KSA, Riyadh 17 October 2024
The 2024-2025 Riyadh Horse Racing season, hosted at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, began on October 17, 2024, and will run until March 15, 2025. The season features weekend racing, with events scheduled every Thursday to Saturday. Highlights include prestigious handicap races and Arabian horse categories, a key focus in the region.
Chairman of the Saudi Equestrian Authority and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA)
The pinnacle of the season is the Saudi Cup, which will take place on February 21-22, 2025. This event, known as the world’s richest race, draws global attention and features top thoroughbreds alongside an Arabian race as part of the festivities.
The Saudi Cup is not only known for its remarkable thoroughbred races but also includes significant events for Arabian horses, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s deep equestrian heritage. Among these, the Obaiya Arabian Classic is a standout race specifically dedicated to Arabian horses.
Key Arabian Horse Races at the Saudi Cup 2025:
- Obaiya Arabian Classic
Prize Money: $2 million
Distance: 2000 meters (approximately 1¼ miles) on dirt
This race is the richest in the world for purebred Arabians, attracting top-level Arabian horses from around the globe. The event highlights the strength and endurance of the breed, showcasing their importance in Middle Eastern racing culture.
- Jockey Club Local Purebred Arabian Race
Prize Money: $1.5 million
Distance: Typically 1600 meters (1 mile)
This race is reserved for Saudi-bred Arabian horses, offering local talents a platform to shine alongside the international stars of the racing scene.
These races are part of the larger two-day Saudi Cup festival, which also features several other races with a mix of thoroughbreds and Arabians, making it one of the most diverse and inclusive horse racing events worldwide. The inclusion of these significant prize pools for Arabian horses at the Saudi Cup underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting Arabian racing and preserving its equestrian legacy. It also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to elevate its global standing in horse racing
About King Abdulaziz Racetrack
King Abdulaziz Racetrack – officially known as King Abdul Aziz Equestrian Square – is a horse racing venue used for flat racing and located in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Races are held at the track during September to April.
The first horse racing venue in Saudi Arabia was built 1965 in the Marat district in Riyadh, however, the track was not big enough to hold international races, and racing was eventually moved to Riyadh Janadria, under supervision of Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the heir apparent of Saudi Arabia at the time. The new track was completed in January 2003, and was officially named King Abdul Aziz Equestrian Square. It is also the largest horse racing venue in Saudi Arabia.
The venue’s main track is a 2000- meter dirt track with a width of 24 meters. The races are run counter-clockwise. In January 2020, an 1800 meter turf track was added to the venue. The richest thoroughbred horse race, the Saudi Cup, is held at the track.
