Riyadh Racing Season Returns Bigger Than Ever
Saudi Arabia is preparing for another major season of international horse racing with the announcement of the 2026–27 Riyadh Racing Season, featuring new competitions, increased prize money and another highly anticipated edition of the Saudi Cup.
Organised by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, the new season will begin on October 16, 2026, and continue until April 17, 2027, bringing six months of racing action to Riyadh.
The programme includes 50 race days, with racing taking place every Friday and Saturday, and total prize money reaching approximately $62.9 million.
New Racing Series
One of the biggest additions is the new Riyadh Crown Series, designed for locally bred colts, geldings and fillies.
The three-leg competition begins on December 4 with a 1,400-metre race for two-year-olds before continuing in January and concluding with the King Abdulaziz Cup in March.
The final race carries a purse of approximately $1.3 million, providing an important new platform for Saudi-bred horses.
Another major addition is the Riyadh Sword Series, created specifically for locally bred fillies. The series culminates with the Fillies Mile on Saudi Cup day, carrying prize money of $250,000.
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Saudi Cup Returns
The highlight of the season will once again be the Saudi Cup, scheduled for February 5–6, 2027.
The event has developed into one of the most significant meetings on the international racing calendar, bringing leading horses, jockeys, trainers and owners from around the world to Riyadh.
Several major races have also received prize-money increases for the upcoming season.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup rises to approximately $530,000, while the Crown Prince Cup increases to around $400,000.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Derby has been promoted from Group 3 to Group 2, further strengthening the international status of Saudi racing.
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Global Ambitions
Saudi Arabia’s investment in horse racing forms part of a broader effort to establish the Kingdom as an important destination for international equestrian sport.
The 2026–27 calendar features 21 major race days and seven standout racing weekends, including the Crown Prince Cup, Kings’ Weekend, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Weekend, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Festival and Saudi Cup.
The expansion also creates more opportunities for locally bred horses to compete at increasingly valuable and competitive levels.
With international participation, growing prize money and new competitions supporting domestic breeding, Riyadh’s racing programme continues to strengthen its position within the global racing industry.
The coming season will therefore be about more than the Saudi Cup itself. It represents another significant step in the development of horse racing across Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region.
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