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| Staff Writer |
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Racing is set to resume this week in Saudi Arabia, as the summer season kicks off in Taif on Thursday 4 July.
A total of 351 races will be held across 39 race meetings at the King Khaled Racecourse in Taif. The high altitude of the racecourse ensures cool temperatures suitable for racing during the summer months.
The racing programme will feature 273 races for thoroughbreds and 78 races for Purebred Arabians. Additionally, the King Faisal Cup, a 1600m contest for Purebred Arabians scheduled for September, has been upgraded to international Gr.3 status, making it the only Gr.3 race for Purebred Arabians run on dirt in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
In the 2024 season, there will be an additional 33 Cup races, starting with the Taif Flower Festival Cup on July 19.
Notable events include the international Listed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup for Purebred Arabians, with a prize of SAR 1 million (approximately US $267,000), scheduled for Friday, September 20, and the SAR 400,000 Taif Derby, which will be held on Saturday, August 24.
The new season will feature an increase in handicaps, with a total of 120 handicaps (up from 79) – 56 for local and imported horses (up from 35) and 64 for locally-bred horses only (up from 44) – emphasising the push for more competitive racing and providing more winnable opportunities throughout the season. Furthermore, due to changes in the fixture list, there will be a redistribution of prize money in the new Taif season.
The Taif season will extend for 13 weeks until Saturday, September 28.
His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Equestrian Authority, stated: “The King Faisal Cup being upgraded to international Gr. 3 status is a great success and a sign of international recognition of the strength of racing in Saudi Arabia. The Cup was created only four years ago and promoted to Listed level two years ago, so to now be an international Gr. 3 is impressive.”
Speaking further on the developments of racing in Taif, His Highness said: “One of our strategic objectives is to improve the level of competition, so we’re very pleased to have significantly increased the number of handicap races.”
General admission is free (excluding King Faisal Cup and National Day race nights) providing trackside access to an evening of top-class racing including complimentary grandstand seating plus on many nights during the season live music, family entertainment, retail outlets, outstanding street-food and restaurant options.