The upcoming edition of the Saudi Cup Festival 2025 will see two important races upgraded with an increase in the value of the financial prizes; the Riyadh Sprint Cup sponsored by Al Masar Al Riyadi and the Red Sea Cup sponsored by Longines have been upgraded to the second international category, in addition to a number of upgrades to important races during the current Riyadh season 2024/2025.
The Jockey Club announced that the Riyadh Sprint Cup, won by Japanese horse Remick last year, will see its prize money increase by $500,000 to $2 million. The Longines Red Sea Cup, won by Tower of London under trainer Aidan O’Brien, will start with the same large prize money of $2.5 million.
The Saudi Cup, the world’s richest equestrian event, will be held on Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22, 2025. The second day will include one Group 3 race, four Group 2 races, and two Group 1 races: the Ubayya Cup for Purebred Arabians sponsored by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, and the $20 million Saudi Cup. The first day will include the Group 1 Manifa Cup for Purebred Arabians sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, in addition to the four-round Global Jockeys Challenge.
On this occasion, His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Equestrian Authority and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Horse Racing Club, said: “We are pleased to announce further promotions to the races, whether in the Saudi Cup Festival 2025 or in the Riyadh local season program; which enhances the status of racing within the Kingdom and internationally.”
“The promotion of two international races from Group 3 to Group 2 within the Saudi Cup programme reinforces our ongoing investment in international horse racing and confirms our desire to host the elite of horses from around the world at this major festival,” added Prince Bandar.
“Last year saw Saudi horses win the Abayah Cup and the Manifa Cup. With the domestic programme being enhanced by the promotion of races such as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, we look forward to once again taking on the best international competitors,” the Chairman of the Jockey Club continued.
“We welcome all racing fans to come and enjoy the exciting Riyadh season that begins with the Saudi Cup, which is expected to be another great two days on the international racing calendar,” His Highness concluded.
Saudi Cup Qualifying Races Upgraded
The Riyadh season, which kicked off on October 17, includes 709 races held over 62 events, an unprecedented number in the history of racing in the Kingdom. The total prize money for the season reached a record level of 80,346,000 Saudi riyals (about 22.5 million US dollars), excluding the prizes of the Saudi Cup Festival, the most expensive in the world.
One of the most notable improvements this season has seen is the upgrade of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (January 25) to a Group 3 race, the first international Thoroughbred race to be held outside the Saudi Cup Festival, and won last year by Power in Numbers when he was Listed.
The Prince Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Cup (January 24), a qualifying race for the NEOM Cup Sponsored by Howden (Group 2), has also been upgraded from unclassified to Listed status. With the Riyadh Season extended to Saturday 15 March 2025, the season will conclude with the newly upgraded King Abdulaziz Racecourse Cup also to Listed status.
To further streamline the season’s calendar, the Jockey Club has rescheduled a number of key races to provide better preparation for horses expected to compete in the Saudi Cup; the King Abdulaziz Cup will be held on the evening of January 25 instead of March, to serve as a warm-up race for Saudi horses that may compete in the Saudi Derby (Group 3).
On December 7, the four Gulf Cups for horses trained in the GCC countries will be held, including the Gulf Cup for 3-year-old horses, the Gulf Cup for Mares (four years and above), the Gulf Cup for Colts and Geldings (four years and above), and the Gulf Cup for Purebred Arabians (four years and above), which were held during the Saudi Cup preparatory race week last season.
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