The desert air of Riyadh will soon echo once more with the thunder of hooves as King Abdulaziz Racecourse prepares to open its gates for a new season of world-class racing. The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has confirmed that action resumes on October 16, setting in motion a 50-meeting campaign that will reach its dramatic peak with the US$20 million Saudi Cup 2026 on February 14.
This year’s fixture list, reshaped to accommodate the Holy Month of Ramadan, spans 50 meetings for Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian horses. For the first time, the campaign will conclude with the Saudi Cup meeting itself, cementing the flagship race as both the sporting and emotional finale of Riyadh’s racing calendar.
Building Towards the Saudi Cup 2026
The new season also coincides with an historic occasion for the Kingdom. The 41st Asian Racing Conference, titled “Honouring Tradition – Shaping the Future”, will take place in Saudi Arabia from February 9 and culminate at the Saudi Cup. This gives the world’s richest race a broader stage, blending sporting drama with international dialogue.
The action begins with a familiar rhythm: 12-race cards every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Among the early highlights is the Crown Prince Cup meeting on December 5, featuring a domestic G1 over 2400m for Saudi-breds alongside the Listed Crown Prince Cup, both offering SAR1m purses.
Later in December, the Royal Cups on the 26th and 27th return with three domestic G1 contests — the King Fahad Cup for juveniles (1600m), King Khaled Cup for three-year-olds (1800m), and the King Saud Cup over 2000m for older horses. Each is expected to showcase the very best of Saudi-trained talent, just as Wootton’sun (FR) did last year before running gallantly in the Saudi Cup.
Saudi Cup Trials and International Build-Up
The Saudi Cup Trials Weekend on January 16–17 offers perhaps the most crucial stepping stone. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup and King Abdulaziz Cups headline two days of action, with winners booking guaranteed spots in the Saudi Cup.
It was at this meeting earlier this year that Rattle N Roll (USA) secured his place, with trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Joel Rosario celebrating a victory that resonated far beyond Riyadh. Expect more of the same next January as qualifiers for the Neom Turf Cup, 1351 Turf Sprint, Red Sea Turf Handicap, Riyadh Dirt Sprint, Obaiyah Classic, and Al-Mneefah Cup are decided.
The Season Finale: Two Days of World-Class Racing
The grand finale spans February 13–14, with day one hosting the International Jockeys’ Challenge, the Sarawat and Tuwaiq Cups, and the US$1.5m Al Mneefah Cup (G1) for Purebred Arabians over 2100m. The next day, the Saudi Cup card itself features nine international races, including the Neom Turf Cup (G2), Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2), and the marathon Red Sea Turf Handicap, before the curtain falls with the US$20m Saudi Cup 2026.
Season of Anticipation
With the stage now set, Riyadh prepares for a racing season rich in heritage, international flair, and sporting drama. From domestic G1 contests to the crescendo of the Saudi Cup 2026, King Abdulaziz Racecourse promises to deliver a narrative as compelling as the races themselves.
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