The richest horse race doesn’t take place in Kentucky in May. It’s happening on Saturday, Feb. 29 in Saudi Arabia.
At $20 million, the Saudi Cup boasts the biggest purse in the history of horse racing. The winner gets $10 million and the rest is divided among second through tenth places.
The 1 1/8 mile, nine-furlong dirt race at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh has a field of 14 horses.
How to bet on the Saudi Cup in PA
You can place bets and watch the Saudi Cup online at TVG which operates as PABets in Pennsylvania. Right now, TVG is offering a risk-free bet of up to $200 when you make your first deposit. You can sign up through our links below. The Saudi Cup starts at 12:40 ET and will air on Fox Sports 1.
PABets is available via:
- iOS app for Apple devices,
- A browser site for Android
- Desktop
Saudi Cup Field and Odds
We will list the odds here when they are available at TVG:
| Post | Horse | TVG Odds | Trainer | Last Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Dream | 30/1 | O. Hirata | 4th, 2019 Tokyo Daishoten (G1) |
| 2 | Tacitus | 15/1 | W. Mott | 3rd, 2019 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) |
| 3 | Benbatl | 7/1 | S. Suroor | 1st, 2020 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) |
| 4 | North America | 30/1 | S. Seemar | 3rd, Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) |
| 5 | Gronkowski | 30/1 | S. Ghadayer | 3rd, Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) |
| 6 | Midnight Bisou | 8/1 | S. Asmussen | 2nd, 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) |
| 7 | Maximum Security | 5/2 | J. Servis | 1st, 2019 Cigar Mile (G1) |
| 8 | Mucho Gusto | 6/1 | B. Baffert | 1st, 2020 Pegasus World Cup (G1) |
| 9 | McKinzie | 3/1 | B. Baffert | 1st, 2019 Champions Cup (G1) |
| 10 | Chrysoberyl | 10/1 | H. Otonashi | 1st, 2019 Superior Mile (G3) |
| 11 | Great Scott | 30/1 | T. Dascombe | 1st, 2019 Superior Mile (G3) |
| 12 | Magic Wand | 30/1 | A. O’Brien | 2nd, 2020 Pegasus World Cup (G1) |
| 13 | Capezzano | 10/1 | S. Ghadayer | 1st, Firebreak Stakes (G3) |
| 14 | Mijack | 60/1 | S. Alharabi | 1st, 2020 The Custodian Cup (G1) |
Race details, familiar names in the field
The Saudi Cup includes 4-year-old thoroughbreds and up. The race features familiar names including five American horses. They are:
- Maximum Security
- Midnight Bisou
- McKinzie
- Mucho Gusto
- Tacitus
Maximum Security will be among the favorites. He crossed the finish line of the Kentucky Derby last year first but was disqualified for interference. He also won the Preakness Stakes. Mucho Gusto won the $9 million Pegasus World Cup (formerly the richest horse race) earlier this year.
European-based Bentl has won ten of twenty starts. However, the Saudi Cup is just his second time running on dirt.
Saudi Cup undercard
The Saudi Cup undercard includes:
- $1.9 million Obaiya Arabian Classic for Arabians
- $500,000 Jockey Club Local Handicap
- $2.5 million Longines Turf Handicap
- $1.5 million Saudia Sprint
- $1 million Neom Turf Cup
- $800,000 Saudi Derby
- $1 million 1351 Turf Sprint
The Kentucky Derby will take place on May 2. The Kentucky Derby Championship Series, part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” kicks off March 21 with the Louisiana Derby. We will bring you all the details on those as the races get closer.
For more on how to bet the ponies, check out our PA horse betting guide – and good luck!
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