Photo:

Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Matt Stone

The world’s richest horse race will serve as a qualifier for the richest race in North America, as the Group 1 Saudi Cup on Feb. 22 joins the Breeders’ Cup challenge series, offering an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Horses from around the globe will qualify through the win and you’re in program, now in its 19th year, for the 42nd running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races run during a two-day festival worth purses and awards of more than $34 million, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup will be held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The Saudi Cup is in its sixth year at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. With a purse of $20 million, the 1 1/8-mile affair annually attracts top Thoroughbreds from around the globe at the start of the racing calendar, while the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic serves as the traditional culmination of the season. Three of the five Saudi Cup winners were also Breeders’ Cup contenders: Midnight Bisou, Mishriff and Senor Buscador.

As part of the benefits of the challenge series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Saudi Cup to start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Also on the Feb. 22 card, the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) will serve as an automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“Breeders’ Cup Limited is pleased to expand our international Breeders’ Cup challenge series to Saudi Arabia with the addition of the Saudi Cup and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint,” Breeders’ Cup president and CEO Drew Fleming said. “This expansion underscores our commitment to fostering world-class competition and provides a fantastic opportunity for international horses competing at the highest level. We’re grateful for the collaborative efforts that brought this partnership to fruition and eagerly anticipate crowning our first Breeders’ Cup Challenge winners from King Abdulaziz Racecourse.”

“There is a natural synergy between the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and the Saudi Cup,” said prince Bandar Bin Khaled AlFaisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. “We are delighted to be part of the Breeders’ Cup challenge series and very much appreciate being a member of the Breeders’ Cup global family.”

Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete. The challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 to receive the rewards.