definitely have one of the best facilities in the world. We have everything going for us.”
There is also expected to be at least two other feature races on the day, including one on turf.
Herbert said the staging of the race was about much more than bringing the world's best racehorses together.
“International racing, of course it brings international horses together–international competition is a hugely important thing. But it also brings cultures together. And whenever you happen to have an international race, in Japan or in the Breeders’ Cup, or the Arc de Triomphe or Royal Ascot, and now Saudi Arabia, it brings people together," he said.
"It brings international horses together–international competition is a hugely important thing. But it also brings cultures together." - Harry Herbert
"It is just a wonderful opportunity to show off your country, your culture, your racing heritage. I think that is just everything about our sport and nothing is more exciting, and I think from a competition perspective, it’s flying your flag. Representing your country, but also seeing what another country is like. I think seeing what Saudi Arabia is like is fascinating, it’s a journey and that’s what we are going on.”
Harry Herbert (left) belives its a wonderful opportunity to bring different cultures together
Among those excited about the event was Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ Tom Ludt, who confirmed to TDN it would have several runners which could be sent towards the $20 million race.
“We are very supportive of the race,” Ludt said. “We love this. This is what the industry needs. This is what the game needs.”
“(Trainer) Steve Asmussen said to me today, ‘Who are we running?’ and I said ‘Well, we’ll find another one,'” Ludt said.
Among those to also throw their support behind the concept is Frankie Dettori, who has ridden an amazing 13 Group 1s in 2019.
Frankie Dettori loves the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racetrack
"Of all the dirt tracks I've ridden, it's the one I like best, as you can win from the front, and you can win from behind. It's a fair track," the 48-year-old said.
"The other thing I like is that the kickback is so much less than on other dirt tracks. I don't know why, but the sand seems finer and doesn't stick."
