Riyadh Racing Season 2026/2027: Dates & Prizes

A six-month horse racing season is set to run in the capital from 16 October 2026 to 17 April 2027 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in الرياض. The 2026/2027 Riyadh Racing Season will feature 50 race days, with meetings held on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the calendar.

Total prize money for the season reaches SAR 236.3 million, of which SAR 197.8 million is allocated across 69 major races. The programme keeps its international centrepiece with Saudi Cup Weekend scheduled for 5–6 February 2027, headlined by The Saudi Cup and its US$20 million purse.

Several races have been enhanced for the new season. The Saudi Derby, run on Saudi Cup Day (6 February 2027), is upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 status. The King Abdulaziz Cups Evening on 12 March 2027 becomes the richest domestic cups day, offering SAR 10.9 million in prizes.

Purses for domestic cups have also risen. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (Group 3, a Saudi Cup qualifier) increases from SAR 1.5 million to SAR 2 million, while the Crown Prince Cup rises from SAR 1 million to SAR 1.5 million. The King Saud Cup and King Faisal Cup each climb from SAR 800,000 to SAR 1 million, the Prince Naif Cup and Prince Sultan Cup each move from SAR 700,000 to SAR 800,000, and the King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion rises from SAR 300,000 to SAR 500,000.

A new local series

The season introduces the Riyadh Crown Series for locally bred colts, geldings and fillies, carrying SAR 6 million in total prize money. Its first leg on 4 December 2026 is for 2-year-olds over 1400 m with a SAR 500,000 purse, followed by a second leg on 22 January 2027 for 3-year-olds over 1400 m (Open), also worth SAR 500,000. The additions offer fans a growing weekend calendar of racing in the capital.

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