Saudi Cup 2026 - The Worlds Richest Race

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What is the 2026 Saudi Cup?

The Saudi Cup is a dirt race for thoroughbreds aged four and up, to be run at weight-for-age terms over 1800m (9f), worth $20 Million (USD) with a prize of $10 Million (USD) to the winner.

When is the 2026 Saudi Cup?

On Saturday February 14, 2026, an afternoon and evening also including an undercard of international contests on the new inside turf course and on the dirt.

Where is the Saudi Cup?

The Saudi Cup is raced on the one-turn dirt oval at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

How can I bet on the Saudi Cup?

OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) is proud to offer wagering and live race video for The Saudi Cup to all of its account holders.

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Headlined by the World's Richest Race, The Saudi Cup - the race is worth US $20M and will again attract the finest thoroughbreds and top jockeys from around the globe.

The further eight races are the Ministry of Culture Jockey Club Local Handicap; the Group 1 DGDA Obaiya Arabian Classic run by Purebred Arabian horses; the $2m Howden Neom Turf Cup; the $2.5M Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, the $1.5m Boutique Group Saudi Derby, the National Housing Commission Saudi International Handicap, the Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint and the much loved, STC 1351 Turf Sprint.

Off-the-track this is the pinnacle of Saudi style, sophistication and glamour. Riyadh's social event of the season is a celebration rich in entertainment, cuisine, fashion and cultural experiences.

Jan 2 - Title holder on course to clash with top-level winners from United States and Japan in world's most valuable race

Defending champion Forever Young (JPN) heads a stellar list of names put forward for this year's Group 1 $20 million Saudi Cup, which will take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday 14 February, 2026.

The two-day meeting, which begins on February 13, has attracted 57 individual thoroughbred Group or Grade 1 winners in its entirety and 14 Purebred Arabian Group 1 winners. The nominations, spread among 22 different countries, will be competing for total prize-money of almost $40 million.

Officially rated the joint-top dirt horse in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Forever Young has been successful on both his two previous visits to Saudi Arabia, winning the 2024 Saudi Derby before his gallant performance in the world's most valuable race last year.

Yoshito Yahagi's superstar, last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, could face a major challenge over the 1800m from the United States. Former Classic champion White Abarrio (USA) and Preakness Stakes victor Journalism (USA) have been entered along with rising stars Nysos (USA), the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero, and Magnitude (USA), who beat a smart field in the Grade 2 Clark Stakes last time.

Further strength in depth from Japan could be added by W Heart Bond (JPN), the mare who won the recent Champions Cup as well as Diktaean (JPN) and Mikki Fight (JPN). They were first and second in the Tokyo Daishoten, the race used previously as a launchpad by Forever Young.

Sayyah (USA), impressive in the recent Listed The Crown Prince Cup, and Star Of Wonder (USA), who claimed the Listed King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Cup in late December, are among a number of promising Saudi Arabian-trained horses looking to secure a spot in the signature race.

This year's Neom Turf Cup sponsored by HOWDEN has been upgraded to Group 1 status, making it the first ever top-level turf race staged in the jurisdiction, and the purse has been increased to $3 million.

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (IRE), the winner of nine top-level races all around the world and a former Breeders' Cup title-holder, is set to extend that extraordinary record in the 2100m showdown. The likes of Bahrain International Trophy scorer Royal Champion (IRE) and Aidan O'Brien's multiple Group 1-placed The Lion In Winter (IRE) could be up against him.

The Group 2 $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap sponsored by Longines draws the cream of international stayers. Both Japan's Durezza (JPN) and Joseph O'Brien's Irish star Al Riffa (FR) have been given entries for this race and the Neom Turf, while last year's fourth Presage Nocturne (IRE) has improved again for Alessandro Botti.

This year's Group 2 $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint sponsored by SHG could be an absolute cracker with entries headed by Jose d'Angelo's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint sensation Shisospicy (USA) and Europe's leading sprinter and Royal Ascot winner Lazzat (FR).

Similarly, the Group 2 $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint has drawn the cream of the international speedsters including Book'em Danno (USA) and Shisospicy's Breeders' Cup-winning stablemate Bentornato (USA) from the United States and two incredible talents from the United Arab Emirates in Bhupat Seemar's prolific Tuz (USA) and last year's Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Dark Saffron (USA) for Ahmad Bin Harmash.

Khamal (CHI), stylish winner of the Group 1 Premio Derby Nacional in Peru in late November, is among the jet-setting entries in the Group 3 $1.5 million Saudi Derby sponsored by ZOOD Realty.

The card on Friday 13 February includes the International Jockey Challenge while the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap sponsored by LUCID has attracted potential runners trained as far afield as Bahrain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Oman, Qatar and Spain.

There are two Group 1 races for Purebred Arabians across the weekend. The main turf event, the US$1.5 million Al Mneefah Cup sponsored by Ministry of Culture was taken in brave fashion in 2025 by RB Kingmaker (USA) and Helal Alalawi's grey is set for a return visit.

The $2 million Obaiyah Arabian Classic, the principal event on dirt, was won spectacularly last year by the decorated Tilal Al Khalediah (KSA), who could feature again in a strong field from around the Gulf region.

Alalawi has entered not only RB Kingmaker but HM Alchahine (FR), who was a commanding winner over his third-placed stablemate in the Group 1 HH The President Cup in Abu Dhabi last time.

HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled AlFaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said:

"This is only the seventh time we have staged The Saudi Cup meeting and it has already delivered countless memorable races and performances.

"With the nominations we have received for this year, we can be sure that the spectacular racing will continue. It is wonderful to see such a collection of both familiar and new names from all around the world due to be involved at King Abdulaziz Racecourse next month.

