Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Honorary President of the Equestrian Club, sponsored on Saturday the Saudi Cup ceremony.
The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race.
The event took place at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Racetrack in Riyadh.
King Salman was welcomed at the venue by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King and Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor at the Royal Court and Chairman of the Equestrian Club, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sport, Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Austria and Director of the Equestrian Club Adel Al-Mazrou.
Saturday’s race has a maximum field of 14 runners and be run over nine furlongs (1,800m) on dirt.
The prize for the winning horse will be $10 million, with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.
Announcing the first staging of the event on Wednesday, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, the chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race, is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horse racing in Saudi Arabia.”
“It demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horse racing’s world stage.”
