The International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing (IFAHR) has decided to upgrade the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup for purebred Arabian horses to an international Group 3 (G3) classification, a step that confirms the rapid growth of purebred Arabian horse racing in Saudi Arabia and reflects the efforts of the Horse Racing Club to develop the system and elevate it to the highest global classifications, according to a statement published by the club on Monday. With this upgrade, the Prince Abdullah Cup becomes one of the most prominent cups of the Taif season and classified among the top races in the region, with a prize of one million riyals and a distance of 2,000 meters. The cup also joins the elite group of major graded races on the dirt track for purebred Arabian horses aged four years and over at the international level, continuing to enhance Saudi Arabia's position in Arabian horse racing. For his part, Prince Salman bin Abdullah Al Saud, CEO of the Horse Racing Club, said: 'The upgrade of the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup - may Allah have mercy on him - to Group 3 internationally represents an important milestone in the development of purebred Arabian horse racing in Saudi Arabia, and reflects the growing status of our races on the international stage. This step is an extension of the club's strategy aimed at building a competitive race calendar that improves the quality of races and enhances Saudi Arabia's presence as a leading destination for horse racing sports.' The CEO added: 'This achievement embodies the club's ongoing commitment to developing purebred Arabian horse racing according to the highest international standards, thereby enhancing Saudi Arabia's position on the global horse racing map, and keeping pace with the historical and cultural legacy that Arabian horses represent in Saudi Arabia.' The King Khalid Racecourse in Taif will host the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup (Group 3) on September 25 next, as part of a major evening that also includes the King Faisal Cup for purebred Arabian horses, also classified as a Group 3 international race, along with the Taif and Okaz cups, as part of the Taif 2026 racing season, which starts on July 24 and spans 10 weeks.