How to Bet on the 2024 Saudi Cup
Horse racing has long been known as the “sport of kings.”
Long-standing annual institutions like the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic all reinforce this perception.
The sport of kings has a new sparkly jewel in its crown, with a $20 million purse.
Feb. 23, 2024 the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup will be contested over 1 1/8 dirt miles at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in the country’s capital city of Riyadh. This new contest will immediately become the richest horse race in history.
This page serves as an informative guide for wagering on the 2024 Saudi Cup.
How to bet the 2025 Saudi Cup
The best way to bet on the Saudi Cup is through a reputable pari-mutuel online provider, such as FanDuel Racing.
To learn more about pari-mutuel betting and which states allow legal online wagering, see our Kentucky Derby prep page.
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2025 Saudi Cup overview
The Saudi Cup has a maximum field of 14 entrants.
The race is open to Northern Hemisphere-bred horses who are four years or older and Southern Hemisphere-bred horses who are three years or older. The race will be run at 1 1/8 miles on dirt.
You can watch an interview with King Abdulaziz racecourse’s track manager, Bob Turman, here.
Turman details the unique composition of the track’s dirt surface, stating that the fine Saudi sand “tends not to compact as tight as some other dirt racetracks.”
Organizers of the race offer free entry into the contest. All expenses are paid for selected horses and their connections. For this reason and that the winnings are not taxed, are why at least 32 Group/Grade 1 stake race winners applied for entry consideration.
2024 Saudi Cup Day purse breakdown
The total Saudi Cup Day card will pay out $29.2 million in purses, with the Saudi Cup itself awarding a record-breaking $20 million.
The first-place winner of the Saudi Cup receives $10 million. The follow-up places break down as follows:
- Second place: $3.5 million
- Third place: $2 million
- Fourth place: $1.5 million
- Fifth place: $1 million
- Sixth place: $600,000
- Seventh place: $500,000
- Eighth place: $400,000
- Ninth place $300,000
- 10th place: $200,000
Places 11-14 receive nothing. The Kentucky Derby’s total purse is 85% less than the Saudi Cup.
There are seven undercard races on Saudi Cup Day:
- The Obaiya Arabian Classic: This race is for pure-bred Arabians who are four years or older. It is run at one mile and two furlongs on dirt. The winner receives $1.14 million.
- The Jockey Club Local Handicap: This race is for horses who are four years or older, and trained in Saudi Arabia. It is run at one mile and one furlong on dirt. The winner receives $300,000.
- The Longines Turf Handicap: This race is for at least four-year-old Northern Hemisphere-bred horses and Southern Hemisphere-bred horses who are three years and older. It is run at one mile and seven furlongs on turf. The winner receives $1.5 million.
- The Saudi Sprint: This race is for Northern Hemisphere- and Southern Hemisphere-bred horses who are three years or older. It is run at six furlongs on dirt. The winner receives $900,000.
- The Neom Turf Cup: This race is for Northern Hemisphere-bred horses who are four years or older, and Southern Hemisphere-bred horses who are three years or older. It is run at one mile and two-and-a-half furlongs on turf. The winner receives $600,000.
- The Saudi Derby: This race is for Northern Hemisphere- and Southern Hemisphere-bred three-year-old horses. It is run at eight furlongs on dirt. The winner receives $480,000.
- The 1351 Turf Sprint: For Northern Hemisphere-bred horses who are four years or older and Southern Hemisphere-bred horses who are three years or older. It is run at six-and-three-quarters furlongs on turf. The winner receives $600,000.
How to watch the 2023 Saudi Cup
HBA Media owns the broadcast rights for the Saudi Cup.
Tom Ryan, director of strategy for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), hints that the race could be on Fox Sports 1, though plans are still in the finalizing stages.
2024 Saudi Cup start time
The Riyadh time zone is UTC/GMT +3, which means the Saudi Cup’s local evening post time of 8:40 p.m. translates to a 12:40 p.m. EST start. Undercard program racing starts at 8 a.m. EST.
