Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Announces 2026/2027 Riyadh Racing Season
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RIYADH, August 14 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has announced a 69-race programme carrying SAR197.8 million in total prize money for the 2026/2027 Riyadh Racing Season.
The six-month season will run from October 16, 2026, to April 17, 2027, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, with increased purses for several established competitions, two new racing series and an upgraded classification for the Saudi Derby.
King Abdulaziz Cups Evening, scheduled for March 12, 2027, will offer SAR10.9 million in prizes, making it the richest domestic cups day on the season’s calendar.
The evening will also feature the newly renamed Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman bin Faisal Cup. The Listed race will carry a purse of SAR300,000.
Two new series will join the programme. The three-round Riyadh Crown, reserved for locally bred horses, will offer SAR6 million in prizes. The Riyadh Sword, created for imported mares, will carry prize money of SAR1.537 million.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, a Group 3 qualifier for the Saudi Cup, will increase from SAR1.5 million to SAR2 million. The Listed Crown Prince Cup will rise from SAR1 million to SAR1.5 million.
Prize money for the Listed King Saud Cup and King Faisal Cup will increase from SAR800,000 to SAR1 million each. The Prince Naif Cup and Prince Sultan Cup will rise from SAR700,000 to SAR800,000 each.
The Listed King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion will carry SAR500,000, up from SAR300,000. The Saudi Derby has also been upgraded to Group 2 status.
Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Chairman Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Faisal said continued support from the Kingdom’s leadership had strengthened Saudi Arabia’s position in international equestrian sport. He said the changes introduced for the new season would increase competitiveness and support locally produced horses.
