Saudi Cup Renewed for 2021; Total Purses Boosted to Over $30 Million

[Wandering Eyes]

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday the return of the world’s richest horse race, the $20-million Saudi Cup, as well as a prize-money increase and a new international race, all scheduled to take place Feb. 19-20, 2021. At a series of press events held via video link from King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, was keen to build on the success of the inaugural Saudi Cup.

“It’s hard to overstate the success of Saudi Cup 2020 when you consider that in year one of a brand-new international racing event, we attracted some of the very best horses, trainers and jockeys in the world,” he said. “We witnessed 22 individual Group 1 or Grade I winners, who had accumulated an impressive 34 wins at that level between them. That would be an excellent statistic for even the most well-established race meetings in the world, let alone to have that caliber in year one.”

Prince Bandar revealed that prize money across the Saudi Cup card would increase from $29.2 million to $30.5 million. Scheduled a week earlier than the inaugural event, the free to enter/free to run 1800-meter $20-million Saudi Cup remains the highlight of an eight-race card, which now features a boost to the prize money of three dirt races on the undercard.

The 1600m Saudi Derby sees an increase from $800,000 to $1.5 million, he Obaiya Cup for Purebred Arabians held over 2000m will now be worth $2 million, up from $1.9 million, while the purse for The Jockey Club Local H. will double to $1 million. The Saudi International H. has also been added. With a $500,000 purse, it will be run over 2100m on turf.

“With the changes we bring to Saudi Cup 2021 we hope to offer the racing and sporting public the most interesting and intriguing race cards possible, whether they are able to be with us in person or watching from home,” said Prince Bandar.

“The 2020 event was a great beginning but now we turn our attention to year two and to taking on board the lessons we learned from year one. We will be using that knowledge to steer the JCSA and the Saudi Cup weekend to new heights, building regional and international bridges within the industry to engage with global racing fans, inspire domestic involvement and enhance not only our own offering but that of racing as a global sport.”

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