Saudi Cup 2024: Dates, Locations and Everything Else You Need To Know About The World’s Richest Horse Race
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia shares everything you need to know about the upcoming races in Riyadh here
Get your best derby style ready as the world’s richest horse racing event, the Saudi Cup is set to take place from Friday, February 23 to Saturday, February 24 over Saudi Founding Day’s long weekend.
The illustrious event is set to take place at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is sectioned into two challenges. The first is the International Jockeys Challenge on Friday, February 23 and the Saudi Cup on Saturday, February 24.
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Experience unparalleled style, culinary excellence, and witness the best equine with us at #TheSaudiCup.
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— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 17, 2024
Marking the fifth edition of the race, this year the pool prize is even bigger at $37.35 million, an increase of a cool $17.35 million from last year’s $20 million reward.
The race is held weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and about four weeks before the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, making it possible for horses in those competitions to compete.
Saudi Cup 2024: All About The Fashion
While jockeys and horses from across the world compete for the top spots, the crowd comes to cheer them on in their best racing attire. The event is quite a fashion extravaganza and previous editions of the occasion have also seen celebrities, influencers, and royalty attend.
Racegoers are often seen perfectly blending current fashion trends with elements of traditional Saudi attire. Think women parading in lavishly embroidered abayas, full-length gowns paired with fascinators, and men dressed in these best thobes.
Saudi Cup 2024: What You Need To Know About The Official Dress Code
As for the official dress code, the Saudi Cup website states: “Traditionally, attendees dress up and look their best at horse races worldwide, and we encourage this practice for our race days.”
For women, clothing that is permitted are abayas and thobes with designs that are inspired by the traditional fashions of Saudi Arabia. In terms of lengths and fabrics, a modest approach aligned with Saudi traditions should be taken. Formal national dress of your respective countries is also permitted. Those choosing to attend in formal uniforms of any serving military personnel and a suit including a jacket are also welcome.
For men, daglah or sayah (a long dark cloak worn over the thobe) with agal and ghutra or shemagh (headdresses) are allowed. Thobe and bisht are also allowed to be worn.
Men can also choose to wear formal national attire of their respective countries as well as a formal military uniform. Suits including a jacket can also be worn and wearing a tie optional. The website states that for both men and women, casual attire including jeans, t-shirts, and shorts as well as promotional clothing is not allowed.
The event is also said to have food trucks and restaurants as well as live entertainment from performers and DJs.
For more information on the tickets and event schedule, visit thesaudicup.com.sa
Lead image credit: Harper’s Bazaar Saudi