Saudi Cup
| Group 1 race | |
 | |
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2020[1] |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,800 meters |
| Surface | Dirt and Turf |
| Track | King Abdulaziz Racetrack |
| Weight | thesaudicup |
| Purse | $20,000,000 1st:$10,000,000 |
| 2023 | ||
|
|
|
| Panthalassa | Country Grammer | Cafe Pharoah |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
|
|
|
| Emblem Road | Country Grammer | Midnight Bourbon |
| 2021 | ||
|
|
|
| Mishriff | Charlatan | Great Scot |
| 2020 | ||
|
|
|
| Maximum Security | Midnight Bisou | Benbatl |
The Saudi Cup (Arabic: كأس السعودية) is an international horse race held at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the richest horse race ever held, with a $20 million purse.[2]
Race details
The race is notable for its 20 million dollar purse,[3] which makes it the most lucrative event in horse racing.[4]
The race is held four weeks after the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks before the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, making it possible for horses in those races to compete.[3]
In 2021, the Pegasus World Cup in the United States and the Champions Cup in Japan were "Win and You're In" qualifiers for the Saudi Cup.[citation needed]
The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee assigned Group 1 status to the Saudi Cup before its third running, scheduled for February 2022.[5]
The festival is accompanied by cultural events in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Saudi heritage fashion expert Dr. Laila Albassam, and illustrator Norah Sahman – who co-developed the Saudi Cup Dress Code. Attendees dress in styles inspired by the heritage costumes worn across the Kingdom. The event also offers traditional foods, live musical concerts, art shows, and performances from various parts of Saudi Arabia.[6]
History
2020
The first edition of the race was held on February 29, 2020. It was won by an American horse, Maximum Security, ridden by Luis Saez. The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced two months later that it would withhold Maximum Security's purse money pending an investigation, following the indictment of trainer Jason Servis in the United States.[7] Nearly four years after the inaugural race, in January 2024 the Jockey Club formally recommended Maximum Security's disqualification. The Jockey Club claimed that Servis, who was convicted in December 2022 by pleading guilty to two charges related to drug misbranding and adulteration, committed "substantial breaches of the rules." The matter was referred to the Stewards' Committee, which will conduct a hearing into the matter at a later date.[8]
2021
The second edition of the Saudi Cup was held on Saturday, 20 February 2021, at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman (on behalf of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz) crowned horse owner Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Faisal after his horse Mishriff won the race. He also congratulated its trainer, John Gosden, and jockey, David Egan, who received a figurine of a horse and a jockey’s helmet, respectively.
The race, which is the richest horse race in the world with a total prize money worth $30.5 million, attracts top horses, trainers, and jockeys from across the globe. A total of 77 horses took part from 13 countries with the winner taking home a grand prize of $20 million.
The participating field included Maximum Security, Benbatl, Midnight Bisou, Mucho Gusto, and Tacitus under the supervision of world-renowned trainers like American Bob Baffert, Briton John Gosden, American Steven Asmussen, and his compatriot Brad Cox, as well as local trainers Abdullah bin Mishriff and Shaleh Alodhiaani.[9]
2022
In the third edition of the Saudi Cup, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz crowned Prince Saud bin Salman, owner of Emblem Road, with the race title at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.
This edition saw a new Guinness World Record being set, with the most expensive single-horse race being held with prize money exceeding 75 million Saudi riyals.[10]
The remaining races on the final day were won by the horse Authority, owned by Silk Racing Co. Ltd. in the first race; the second race by the horse Songline, owned by Sunday Racing Ltd.; the third race by the horse Stay Foolish, owned by Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd.; the fourth race by the horse Ann Alawaan owned by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s sons; the fifth race by the horse Hadi De Carrere owned by Khalifa Al Kuwari; the sixth race by the horse Pinehurst owned by Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing; and the seventh race by the horse Dancing Prince owned by Chizu Yoshida.
2023
In the fourth edition of the Saudi Cup, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman crowned Hiroo Race Co., the Japanese owner of the horse Panthalassa, the race winner and Saudi Cup champion, receiving $10 million.
The following horses occupied positions two to six in the $20 million race: Country Grammar, Cafe Pharoah, Geoglyph, Crown Pride, and Emblem Road.
The total prize money for the fourth edition that was held under the slogan We Race the World totaled $35 million.[11]
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Senor Buscador | 6 | Junior Alvarado | Todd W. Fincher | Sharaf Al Hariri | 1:49.50 |  Saudi Arabia [12]
|
| 2023 | Panthalassa | 6 | Yutaka Yoshida | Yoshito Yahagi | Hiroo Race Co., Ltd. | 1:50.80 |  Japan
|
| 2022 | Emblem Road | 4 | Wigberto S. Ramos | Mitab Almulawah | Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz | 1:50.53 | Saudi Arabia
|
| 2021 | Mishriff | 4 | David Egan | John Gosden | Prince Abdul Rahman al Faisal | 1:49.59 | Saudi Arabia [9]
|
| 2020 | Maximum Security* | 4 | Luis Saez | Jason Servis | Gary L & Mary E West, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith | 1:50.59 |  United States
|
*Maximum Security's first-place purse has been held pending an investigation by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.[7]
The fastest time of the race is 1:49.50 made by Senor Buscador in 2024
See also
References
- ^ "THE WORLD'S MOST VALUABLE HORSE RACE". Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "In 2020, Saudi Arabia Set to Stage Record $20M Horse Race". Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Saudi Arabia to stage world's richest race in 2020". Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "Saudi Cup Draws 140 Nominations, Including 32 Individual Group/Grade 1 Winners". Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ Hersch, Marcus (5 October 2021). "Saudi Cup made a Group 1 race". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Saudi Cup. What To Wear. (n.d.)".
- ^ a b Hammonds, Evan (13 April 2020). "JC of Saudi Arabia Puts Hold on Saudi Cup Payments". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ Hegarty, Matt (23 January 2024). "Saudi Jockey Club recommends DQ of Maximum Security from 2020 Saudi Cup". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Mohammed bin Salman crowns winner of Saudi Cup, world's most valuable horse race".
- ^ "Saudi Cup horse race holds world record for biggest prize".
- ^ "Crown Prince crowns Japan's Panthalasa as Saudi Cup 2023 winner".
- ^ "Senor Buscador Strikes Gold In The Saudi Cup".