The Saudi Derby forges links with Kentucky Derby

RIYADH: Runners in The Saudi Derby will now be eligible to collect points for the Kentucky Derby in an exciting new link announced recently by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and Churchill Downs Inc.

The 1,600-meter Group Three event on The Saudi Cup undercard has been added to a worldwide series of events known as “The Road to The Kentucky Derby.”

It will make it easier for Saudi Arabian owners to have runners in one of the most prestigious horseraces in the world — attended yearly by over 100,000 people.

The $1.5-million Saudi derby will be staged at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 14.

It will have a maximum of 30 points available to the winner to try and qualify for the Group 1 Kentucky Derby — also known as “Run for the Roses” — at historic Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2.

Two other races, the UAE 2000 Guineas and the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes (formerly the Al-Bastakiya) at Meydan Racecourse, have also been added as races with qualifying points for the European/Middle East road to the Kentucky Derby.

The series now consists of 10 races and has up to two invitations for the Kentucky Derby, with further points issued behind the winner of each leg down to fifth place.

First staged in 2020, The Saudi Derby has become a quality international race with Japanese challenger Forever Young (JPN) winning in 2024 before narrowly missing out and finishing third in a thrilling 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said the addition “is an important step forward for Saudi racing.”

He added: “This announcement also marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership between the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and