Horse Racing

Third Running of Saudi Cup Set for Feb. 26


The Jockey Membership of Saudi Arabia launched the 2022 version of the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) with report purse cash on provide over two days of racing and new worldwide luster for the race itself and the Kingdom’s racing program.

Officers additionally had their eyes on additional upgrades within the Kingdom’s standing and creation of a seamless Center Japanese racing jurisdiction.

The designation of the $20 million Saudi Cup as a world group 1 race marks an necessary milestone within the marketing campaign to make the Kingdom a top-tier participant on the worldwide racing scene, HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Membership of Saudi Arabia, stated Oct. 28 in a sequence of media video conferences.

The Saudi Cup, granted the group 1 designation earlier this month by the Worldwide Federation of Horseracing Authorities, could have its third operating Feb. 26, 2022. Purse will increase for the undercard races increase to $35.1 million the full prize cash on provide, making the assembly the world’s richest.

Prince Bandar and Tom Ryan, the JCSA’s director of Technique and Worldwide Racing, stated the expectation is that followers will return to the King Abdulaziz grandstand after a 12 months’s absence due to pandemic restrictions.

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“We could have tickets obtainable on the market,” Prince Bandar stated. “Once more, we’re all topic to the worldwide restrictions as to journey. I believe all people would have an interest within the scenario right here in Saudi Arabia the place we’re fairly effectively off in comparison with some other components of the world. We’ve got lower than 50 infections per day. I am actually completely satisfied we have got it right down to that. My hope is, the Western world can get their act collectively and hopefully assist us assist them open up sports activities in every single place.”

Ryan stated the 2021 expertise with motion of horses was comparatively simple in comparison with human journey. “Hopefully,” he added, “because the world every week will get higher with COVID, that half will turn into simpler, too.”

Prince Bandar stated the fast improvement of the Saudi Cup into a world fixture has shocked even Saudi officers.

“We may by no means have imagined the fast affect the Saudi Cup would have on the worldwide racing panorama, or certainly on our home racing product.”

The primary two editions of the Saudi Cup program attracted horses from across the globe, together with Japan and the USA. Maximum Security   won the first running, though his purse money remains held up pending resolution of charges in the United States against trainer Jason Servis.

The 2021 Cup featured a tight finish with Mishriff  rallying late to defeat Charlatan   with Knicks Go   fading to get home fourth with Sleepy Eyes Todd  fifth.

Mishriff went on to win the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on the turf at Meydan March 27, defeating top runners from Japan and the UAE.

The quality of those races contributed to the upgrade in Saudi Arabia’s international status.

At the same time the IFHA granted group 1 rating to the Saudi Cup and group 3 ranking to five races on the weekend’s undercard, it also bumped Saudi Arabia up to Part II status among racing jurisdictions—a step which Prince Bandar said the JCSA hopes to be only a temporary stop on the Kingdom’s ascendency toward Part I.

“It’s fair that they want to see commitment, they want to see longevity. They want to see us over the long run,” Prince Bandar said. “I don’t expect it to be a long period of time. I think within the next three to four years, we should be in a position where they would feel comfortable enough, if we continue on the same line we are now, to be within that elite group of countries.”

Prince Bandar also said plans to coordinate racing schedules and infrastructure among Middle Eastern jurisdictions are “ongoing” since an announcement in March of 2021.

“The good news is they are very eager to work with us on this. The goal is between the three or four countries if you include Qatar and maybe Oman (with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates).

“It’s a good thing for this part of the world. It makes it more attractive for international trainers or owners who like to move their horses across the world and it gets very attractive for people in the cold weather environment of the Northern Hemisphere,” His Highness said. “I think this part of the world provides a very interesting venue for them to continue racing between November and March.”

He said he expects a “very solid” announcement within six months.



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