Riyadh: The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced the program for the 2026/2027 Riyadh Racing Season, running from October 16, 2026, to April 17, 2027, at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the six-month season features 69 races with a total prize purse of SAR197.8 million, incorporating major developments to support local production and solidify Riyadh's position on the global horse racing stage.
Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Chairman Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Faisal stated that the leadership's continued support has reinforced the Kingdom's standing on the global equestrian map, and that the new season will deliver stronger competitiveness aligned with that status.
Key updates include prize increases across several major cups. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3), a qualifier for the Saudi Cup, increased from SAR1.5 million to SAR2 million, while the Crown Prince Cup (Listed) rose from SAR1 million to SAR1.5 million. The King Saud and King Faisal cups (both Listed) increased from SAR800,000 to SAR1 million each, the Prince Naif and Prince Sultan cups rose from SAR700,000 to SAR800,000 each, and the King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion (Listed) was raised from SAR300,000 to SAR500,000. Additionally, the Saudi Derby was officially upgraded to Group 2 (G2) status.
The calendar highlights the King Abdulaziz Cups Evening on March 12, 2027, featuring SAR10.9 million in prizes as the season's richest domestic cups day. The evening also introduces the renamed Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman bin Faisal Cup (Listed), carrying a purse of SAR300,000.
To further elevate competition, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia introduced two new series: the three-round Riyadh Crown for locally bred horses with SAR6 million in prizes, and the Riyadh Sword for imported mares offering SAR1.537 million.