Riyadh will command international racing attention on Friday, January 23, as King Abdulaziz Racecourse prepares to stage the Ministry of Media, UK and North America Cups Race Night, a twelve-race program built for scale, competitiveness, and sustained momentum. Running from 03:35pm to 08:40pm, the card will be anchored by three premier contests carrying SAR 150,000 in prize money, positioning the meeting as one of the most compelling mid-season fixtures on the calendar.
The curtain will rise with Race 1 – Open (Turf) at 03:35pm, where seasoned four-year-olds and upward will contest 1200 metres for SAR 120,000, expected to set an assertive tempo from the outset. Momentum will continue into Race 2 – Maiden at 04:00pm, a 1200-metre assignment for young colts, geldings, and fillies competing for SAR 40,000, where early promise will be tested under race-night pressure.
Experience and adaptability will take centre stage in Race 3 – Open (Turf) at 04:25pm, run over 1351 metres and carrying SAR 120,000. The program will then pivot toward emerging form lines in Race 4 – Horses Who Won 0–2 at 04:55pm, a 1400-metre contest for three-year-olds seeking progression, with SAR 50,000 on offer.
Stamina and racecraft will be placed under sharper examination in Race 5 – Open (Turf) at 05:20pm, a 2100-metre challenge worth SAR 120,000 that will act as a natural lead-in to the night’s premier sequence. That build-up will peak with race 6 – Ministry of Media Cup at 05:50pm, a 1400-metre feature carrying SAR 150,000 and expected to command the strongest attention across the card.
As evening settles in, race 7 – Arabian Handicap 80–95 at 07:00pm will bring elite Arabian performers into focus over 2000 metres for SAR 100,000. International prestige will then intensify in race 8 – UK Cup at 06:50pm, an 1800-metre contest offering SAR 150,000 and reinforcing the global dimension of the meeting.
Local development narratives will resume in race 9 – Local Bred Maiden at 07:20pm, where three-year-olds will tackle 1600 metres for SAR 40,000, before the program reaches another highlight with race 10 – North America Cup at 07:45pm. Run over 1600 metres for SAR 150,000, it will complete a trio of top-tier races shaping the night’s identity.
The closing stages will ensure the tempo remains firm through to the final stride. Race 11 – Local Bred Handicap 0–75 at 08:10pm will test improving runners over 1600 metres for SAR 85,000, while Race 12 – Arabian Handicap 0–55 at 08:40pm will bring proceedings to a measured conclusion over 1800 metres for SAR 50,000.
Structured, ambitious, and internationally framed, the Saudi Arabia Racecards 23 January at King Abdulaziz Racecourse is set to deliver a race night defined by depth, direction, and sustained competitive energy.
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