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| Staff Writer |
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Racing in Saudi Arabia is set to resume on Thursday, July 4, with an updated season at King Khalid Racecourse in Ta’if. The 2024 season will kick off five weeks later than in 2023, resulting in a total of 39 meetings, with the season concluding on Saturday, September 28.
Due to the revised fixture list, there will be a redistribution in prize money for 2024, with the average value of races increasing to approximately US$27,800, up 24 percent from last season.
The shift from an 18-week to a 13-week season aims to emphasize more competitive races throughout the campaign.
In 2024, there will be an increase in handicap races, with 120 contests compared to 79 in the previous season. Among these, 56 will be for local and imported horses (up from 35), and 64 will be exclusively for locally-bred horses (up from 44). This expansion aims to offer more competitive opportunities throughout the season.
Out of the 351 races scheduled for the 2024 Ta’if season, 273 will be thoroughbred races, while 78 races will be dedicated to Purebred Arabians.
Notable events in the calendar include the international Listed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup and international Listed King Faisal Cup, both exclusive races for Purebred Arabians, each with a prize of SAR 1 million (approximately US$267,000). These races will take place on Friday, September 20. Additionally, the Ta’if Derby, with a prize of SAR 400,000, is scheduled for Saturday, August 24.
Starting with the Ta’if Flower Festival Cup on July 19, a total of 33 Cup races are scheduled to take place during the 2024 season. The season will conclude with the three King Khalid Racecourse Championship Cups on the final day of the campaign. Additionally, the upcoming season will include prep races for all Cups, aiming to provide all horses with stepping stones to progress through the grades.
HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the JCSA’s Technical Committee, said: “The new Taif programme has been developed following consultation with trainers and owners. We wanted to ensure that our summer racing programme was as competitive as possible and afforded the right kind of opportunities to the horse population in Saudi Arabia.
“We have created more handicaps as well as prep races for all major cups, offering a clear campaign path to horses and an opportunity to rise through the ranks and follow through to the Riyadh season.”
The prestigious Nabd Al Nadi pavilion - which offers a closer proximity to the racing action – includes an Afternoon Tea lounge, mixology station and Hateeb, while its à la carte menu is overseen by award-winning Executive Chef, Fadi Mneimneh.