The richest horse race in history takes place Feb. 29, 2020 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The inaugural Saudi Cup has a field of 14 runners vying for a prize pool of $20 million.
Contested over 1 1/8 miles (1,800 meters) and one turn on dirt, the winner will receive $10 million with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.
Saudi Arabia’s big day of racing comes a month before the Dubai World Cup and features eight stakes races, including the Saudi Cup main event.
Saudi Cup details
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020
- Time: 12:40 p.m. ET
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Online: flosports.tv
- Track & Location: King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles or 9 furlongs (1800 meters)
- Surface: Dirt
- Horses: 4-Year-Old Thoroughbreds and up
Saudi Cup field and betting odds
| Post | Horse | TVG Odds | Trainer | Last Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Dream | 30/1 | O. Hirata | 4th, 2019 Tokyo Daishoten (G1) |
| 2 | Tacitus | 15/1 | W. Mott | 3rd, 2019 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) |
| 3 | Benbatl | 7/1 | S. Suroor | 1st, 2020 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) |
| 4 | North America | 30/1 | S. Seemar | 3rd, Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) |
| 5 | Gronkowski | 30/1 | S. Ghadayer | 3rd, Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) |
| 6 | Midnight Bisou | 8/1 | S. Asmussen | 2nd, 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) |
| 7 | Maximum Security | 5/2 | J. Servis | 1st, 2019 Cigar Mile (G1) |
| 8 | Mucho Gusto | 6/1 | B. Baffert | 1st, 2020 Pegasus World Cup (G1) |
| 9 | McKinzie | 3/1 | B. Baffert | 2nd, 2019 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) |
| 10 | Chrysoberyl | 10/1 | H. Otonashi | 1st, 2019 Champions Cup (G1) |
| 11 | Great Scot | 30/1 | T. Dascombe | 1st, 2019 Superior Mile (G3) |
| 12 | Magic Wand | 30/1 | A. O'Brien | 2nd, 2020 Pegasus World Cup (G1) |
| 13 | Capezzano | 10/1 | S. Ghadayer | 1st, Firebreak Stakes (G3) |
| 14 | Mjjack | 60/1 | S. Alharabi | 1st, 2020 The Custodian Cup (G1) |
Post positions and betting odds have been announced and bets are being placed on the race as you read this. Five American horses are in the field as favorites including champions Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou, a 5-year-old mare who runs in mixed company for the first time. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up McKinzie is one of two Bob Baffert-trained horses along with last month’s Pegasus World Cup winner Mucho Gusto. Tacitus, who ran 3rd in the Kentucky Derby and 2nd in both the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes last year, is in the field for trainer Bill Mott.
Another female horse in the field is Magic Wand, a royally-bred 5-year-old who has three wins in 23 starts but all on grass.
Bentl has 10 wins in 20 starts but will run on dirt for just the second time. Group 1 winner Capezzano is a son of Bernardini. He was the favorite in the $12 million Dubai World Cup last year but finished 12th.
How to bet on the Saudi Cup
The best place to bet on this weekend’s race is at TVG racing where you’ll receive a risk-free bet of up to $200 when you make your first deposit. That means if you lose your bet, you’ll get refunded in the form of a free-bet bonus. The bonus must be used within 30 days of the conclusion of the race.
TVG offers an iOS app for Apple devices and a sleek browser site for Android users. If TVG is legal in your state, you can place your bets right on your phone, tablet or personal computer and follow the action online.
