Racing returns to Taif

The JCSA’s Summer Racing Season begins July 25 for 10 weeks

Image:King Khalid Racecourse, Taif. Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

Tuesday 03 June 2025 – Horse racing returns to Taif in July as the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) unveils the new summer season with SAR23m to be won over a 10-week period.

Owners, trainers and jockeys will compete in 200 races during the 20 meetings, which comprise of 160 opportunities for Thoroughbreds and 40 for Purebred Arabians, and features 31 Championship Cups.

The highlights include the Group 3 King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Cup and the Listed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup, premier races for Purebred Arabians and both carrying a purse of SAR1m on the same weekend as The National Day Cup for Thoroughbreds, worth SAR500,000.

Racing over two-days per week for 2025 with meetings to be staged on Friday and Saturday, the Taif season offers free entry with online registration, hospitality and dining options and family entertainment.

Welcoming racing back to Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Technical Committee, said:

"This season, we have adopted an advanced race planning approach in terms of technical aspects for categories and age groups, whether for Purebred Arabian horses or Thoroughbreds.

"This development aligns with our strategic goals set for this year and contributes to the continued advancement of racing year after year, in accordance with a competitive racing and prize money framework that aims to provide equal opportunities for all horse demographics as much as possible.

"We were also keen to involve owners and trainers in setting the Taif racing season program in order to build closer ties with the key members of our racing community and to ensure that the Taif racing program aligns with everyone’s aspirations This programme provides a clear path for horses, giving them opportunities to rise through the ranks leading up to the Riyadh racing season and potentially on to the The Saudi Cup."

The 2025 Taif Season Program can be viewed and downloaded here:

https://tinyurl.com/54b39afc