As the calendar turns and a new year breathes its first promise, King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh will prepare to glow under the winter lights on Thursday, 1st January 2026, welcoming racing fans for Race Meeting 54 of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA). There will be a sense of renewal in the air—fresh ambitions, quiet nerves in the saddling boxes, and the familiar heartbeat of hooves echoing across the desert track. From the opening bell to the final stride, the afternoon and evening will be shaped by hope, competition, and the timeless allure of the turf.
The curtain will rise at 03:25 pm with Race 1, a 1200m contest for Local Bred Fillies who have won 0–2 races, carrying a prize fund of SAR 50,000. It will set an early tone of youthful confidence and cautious ambition, as emerging fillies look to announce themselves at the very start of the year. Momentum will quickly build at 03:50 pm with Race 2, a 1200m F/M Open valued at SAR 120,000, where proven class and tactical speed are expected to collide in a sharper, more demanding test.
At 04:15 pm, Race 3 will keep the spotlight firmly on local talent with a Local Bred F/M Open over 1200m, again offering SAR 120,000. This race will promise intensity, as seasoned runners and rising performers share the same stretch of track, each seeking early-season authority. The programme will then shift focus at 04:45 pm to Race 4, an Arabian Maiden for Colts and Geldings over 1200m, with SAR 40,000 at stake—a race rich with anticipation, where raw potential and first-time breakthroughs will take centre stage.
As twilight approaches, Race 5 at 05:10 pm will introduce a 1400m test for Horses who have won 0–1 races, competing for SAR 45,000. It will be a race of learning curves and tactical patience, followed by Race 6 at 05:40 pm, a Local Bred Maiden over the same 1400m distance, also worth SAR 40,000, where dreams of a first victory will feel particularly close.
The evening’s defining moment will arrive at 06:10 pm with Race 7, a Local Bred Open over 2000m carrying a prestigious purse of SAR 120,000. This longer-distance contest is expected to stand as the emotional and competitive centrepiece of the card, demanding stamina, composure, and precise racecraft as contenders stretch deep into the final furlongs. At 06:40 pm, Race 8 will maintain the rhythm with another Horses who have won 0–1 race, this time over 1800m, for SAR 45,000, blending resilience with tactical timing.
The later stages of the meeting will continue to showcase emerging depth within the local programme. Race 9 at 07:10 pm will feature Local Bred Fillies in a Maiden contest over 1600m, offering SAR 40,000, where patience and balance will be crucial. Just 25 minutes later, Race 10 at 07:35 pm will elevate the tempo again with a Local Bred F/M Open over 1600m, one of the night’s richest prizes at SAR 120,000, and a race likely to draw strong attention from both professionals and fans.
As the night deepens, Race 11 at 08:00 pm will bring an Arabian F/M Maiden over 1600m, contested for SAR 40,000, highlighting the elegance and tradition of Arabian racing under Riyadh’s lights. The meeting will conclude at 08:30 pm with Race 12, a Local Bred Maiden over 1600m, also worth SAR 40,000, providing a final opportunity for new beginnings before the gates close on an eventful opening day of 2026.
From sharp sprints to searching middle-distance challenges, Race Meeting 54 will promise a full spectrum of racing narratives—breakthroughs, rivalries, and quiet triumphs. As the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia ushers in the new year at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, the stage will be set for a compelling day where ambition meets opportunity, and the first chapters of 2026’s racing story will be written stride by stride.
Riyadh race cards 1 January will usher in the new racing year at King Abdulaziz Racecourse with a competitive 12-race programme under the winter lights. For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.