抖阴短视频

JEDDAH: The world has a new richest race, with the announcement of the creation of the $20 million Saudi Cup, to be run at King Abdul Aziz Racetrack in Riyadh on Feb. 29, 2020.

Details of the contest were announced by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of 抖阴短视频, at a launch event in Saratoga, New York, on Wednesday.

The race will be run on over a distance of nine furlongs (1,800 meters) on dirt, and will have a maximum field of 14 starters. The race will be free to enter and to participate in.

The prize for the winning horse will be $10 million, with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.

鈥淭he introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horseracing in 抖阴短视频, and demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of 抖阴短视频, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horseracing鈥檚 world stage,鈥� said Prince Bandar.

鈥淲e look forward to welcoming international horsemen and women, the media, racing enthusiasts and the public to Riyadh in 2020.鈥� The Saudi Cup will take place four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Florida, and four weeks prior to the Dubai World Cup. 

This means that the top horses in training have the opportunity to compete in all three of the most valuable dirt races in the world.

The Pegasus World Cup had a peak value of $16 million in 2018, while the Dubai World Cup is currently worth $12 million. 

In terms of turf races, the richest is in Australia (the Everest) and is worth $9.8 million. In Japan, the mark is $6 million for the Japan Cup. 

Europe鈥檚 most lucrative event, the Prix de l鈥橝rc de Triomphe, has a prize fund of $5.6 million.

Prince Bandar鈥檚 connection to horses is an emotional one. Less than a century ago, his great grandfather King Abdul Aziz, a renowned rider and the founding father of modern 抖阴短视频, led his army into battle on horseback, earning himself the title 鈥淭he Last Horseman.鈥�

In 1932, King Abdul Aziz unified the kingdoms of Nejd and Hijaz, creating the sovereign state of 抖阴短视频. Horseracing soon became an important cultural event in the young nation. 

Its status was enhanced in 2003 with the opening of King Abdul Aziz Racetrack, with a 2,000-meter circumference, a three-furlong (600-meter) chute and a state-of-the-art dirt racing surface.

Many of the world鈥檚 leading jockeys have ridden regularly at the racetrack over the past few years, and have been impressed with its facilities.

鈥淚鈥檝e been going to King Abdul Aziz Racetrack ever since it opened 鈥� Of all the dirt tracks I鈥檝e ridden, it鈥檚 the one I like best as you can win from the front and you can win from behind 鈥� it鈥檚 a fair track,鈥� said Europe鈥檚 jockey of the moment, Frankie Dettori.

鈥淭he other thing I like is that the kickback is so much less than on other dirt tracks. I don鈥檛 know why, but the sand seems finer and doesn鈥檛 stick. You only need a couple of pairs of goggles, where on other tracks you need four or five. It鈥檚 a kinder track that I can see turf horses handling.鈥�

US jockey Edgar Prado said: 鈥淚n my experience, all the time I rode at King Abdul Aziz Racetrack, I鈥檝e found it good and safe with a nice stretch run. Horses handle it very well.鈥�

France鈥檚 four-time champion jockey Olivier Peslier said: 鈥淜ing Abdul Aziz Racetrack is one of the best dirt tracks in the world 鈥� a wonderful track. And I know that the American jockeys like it very much because it really suits the American horses. It has a long straight, and there isn鈥檛 much kickback.鈥�

The Jockey Club of 抖阴短视频 will arrange and fund the shipment of all invited horses. It will also arrange and pay for the flights and hotel accommodation of the horses鈥� connections.

In addition to the Saudi Cup, there will be further international races on the undercard ahead of the showcase race. 

Further details of these supporting races and the full race program will be announced at a later date.