Riyadh 2026-27 Racing Season: SAR236.3M in Prizes

The 2026–2027 horse racing season in Riyadh will take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse over six months, from 16 October 2026 to 17 April 2027, with a program built around 50 race days and 69 major cup races. Total prize money for the season reaches SAR236.3 million, of which SAR197.8 million is allocated to the major cups.

Racing runs weekly on Fridays and Saturdays, with 21 feature race days anchored by seven major weekends: the Juvenile Championship, Crown Prince Cup, Kings' Weekend, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques weekend, the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Festival, Saudi Cup weekend, and the King Abdulaziz Cup.

The season's centerpiece is Saudi Cup weekend, which hosts the Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse — described as the world's richest race with a purse of US$20 million. The King Abdulaziz Cups Evening on 12 March 2027 stands out as the richest domestic cups day, offering SAR10.9 million in prize money. Its card includes the Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman bin Faisal Cup, a Listed race worth SAR300,000.

New series and higher purses

A new Riyadh Crown Series for locally bred horses features three rounds with a total purse of SAR6 million. It opens with a 1400 m race for 2-year-olds worth SAR500,000 on 4 December 2026, followed by a 1400 m open race for 3-year-olds worth SAR500,000 on 22 January 2027, and concludes with the 1600 m Domestic Group 1 King Abdulaziz Cup worth SAR5 million on 12 March 2027. A separate new series, the Riyadh Sword for imported mares, carries SAR1.537 million in total prizes.

Several established cups also see increased prize money: the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup rises from SAR1.5 million to SAR2 million, the Crown Prince Cup from SAR1 million to SAR1.5 million, and both the King Saud Cup and King Faisal Cup from SAR800,000 to SAR1 million each. The expanded season underscores the growing role of horse racing in the capital's sporting and entertainment calendar, drawing local families and international visitors alike.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving