Arabian horses ‘big part’ of global racing culture, says Damien Oliver

The man many consider to be Australia's greatest-ever jockey is drawing down the curtain on his career this weekend at Saudi Arabia’s International Jockeys’ Challenge.

Three-time Melbourne Cup champion jockey, Damien OIiver, 51, has come out of retirement for one last challenge in Riyadh.

The weekend’s races will feature both thoroughbreds and purebred Arabian horses, culminating in the $20 million Saudi Cup race on Saturday evening.

Mr Oliver told The Independent, "Arabian horses go back a long way, probably further than our thoroughbreds. It's a big part of the global racing culture."

The Saudi Cup is organised by The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia in partnership with the Ministry of Culture.