Saudi Cup 2024: 10 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know
The illustrious event has earned its title as the world’s richest horseracing tournament
Taking place this weekend from Friday, February 23 to Saturday, February 24, the hotly-anticipated Saudi Cup is set to light up the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, having grown considerably since its inaugural event in 2020.
From the astronomical prize money to the extravagant fashion, the larger-than-life two-day event has broken records and set new standards in the international horse racing scene.
Below, Bazaar Arabia shares 10 facts you didn’t know about one of the biggest sporting events in the region.
Saudi Cup 2024: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know
It’s Not the First of Its Kind in the Kingdom
While the Kingdom might not have previously seen a horseracing event on such a grand scale, the sport dates back more than five decades in the country, since the formation of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia in 1965.
The Saudi Cup is the World’s Most Valuable Horse Race
It might only be a few years old, but the event has established itself as the richest horse racing event in the world, with $20m in prize money on offer for the main race, while a total of $35.35m is dished out across all contests over the weekend.
King Abdulaziz Racetrack Was Opened in 2003
King Abdulaziz Racecourse, where the Saudi Cup is held in Riyadh, opened its doors in 2003. Since then, there’s been an upswing of the sport in the Kingdom, complemented by the development of a new 1800m turf track at the venue.
Over 70 International Horses Will Compete in the Saudi Cup
With competitors from the likes of Argentina to Japan, the Saudi Cup hosts more international runners than any other race meeting in the world.
The Event Seeks to Nurture Female Talent in Horseracing
Widely considered a male-dominated sport, Saudi Cup has made a point of bringing women into the arena – from event management and logistics to the actual horseracing itself.
The International Jockey’s Challenge Will See an Equal Number of Males and Females Competing Together
Taking place on Friday, February 23, the International Jockey’s Challenge will see seven men and seven women vie for the trophy over a series of four races.
The Obaiya Arabian Classic Race Is Named After King Abdulaziz’s Favourite Horse
Obaiya is name of the horse that King Abdulaziz rode during his battles to unify the Najd region and establish the Kingdom as we know it today. The Obaiya Arabian Classic race, which takes place on Saturday, is named after this horse and is worth $2m.
The Event Has Significant Placement in the Global Horseracing Calendar
The Saudi Cup occurs just a few weeks after the Pegasus World Cup in Florida and about four weeks before the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. The intervals between these events make it possible for horses in those races to compete in the Saudi Cup as well.
Laura Green Was the First Woman to Ride at the Track
The British jockey made history when she rode Tacitus in preparation for the 2020 Saudi Cup.
The Saudi Cup Trophy Was Designed by House of Gerrard
Created in 2019 for the inaugural event by UK-based jeweller House of Gerrard, the perpetual Saudi Cup trophy took over six months to complete. It stands at over 1m tall and has been fashioned from 24-carat gold.