Racing in Saudi Arabia returned on Thursday with the start of the summer season from Taif. A total of 351 races will take place across 39 race meetings from King Khaled Racecourse, which has an altitude high enough to ensure cool temperatures suitable for racing during the summer months.
September's King Faisal Cup, run over 1,600 metres for Purebred Arabians, has been upgraded to international Group 3 status ahead of the new season, meaning it will be the only Group 3 for Purebred Arabians run on dirt in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
An increase in handicaps is another feature of the new campaign. There will be a total of 120 handicaps (up from 79) during the season which runs for 13 weeks until Saturday, September 28.
His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Faisal, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Equestrian Authority, said, “The King Faisal Cup being upgraded to international Group 3 status is a great success and a sign of international recognition of the strength of racing in Saudi Arabia. The Cup was created only four years ago and promoted to Listed level two years ago, so to now be an international Group 3 is impressive.”
Speaking further on the developments of racing in Taif, His Highness said, “One of our strategic objectives is to improve the level of competition, so we're very pleased to have significantly increased the number of handicap races.”
Former American trainer Jimmy Jerkens, is also looking forward to the start of the Taif season.
“It's easier [than last season],” he said. “There are a couple of two-year-olds that have come in and there's a three-year-old that they've bought that I'm excited about, a horse called Tireless (Not This Time). He only won one race back home for [Todd] Pletcher but he was a $850,000 yearling. I think he's the ideal horse for Saudi, because he's three and he's only run four or five times. If he takes to it here, he might really be a star.
“You always want to have horses in the big races, but it's tough to get a really good one.”
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