Tag: prize money

Which is the most valuable horse race in the world?

Notwithstanding its last-minute cancellation in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Dubai World Cup – run over 2,000 metres, or about 10 furlongs, at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – was, until recently, the most valuable horse race in the world. The Dubai World Cup carries a purse of $12 million, or £10.3 million but, in 2020, was surpassed by the newly-created Saudi Cup. The Saudi Cup is run over a slightly shorter distance than the Dubai World Cup, 1,800 metres, or about nine furlongs, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh and has total prize money of $20 million, or £15.5 million. For the record, the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup was won by Maximum Security, who was disqualified for interference after winning the Kentucky Derby in 2019, but received ample recompense in the form of the $10 million, or £8.3 million, winning prize money.

What is a Stakes Race?

Traditionally, a ‘stakes race’ was any horse race in which some, or all, of the prize money was contributed by the owners of the horses involved. However, nowadays, all owners contribute to prize money through entry fees – calculated as a percentage of the total prize money added to stakes – so, more often than not, the term ‘stakes race’ is used to describe a Listed or Pattern race. Listed and Pattern races are the most prestigious, and valuable, types of horse races, contested by the best horses, who carry the same weight, subject to certain conditions, such as age and gender.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) also uses the term ‘conditions stakes race’ to describe a flat race that is below Listed or Pattern status, but is not a handicap, classified stakes, maiden, selling or claiming race.