Riyadh: The Epicenter of a Turf Without Ceilings or Borders

King Abdulaziz begins to heat up while the construction of Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia's new racecourse, was announced at the Asian Racing Conference

Qiddiya, the project that promises to revolutionize world racing

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).— There is a different energy in the air of this city. It’s not just the desert heat beginning to yield to the sunset breeze, nor the constant hum of a metropolis growing at a pace that defies logic. It’s the feeling that, once again, the racing world has decided to move its capital for a week to this corner of the map. The Saudi Cup (G1) reaches its seventh edition, and it does so at a time when the sport is no longer just run on the tracks of King Abdulaziz Racetrack, but is also debated and projected in the Kingdom’s most elegant halls.

The 2026 rendezvous is not just another year. It is, perhaps, the most ambitious in memory. Because while the vans unload the best Thoroughbreds on the planet—those coming from the United States, Japan, and European powerhouses, among others—just a few miles away, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the industry elite is gathered for the 41st edition of the Asian Racing Conference (ARC).

If something defines the Saudi philosophy, it is the lack of fear regarding the future. Within the framework of the ARC, the authorities of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), led by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, left international delegates speechless. The major news dominating all hallway conversations is the official presentation of the Qiddiya City project.

Imagine a racecourse that takes the best of Meydan in Dubai and elevates it to an unknown power. It was announced that in just five years, the central activity will move to this futuristic complex that promises to be the largest entertainment park in the world. The Qiddiya racecourse will not just be a track; it will be an architectural work of art designed for the spectator to experience the race like never before, surrounded by an infrastructure that redefines luxury and technology. It is Meydan-style turf, but with the seal of Vision 2030 that is transforming this country.

But let’s return to the present, because what awaits us this weekend is electrifying. The Saudi Cup, with its $20 million in prize money, remains the magnet that attracts the most glittering stars. This year, the presence of Japanese horses is once again the major threat to the rest, following recent successes that have consolidated their hegemony on the Saudi dirt.

With Forever Young (Real Steel), the defending champion, leading the way, and the challenges from several strong Americans, such as Nysos (Nyquist) and Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach)—the cards played by Bob Baffert—the Meydan track takes flight once again...

However, the Saudi Cup is much more than a horse race. It is a social event that has achieved what seemed impossible: merging the deepest desert tradition with the sophistication of international fashion. The Al Thuraya hospitality sectors and the Obaiya enclosure are a constant runway of culture.

Here, people talk about genetics in the barns and multi-million dollar investments at the Crowne Plaza tables, but they also celebrate the heritage of a people who carry the love for the horse in their DNA.

The Asian Racing Conference sets the pulse of the week under the motto "Honoring Tradition, Forging the Future." With more than 700 delegates from across the globe, key issues such as integrity, equine welfare, and, above all, how to keep racing an attractive sport for new generations are being discussed.

Saudi Arabia answered that question with facts: with record purses, overwhelming hospitality, and projects like Qiddiya that force one to look forward with optimism.

The seventh edition of the Saudi Cup is already underway. The protagonists are in their stalls, the industry leaders are in their sessions, and the atmosphere in Riyadh is one of absolute anticipation. Get ready, because what’s coming promises to be a golden page in the history of our sport.