Group 3 Saudi Derby a new gateway to 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 by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) and Churchill Downs Incorporated. The 1,600m Group 3 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 horse races in the world - attended annually by over 100,000 people. The US$1.5 million (S$1.95 million) Saudi Derby, which will be staged at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh on Feb 14, 2026, will have a maximum of 30 points available to the winner to try and qualify for the Group 1 Kentucky Derby (2,000m) at Churchill Downs on 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 rapidly become a high-quality international race, with Japanese challenger Forever Young winning in 2024 before narrowly finishing third in a thrilling 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the JCSA, hailed the inclusion of the Saudi Derby as a pre-qualifier to the famous Run For The Roses as a significant milestone for Saudi racing. "The addition of the Saudi Derby on the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby is an important step forward for Saudi racing and offers local owners the chance of winning points for their horses to earn a run at Churchill Downs in May 2026," he said. "This announcement also marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership between The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and Churchill Downs Inc (CDI), which holds the promise of more collaboration in the future. "Thanks to the vision and wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister (may God protect them), Saudi Arabian racing has been in a position to make important advancements on the international stage since the inauguration of the Saudi Cup in 2020. "This latest development further strengthens the depth of appeal of the Saudi Cup weekend and sees the Saudi Derby form part of a series of prestigious races with those in the United Arab Emirates that further complement the important Middle East swing of winter racing." Bill Carstanjen, chief executive officer of CDI, added: "We are thrilled to partner with Saudi Arabia and to add the Saudi Derby as a key international qualifying race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. "The Kentucky Derby is known throughout the world as the 'Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports'. "This partnership builds on all that Saudi Arabia has accomplished developing its thoroughbred racing programme to connect the Saudi fans and horse racing community to America's most prestigious race." Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Sept 27 - Group 2 Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge (1,600m) - Newmarket, England Sept 27 - Group 2 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Beresford (1,600m) - The Curragh, Ireland Oct 5 - Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1,400m) - ParisLongchamp, France Oct 25 - Group 1 Futurity Trophy (1,600m) - Doncaster, England Jan 23, 2026 - Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas (1,600m) - Meydan, Dubai Feb 14 - Group 3 Saudi Derby (1,600m) - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Feb 20 - Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes (1,900m) - Meydan, Dubai Feb 25 - Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes (1,600m) - Kempton, England March 6 - Patton (1,600m) - Dundalk, Ireland March 28 - Group 2 UAE Derby (1,900m) - Meydan, Dubai