Fasig-Tipton to Sponsor Record Best Turned Out at Saudi Cup
RIYADH—Dedicated to embracing the international racing community and the members who take the greatest care of its star athletes, Fasig-Tipton will sponsor a world-record Best Turned Out prize of $2,666 (SAR 10,000) for the world’s richest race, the Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup on February 24.
North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company will also sponsor Best Turned Out for the remaining eight races of The Saudi Cup Saturday card, with prizes of $667 (SAR 2,500) to each winning groom.
The Saudi Cup’s Saturday card boasts $33.5 million of the global showcase’s record $37.6 million in purses, including two Group 1s, two Group 2s, three Group 3s and two rich undercard handicaps. Horses from the USA, Saudi Arabia, England, Japan, Ireland, Qatar, France, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Bahrain, Norway, Czech Republic and Oman will be competing over The Saudi Cup weekend, which is hosted by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, an American-style flat oval in Riyadh.
Eight Fasig-Tipton graduates will compete, topped by Power In Numbers, Scotland Yard and National Treasure in The Saudi Cup; Cairama, Rebellious Stage and Skelly in the $1.5 million Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3); Dr Zempf in the $2 million Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint (G2); and Saudi Neom in the $1.5 million Boutique Group Saudi Derby (G3). Fasig-Tipton will be represented on site by Anna Seitz (Director of Client Relations) and Michael Adolphson (Middle East Representative), who will help judge the contests.
Christopher Bevan, Chief Commercial Officer of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said:
“The racing industry is built around the people who take such good care of our equine athletes and we are very pleased to join forces with Fasig-Tipton to honor and recognize their efforts on our biggest race night of the year.”
Boyd Browning, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fasig-Tipton, said:
“The Saudi Cup has stamped itself as one of the world’s great race meetings and we are honored to take part, especially with so many great horsemen in the region having supported Fasig-Tipton over the years.
“We are thankful to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia for not only being part of our growing and gratifying relationship with the Middle East, but also allowing us to reward those who work so hard taking such great care of the beautiful animals so integral to our lives.”
First post on Saudi Cup Saturday is 3:00 p.m. local time (7:00 a.m. EST). The Saudi Cup namesake race will go as the final fixture, Race 9, with a post time of 8:40 p.m. (12:40 p.m. EST).
Fasig-Tipton will also offer $2,666 (SAR 10,000) in Best Turned Out prizes on King Abdulaziz Cups Day, March 9, including $400 (SAR 1,500) for both of the King Abdulaziz Cup races.
About Fasig-Tipton:
Founded in 1898, Fasig-Tipton Co., Inc. is North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction house. With its headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, the company conducts auctions annually in California, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York, as well as digital auctions. Fasig-Tipton has sold 21 Kentucky Derby winners, including Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and American Pharoah.
About The Saudi Cup:
Organized by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) and run at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on the last weekend in February each year, The Saudi Cup is a two-day celebration of international racing headlined by the Group 1 USD$20m Saudi Cup—the world’s most valuable race. The weekend carries a prize purse of $37.6m, making it racing’s richest festival. The Saudi Cup is the JCSA’s marquee event and aims to raise awareness of horseracing in the country, encouraging participation among men and women in all areas of the sport from riding and training to administration and regulation. It also serves to promote Saudi Arabian racing at the international level.
