Monday 9 February, 2026 –A dazzling spectacle of dancing, singing and music greeted over 600 delegates from the global horse racing industry as the 41st Asian Racing Conference got under way in charismatic style in Riyadh on Monday.
To the sights and sounds of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and love of horses, the global gathering of decision makers, governing bodies and racing authorities attended the Opening Ceremony, with the honour of formally starting the session falling to HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, the chairman of the Conference hosts, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Chair of the Asian Racing Federation, the event organiser, welcomed the esteemed gathering, picking out the challenges to racing’s sustainability and the impact of AI and data on the sport, but also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s long love affair with horses.
“It is appropriate that this year’s Conference is held here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the theme: “Honouring Tradition, Shaping the Future”,” he told the audience.
“The Kingdom is home to one of the world’s oldest equine cultures. For thousands of years, horses played a special role in the lives of the people of the Arabian Peninsula - they have been a companion in journey, a partner in survival, and a symbol of nobility, courage, and honour.
“Our sport is very different to almost every other major sport, because unlike others the centre of our sport is the horse. Not only does this define the Asian Racing Federation’s priorities, including welfare, integrity, and development of the breed but it is also the source of one of our greatest strengths, namely that this shared affinity for the horse provides a common purpose, inspiring us to work together across borders and take our sport to its greatest heights.”
In his opening comments, HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal described his pride at the world’s horse racing industry convening on Riyadh for such a momentous occasion.
The week’s activities got under way earlier on Monday with the 10th International Forum for the After Care of Racehorses (IFAR) Conference before a busy week of activities continues on Tuesday.
Three days of discussion, thought leadership and insight at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Convention Centre are to come, covering topics ranging from the role of equestrianism and sport in Saudi’s Vision 2030 ambitions, the impact and role of the Gulf Horseracing Council as well as the future of the sport across AI, integrity and attracting new audiences to the sport.
Social events arranged for the global list of delegates include a cultural evening at Diriyah, the birthplace of Saudi Arabia.
The week culminates in the 7th staging of the $20m Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday February 14 when Japan’s Forever Young will be seeking a place in the history books as the first repeat winner of the big race.