"We are delighted and honoured that so many people have chosen to aim their horses for the 2026 Saudi Cup races and, on behalf of everyone at the JCSA, I would like to extend our gratitude to those owners and trainers.

"Year-on-year, thanks to the vision of our leadership, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister - may God protect them - The Saudi Cup has evolved into The Kingdom's key sporting and social event.

"It has been especially pleasing to see the races recognised by the international authorities, too. The Saudi Cup has held Group 1 status since 2022 but we will now be staging our first ever Group 1 race on grass, the Neom Turf Cup, after its consistent level of performance.

"The Saudi Cup meeting is not only about world-class racing; it is a celebration of the horse as well as the culture and the hospitality of The Kingdom. The list of nominations only increases the excitement and we look forward to welcoming connections and racing fans alike next month for an event that has quickly made a huge impact on the global calendar."

Oct 14 - Runners in The Saudi Derby will now be eligible to collect points for the Kentucky Derby in an exciting new link announced by The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The 1600m Group Three event on The Saudi Cup undercard has been added to a worldwide series of events known as 'The Road to The Kentucky Derby' and will make it easier for Saudi Arabian owners to have runners in one of the most prestigious horseraces in the world - attended yearly by over 100,000 people.

The USD1.5m Saudi Derby, which next year will be staged at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on February 14, will have a maximum of 30 points available to the winner to try and qualify for the Group 1 Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs on Saturday May 2.

Two other races, the UAE 2000 Guineas and the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes (formerly the Al Bastakiya) at Meydan Racecourse, have also been added as races with qualifying points for the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby

The series now consists of 10 races in total and has up to two invitations for the Kentucky Derby, with further points issued behind the winner of each leg down to fifth place.

First staged in 2020, The Saudi Derby has rapidly become a high-quality international race with Japanese challenger Forever Young (JPN) winning in 2024 before narrowly missing out and finishing third in a thrilling 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the JCSA, said: "The addition of The Saudi Derby on the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby is an important step forward for Saudi racing and offers local owners the chance of winning points for their horses to earn a run at Churchill Downs in May 2026.

"This announcement also marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership between The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and Churchill Downs Inc. which holds the promise of more collaboration in the future.

"Thanks to the vision and wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister (may God protect them). Saudi Arabian racing has been in a position to make important advancements on the international stage since the inauguration of The Saudi Cup in 2020.

"This latest development further strengthens the depth of appeal of The Saudi Cup weekend and sees The Saudi Derby form part of a series of prestigious races with those in the United Arab Emirates that further compliment the important Middle East swing of winter racing."

Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, added: "We are thrilled to partner with Saudi Arabia and to add the Saudi Derby as a key international qualifying race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

"The Kentucky Derby is known throughout the world as the 'Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,' and this partnership builds on all that Saudi Arabia has accomplished developing its thoroughbred racing program to connect the Saudi fans and horse racing community to America's most prestigious race."

Since its 2013 debut, the Road to the Kentucky Derby has awarded qualifying points to the top five finishers in designated prep races. The final leaderboard determines the preference list for entry to the Kentucky Derby, which is limited to 20 starters.

The European / Middle East and Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby operate as separate pathways from the primary 36-race series in the United States. Collectively, these international routes can yield up to three starting gate positions for overseas contenders, including up to two invitations to the top point-earners from the European / Middle East series.

About the Saudi Cup

The Saudi Cup is the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia's marquee event and is charged with raising awareness of horse racing in the country and encouraging participation among men and women throughout the sport. It also aims to promote Saudi Arabia at an international level, acting as a marker for the Kingdom's transformational journey, encouraging tourism and investment.

Horseracing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stretches back more than five decades since the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia was formed in 1965. Racing traditionally took place on a 2000m left-handed dirt track until the introduction of a 1800m turf track in February 2020, on time for the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting, which was heralded as the most significant event in the history of horse racing in Saudi Arabia.

First run in 2020 and organised by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, The Saudi Cup is a two-day international racing festival, headlined by the USD$20m The Saudi Cup - the world's most valuable race. The meeting takes place on the last weekend of February at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Total prize money for The Saudi Cup 2026 stands at USD$ 31.5m and attracts the world's highest rated racehorses.

The fourth renewal of the festival will open with the STC International Jockeys Challenge day on the Friday, which sees seven female and seven male jockeys from Australia, Europe, Japan, the United States of America, as well as two local jockeys compete as individuals in four races, each worth USD$400,000. Races are open to locally trained horses only and are run over a variety of distances on dirt and turf, ranging from a 1200m sprint to a middle-distance race over 1800m.

Jockeys collect 15 points for a victory with the next four finishers scoring 10, 7, 4 and 2 points. In addition to prizemoney earned in a race, competing jockeys share a prize pot of USD$ 100,000.

Last year's STC International Jockeys Challenge was won by Australian jockey Caitlin Jones who will be invited back to King Abdulaziz Racecourse in 2026 to defend her title.

Adding further international flavour to the Friday card is the 2100m USD$500,000 Saudi International Handicap for horses trained in IFHA registered Part II and III racing countries.

The Saturday is all about the Group 1 $20m Saudi Cup where the world's top class horses and jockeys compete for the ultimate prize in racing over 1800m of the King Abdulaziz dirt track. It is the final contest on an eight-race card that sees horses from around the world compete on dirt and on turf for a share of the USD$35.35m total prize pot.

The inaugural running of The Saudi Cup (2020) saw 22 Group or Grade 1 winners compete across an eight-race card for a total prize pot of USD$29.2M. In 2022 the prize purse has been increased to $30.5M and the number of Group and Grade 1 winners entered to run went up to 31.

In 2022 the meeting received a record number of entries from 22 countries, including 70 individual Group 1 or Grade 1 winners.