Saudi Cup/Pegasus

[The Steward]

Due to popular request, the Saudi Cup races will be run Week 4.

This makes an early season triple as Week 2 is Pegasus, Week 4 Saudi Arabia, and Week 6 is Dubai. If you do all three, you can pretty much guarantee your horse will want a vacation, but the money makes it too good to pass up.

The Pegasus nominations will become a LOT cheaper now, $100k per nomination to $20k (we didn't change any of the purses), and there will be nominations for the Saudi Cup at $20k. The races are as follows:

1 1/4 miles 4+ Arabians, Arabian Classic $1.5 mil
1 1/8 miles 4+ F/M Saudi Distaff $1 mil
2 miles turf 4+ Saudi Turf Marathon $1.5 mil
5f dirt 4+ Saudi Sprint $1.5 mil
1 1/4 miles T 4+ Saudi Turf Cup $800k
1 mile 4+ Saudi Dirt Mile $800k
5f turf 4+ Saudi Turf Sprint $1 mil
1 mile turf 4+ Saudi Turf Mile $800k
1 1/8 miles 4+ Saudi Cup $5 mil

Because of this change, the Arcadia Million retains its name but purse becomes $500k (sadly mimicking real life!), and the Inglewood Gold Cup also becomes $500k.

**Note: This is not a political statement about how the SIM feels about the area or the races themselves. We're just trying to mimic real life as much as possible**

When are the nominations for the Saudi Races I don't see it on the calendar.

They are Week 1. They'll be added to the calendar shortly or just were, we've been emailing back and forth about it. Basically, you run in SC while nominating for Pegasus, ship to Pegasus while nominating for Saudi.... then stick around for Dubai.... it's a thing.

[Mr. Lord Rich]

I hate, hate, HATE that people are (or might be) so sensitive that she had to add that final disclaimer.

It’s a horse racing simulation, not a referendum on human rights violations. It’s meant to mimic the racing world and this is great for that.

Please, SIM Management, don’t ever feel the need to apologize preemptively for something like this ever again. And kudos for this Week 4 addition.

I know this is an extremely hot topic amongst my friends, and my personal feelings aside have nothing to do with adding it to the SIM in fantasy land where we all just like getting money. I guarantee I'll be calling these races, too!!

what am I missing? we added Saudi Arabia races week 4? I am not really up to date with real life racing so not sure if something is going on in real life regarding this. what is it?

[Carole Hanson]

what am I missing? we added Saudi Arabia races week 4? I am not really up to date with real life racing so not sure if something is going on in real life regarding this. what is it?

The Saudi Cup will be a real life thing in early 2020 (February I think?) and will take place in, you guessed it, Saudi Arabia. It is set to be the richest thoroughbred race ever with an insane purse of US$20 million. People have a problem with the race because it is being ran in a country which has some serious political issues.

[Glenn Escobar]

I hate, hate, HATE that people are (or might be) so sensitive that she had to add that final disclaimer.

It’s a horse racing simulation, not a referendum on human rights violations. It’s meant to mimic the racing world and this is great for that.

Please, SIM Management, don’t ever feel the need to apologize preemptively for something like this ever again. And kudos for this Week 4 addition.

I know this is an extremely hot topic amongst my friends, and my personal feelings aside have nothing to do with adding it to the SIM in fantasy land where we all just like getting money. I guarantee I'll be calling these races, too!!

Glad to hear it.........and you're right. It is SIM Fantasy Land, where we all just like getting money

[Regina Moore]

Gallop magazine had a really nice article on the Saudi Cup in its latest issue.

[Glenn Escobar]

I hate, hate, HATE that people are (or might be) so sensitive that she had to add that final disclaimer.

It’s a horse racing simulation, not a referendum on human rights violations. It’s meant to mimic the racing world and this is great for that.

Please, SIM Management, don’t ever feel the need to apologize preemptively for something like this ever again. And kudos for this Week 4 addition.

I know this is an extremely hot topic amongst my friends, and my personal feelings aside have nothing to do with adding it to the SIM in fantasy land where we all just like getting money. I guarantee I'll be calling these races, too!!

what am I missing? we added Saudi Arabia races week 4? I am not really up to date with real life racing so not sure if something is going on in real life regarding this. what is it?

It's not so much real life racing as it is just real life in general. Saudi Arabia is heavily scrutinized at the moment as a destination for major sports events because of other real life geopolitical issues. My frustration is because I fully believe what The Steward said later --- it's a game and we're not making a political statement --- and I don't like that she even had to add that disclaimer. We also race in Pakistan & Venezuela, for example, and we've never had disclaimers there --- we just races fantasy horses in fantasy land.