Saudi Cup a worthy celebration of equestrian traditions in Arab culture

RIYADH: The Saudi Cup has been remarkably resilient, despite it having been inaugurated at the outset of the pandemic. Far from having been diminished by the challenges faced by the Kingdom, the horse racing industry, and international travel, the event has actually grown remarkably.  

This year’s $31.5 million in prize money, specifically featuring the world's richest race, has led to many referring to the meeting as the “most valuable race in history.” 

Attracting considerable international participation, the race was most notable for its huge number of Saudi attendees.

“Banat Al-Reeh” (daughters of the wind) is what the peninsula Arabs have traditionally referred to their horses as. Introduced to the region at least 6,000 years ago, they have existed in parallel to the history of the Arab people. 

Cave paintings at Shuwaymis in Hail show their existence to have been likely from as far back as 9,000 years ago. 

Differences of opinion have led to a zoological mystery regarding their origins. However, this has only added to the mystique of this original breed which remains to this very day.

Prized for their beauty, hardiness and speed, horses have played a central role in Arab culture and civilization. 

To the peninsula Bedouin they were a much-needed source of transport and respite from trekking the inhospitable sands and mountains. For early Muslims they were an important military and logistical vehicle, for it was on their backs that the fastest linguistic and religious conquest and conversion was made possible.

Today, much as throughout their history, they remain an important source of pride, symbolic of an association between man and beast for which has become almost synonymous with Arab identity.

To many