2023: Saudi Derby may be new prep for Kentucky Derby

Louisville, Ky.

The road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby may get a second stop in the Middle East.

Negotiations have been progressing to add the Grade 3, $1.5 million Saudi Derby, a one-turn mile on the undercard of the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), to the qualifying calendar, according to an executive with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

“The line of communication has been open with our colleagues at Churchill Downs,” Tom Ryan, director of strategy and international racing for the JCSA. told Horse Racing Nation on Thursday. “This time of year they have more important matters on their hands with the Kentucky Derby just nine days away. We expect to have further discussions in May, June and July.”

Churchill Downs had no comment on the matter Thursday morning, according a track spokesman.

Ryan said the idea of the Saudi Derby being added to Kentucky Derby qualifying had its roots in the inaugural running of races two years ago at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in Riyadh.

“A number of Churchill Downs executives visited us at the Saudi Cup in 2020,” Ryan said. “We have remained in contact with them, and we’ll wait for them to get their 2022 event out of the way before we talk about 2023.”

There was no mention of how much the JCSA might pay Churchill Downs to be part of the Derby qualifying series.

Ryan said it was premature to say whether the Saudi Derby, tentatively scheduled for next Feb. 25, would be a 50-20-10-5 points prep, making it a “win-and-you’re-in” qualifier for the Kentucky Derby and putting it on a par with most U.S. preps held around that time of year.

One international racing executive told Horse Racing Nation the idea of having the Saudi Derby as a direct path to the Kentucky Derby was “certainly something we have been keen on,” although it would remain to be seen who actually could be lured.

If the Saudi Derby were to become the 38th race on the main road to Churchill Downs, it would be one of the two held outside America. The UAE Derby (G2), annually run in late March on the Dubai World Cup (G1) undercard, is a 100-40-20-10 points prep that makes the winner automatically eligible for the Kentucky Derby and the runner-up practically certain of getting an invitation.

Crown Pride and Summer Is Tomorrow, who are training daily at Churchill Downs, will be the 17th and 18th horses since 2000 to start in the Derby after racing in Dubai. None of the first 16 finished better than fifth.

The Grey Stakes (G3), a Canadian race run every November at Woodbine, was a Derby points prep from 2012-13 to 2015-16.

There are separate paths to the Derby through Japan and Europe, each of which is entitled to one invitation for a qualified Triple Crown nominee. Master Fencer, who qualified on the Japan trail, was the only horse in six years whose connections used one of those invitations. He finished sixth in 2016.

Ryan said that despite its brief history, the Saudi Derby already has been a worthy proving ground for exceptional 3-year-olds.

“The standard of horse to come out of the race has been quite good,” he said. “They have been at least Group 3 or Grade 3 starters. Look at (2020 runner-up) Mishriff, who came back and won the (2021) Saudi Cup. And this year’s winner Pinehurst should end up being a good soldier for us.”

Churchill Downs usually announces its calendar of Derby preps in late August or early September.