The world’s most valuable Flat races
A look at the top five most valuable prizes in racing
The Saudi Cup
Inaugurated in 2019, The Saudi Cup has not been around for long, but now ranks as the richest horse race on the planet.
The 1m1f contest is run on dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh each February and has a purse of around £15 million.
Last year’s race was won by the John Gosden-trained Mishriff, who was ridden by David Egan to a one-length victory over US challenger Charlatan. It marked the biggest win of Egan’s career to date.
He and Mishriff look set to defend their crown in 2022, where victory would make Mishriff the highest earning racehorse in history.
The Everest
The Everest, first run in 2017, is held every October at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney and holds the position of most valuable turf race in the world.
A purse of over £11 million is on offer, with the winner of the 6-furlong sprint taking home over £3.5 million.
Redzel won the first two renewals of the race, victories that accounted for the majority of his £9 million career winnings.
In 2021 Chris Waller’s Nature Strip became the Sydney-based trainer’s second Everest winner in five years, having first won with Yes Yes Yes in 2019.
Dubai World Cup
For many years the Dubai World Cup held the record of richest race.
When Cigar won the first inauguration in 1996 it held a purse of £2.5 million, but when Mystic Guide won the 25th renewal last year, the prize fund had increased to over £8.5 million.
From 1996 to 2009 the 1m2f contest was run on dirt at the now defunct Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, before switching its current home of Meydan in 2010. From 2010-14 the World Cup was held on a Tapeta surface, before reverting to dirt for the 2015 season.
Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor has won the Dubai World Cup a record nine times, most recently with Thunder Snow who won back-to-back renewals in 2018 and 2019.
Breeders’ Cup Classic
The second oldest race on this list and America’s top race for older middle-distance horses, the Breeders’ Cup Classic has a purse of around £4.5 million.
In 1984, Wild Again claimed the first Breeders’ Cup Classic at Hollywood Park. Since then, the venue has changed each year, with the 2021 renewal held at Del Mar Racecourse in California, where Knicks Go ran out a ready winner.
The only horse to win successive editions of the race was Tiznow in 2000 and 2001, while the winning most trainer is Bob Baffert, with four victories.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has a purse of over £4 million and is one of the most prestigious races in the world, dating back to 1920.
The 1m4f contest is held at Paris Longchamp every October and is known for attracting some of the best horses from Europe and around the world.
Last year’s race served up a brilliant three-way finish, as Irish mare Tarnawa and the Charlie Appleby-trained Hurricane Lane were narrowly denied by German horse Torquator Tasso, who sprung a major surprise at odds of 80-1.
Andre Fabre is the most successful trainer in Arc history, with eight wins in the race, while Frankie Dettori is the most decorated jockey, having ridden six Arc winners, including two on Enable in 2017 and 2018.
