 | |
| Class | Group 1 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2025 | ||
 |  |  |
| Forever Young | Romantic Warrior | Ushba Tesoro |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||
 | |  |
| Senor Buscador | Ushba Tesoro | Saudi Crown |
| 2023 | ||
 |  |  |
| Panthalassa | Country Grammer | Cafe Pharoah |
| 2022 | ||
 |  |  |
| Emblem Road | Country Grammer | Midnight Bourbon |
| 2021 | ||
 |  |  |
| Mishriff | Charlatan | Great Scot |
| 2020 | ||
 |  |  |
| Maximum Security | Midnight Bisou | Benbatl |
TheSaudi Cup (Arabic: كأس السعودية) is an international horse race held annually at the end of February atKing Abdulaziz Racetrack inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the richest horse race ever held, with a $20 million purse.[2] It is the main highlight race of theSaudi Cup Night, is a series of eightthoroughbred horse races and one Purebred Arabian race.
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 millionPegasus World Cup atGulfstream Park,Florida, and four weeks before the $12 millionDubai World Cup atMeydan Racecourse,Dubai, making it possible for horses in those races to compete.[3]
In 2021, the Pegasus World Cup in theUnited States and theChampions Cup inJapan were "Win and You're In" qualifiers for the Saudi Cup.[5]
The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee assignedGroup 1 status to the Saudi Cup before its third running, scheduled for February 2022.[6]
The festival is accompanied by cultural events in partnership with theMinistry 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 ofSaudi Arabia.[7]
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 theindictment of trainerJason Servis in the United States.[8] 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.[9]
The second edition of the Saudi Cup was held on Saturday, 20 February 2021, at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack inRiyadh.
PrinceMohammed bin Salman (on behalf of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques KingSalman bin Abdulaziz) crowned horse owner Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Faisal after his horseMishriff 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.[10]
In the third edition of the Saudi Cup, Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz crowned PrinceSaud bin Salman, owner ofEmblem Road, with the race title at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack inRiyadh.
This edition saw a newGuinness World Record being set, with the most expensive single-horse race being held with prize money exceeding 75 millionSaudi riyals.[11]
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 byKing 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.
In the fourth edition of the Saudi Cup, CrownPrince Mohammed bin Salman crowned Hiroo Race Co., the Japanese owner of the horsePanthalassa, 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.[12]
In the fifth edition of the Saudi Cup, CrownPrince Mohammed bin Salman crowned Sharaf Al Hariri, owner of the horse Senor Buscador, for winning the race that was held on 24 February 2024 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack inRiyadh while also receiving a cash prize of $20 million.
This edition of theSaudi Cup Night prize money totaled at $37.6 million.[13]
In the sixth edition of the Saudi Cup, CrownPrince Mohammed bin Salman crowned Susumu Fujita, the Japanese owner of the horseForever Young, for winning the race that was held on 22 February 2025, receiving the cash prize of $20 million after beatingRomantic Warrior by a neck in a stretch duel.[14]
This edition of theSaudi Cup Night prize money totaled at $38.1 million.[15]
Speed record:
Most wins by atrainer:
Most wins by a horse:
| Year | Winner | Foaled | Trained | Owned | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Forever Young |  Japan | Japan | Japan | 5 | Ryusei Sakai | Yoshito Yahagi | Susumu Fujita | 1:51.027[17] |
| 2025 | 4 | 1:49.099[16][18] | |||||||
| 2024 | Senor Buscador |  United States | United States | United States | 6 | Junior Alvarado | Todd W. Fincher | Joe R. Peacock Jr. & Sharaf Al Hariri (two race-lease) | 1:49.50[19] |
| 2023 | Panthalassa | Japan | Japan | Japan | 6 | Yutaka Yoshida [ja] | Yoshito Yahagi | Hiroo Race Co., Ltd. | 1:50.80 |
| 2022 | Emblem Road | United States |  Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | 4 | Wigberto S. Ramos | Mitab Almulawah | Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz | 1:50.53 |
| 2021 | Mishriff |  Ireland |  United Kingdom | Saudi Arabia | 4 | David Egan | John Gosden | Prince Abdul Rahman al Faisal | 1:49.59[10] |
| 2020 | Midnight Bisou* | United States | United States | United States | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Steven M. Asmussen | Bloom Racing Stable,Madaket Stables, Allen Racing | 1:50.59 |
*In 2020Maximum Security crossed the line first, but was disqualified following an investigation into trainerJason Servis by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia that concluded in August 2024.[20]
2020年12月6日のチャンピオンズカップ（中京競馬場）優勝馬、および、2021年1月23日のペガサスワールドカップ（米国ガルフストリームパーク競馬場）優勝馬は、自動的に出走権を得る。[The winner of the Champions Cup (Chukyo Racecourse) held on December 6, 2020, as well as the winner of the Pegasus World Cup (Gulfstream Park in the USA) that will be held on January 23, 2021, will automatically be qualified to run in the race.]
Saudi Cup winners | |
|---|---|
| 2020s |
|
Legend - ♥ = Filly or Mare | |
