The Middle East’s enthusiasm for horse racing has given a boost to big money race resulting in an increase in the prize money and prestige of these. Saudi Arabia is going to host a record $20 million, next year. It is a big time for Horse race fans as they can bet on the big event and wager on their favourite horses.

If we make a list of the richest horse races in the world, the Melbourne cup will certainly top the list. It is one of the most prestigious horse races. Check out the Melbourne cup offers here and get a chance to become a part of the most popular horse race that there is the world. 

THE SAUDI CUP

Saudi Arabia is the fifth richest Middle East nation. The country’s wealth is mainly drawn from the country’s oil and gas sector. It is this financial wealth that will prove to be the backbone of the Saudi Cup when it kicks off in 2020.

The new Saudi Cup will comfortably eclipse horse racing’s previous richest individual race, the Pegasus World Cup, which reached the top at a purse of $16 million in 2018 before going down behind the $12M Dubai World Cup.

The race will be free for entering to general public. The event’s total worth is estimated to be a total of $20m with half of the prize purse going straight into the pockets of the winning horse. It will be contested by a maximum of 14 horses with the winner earning prize money of $10 million, the second receiving $3.5 million and the remaining pocketed to the rest of the field.

The Saudi Cup will be held at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 29 — between the Pegasus and the Dubai World Cup — and will be contested on dirt over nine furlongs (1,800 meters).

“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, and 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,” said Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal at the launch event Wednesday night in Saratoga, New York State.”We look forward to welcoming international horsemen and women, the media, racing enthusiasts and the public to Riyadh in 2020.”

SAUDI ARABIA AND IT’S SPORTS PROFILE

Major sporting events are one of the most popular ways for a country to show they are a major power. Saudi Arabia announced it will also host a Formula One grand prix beginning in 2021.

Looking at the last two decades, it is verified that the Middle East’s countries have attempted to raise their sports profile in the world. Bahrain founded a Formula One race in 2006 and Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The United Arab Emirates has hosted the FIFA Club World Cup in recent years as well while Abu Dhabi is the home a Formula One grand prix.

Saudi Arabia is using sports to change its global image. Offering $20m in prize money for the richest horse race in the world is one way to do it. It is surely to attract horse race fans, top jockeys, trainers, and horses in 2020.