After intorducing tourist visas for the first time in the country's history last year, Riyadh is putting a lot of effort in boosting its global image.
The latest international sports extravaganza is just one of the sporting events the country has been investing heavily in in recent years. It is expected to "increase the sport's following inside Saudi Arabia", as well as put the country onto the global racing map, eventually bringing the domestic racing product on a par with international counterparts. Horse is considered a symbol of Saudi's rich cultural heritage, hence the event is bound to attract a lot of local attention, too.
The King Abdulaziz Racetrack will be the main scene of the Saudi Cup, which is expected to attract about 10,000 spectators. The event will take place on February 29 with the main race run over 1,800 m on a dirt track with a maximum field of 14.
The winner will get USD10 million, the runner-up will be rewarded with USD3.5 million. There are impressive cash prizes for all finishers up to the 10th place.
World's Richest Horse Race to Take Place in Saudi Arabia Feb 29
News in Asia
The world's richest horse race will take place in Saudi Arabia this week. It boasts the largest prize pool for such kind of competiotin – USD20 million.