World's Best Racehorse Rankings

The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (LWBRR), known as World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (WTRR) before 2012, are horseracing's equivalent to World Rankings by other major sporting organizations such as ATP Tennis Rankings, World Golf Rankings, FIFA World Rankings for soccer and IRB Rugby World Rankings. The Longines Rankings are based on the rating earned by horses running worldwide from North and South America, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Asia through to Australia and New Zealand.

The ratings are compiled under the auspices of The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) by racing officials & handicappers representing the five continents who compile the ranking order by agreeing on the rating for each horse. The ratings are based on the performance of horses in elite races held during the designated period which takes in account the quality of opposition and achievements of each horse. The annual rankings denote the champions in the various distance categories for example sprint or mile, surface either turf or dirt/artificial and also the fillies & mares category.

According to the IFHA website, "The IFHA World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are the official assessment of the top performers." In 1977, France, Great Britain and Ireland published the first internationally agreed assessment of racing merit on behalf of the European Pattern Committee under the banner of the International Classifications. In 1985, Germany and Italy joined the system, to be followed by North America (both Canada and the United States) and Japan in the mid 1990s.

The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings measure a given horse's peak performance during the year. Throughout the year the Longines Rankings are published at regular intervals and the final annual rankings are released in January. The three highest-rated horses are honored during the Longines World's Best Racehorse and Longines World's Best Horse Race Ceremony. ^[1]

Related Awards

The ratings for the horses also help establish two other awards: the aforementioned Longines World's Best Horse Race and the Longines World's Best Jockey. The Longines World's Best Horse Race award recognizes the best-rated race of the highest-rated Group 1 international races as established by a panel of international handicappers. The ratings of the top four finishers in each race serve as basis for the assessment. Introduced in 2015, the award was won by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. The Breeders' Cup Classic won in 2016 and 2022, while the Juddmonte International won the title in 2020 and 2024. In 2023, the Japan Cup in association with Longines was named the World's Best Horse Race. Additionally, the IFHA releases the top 100 Group/Grade 1 races each year. ^[2]

The Longines World's Best Jockey ^[3] is named each December. The top 100 Group 1 and Grade 1 races serve as the base of this annual competition to recognize top jockeys throughout the world. Frankie Dettori has won the award four times, as he was named the Longines World's Best Jockey in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Ryan Moore has also won it four times, as he took the inaugural contest in 2014 as well as the 2016, 2021, and 2023 editions. James McDonald won the title in 2022 and 2024, while Hugh Bowman won the title in 2017.

World Championship

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities was founded in 1961 and 1983 but now (2024) have not an official World Horse Racing Championship. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]} The federation features Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela as its main member countries. Algeria, Bulgaria, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan and Taiwan are additional member countries. Botswana, China, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Namibia, Portugal, Ukraine and Zimbabwe signed the horse-riding agreement but did not become members.^{[ citation needed ]}

Members of the IFHA

The table contains information focusing on the member countries of the IFHA.^{[ citation needed ]}

Country	Club
Main members
Argentina	Jockey Club Argentino
Australia	Racing Australia
Austria	Direktorium für Galopprennsport und Vollblutzucht in Österreich
Bahrain	Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club
Belgium	Fèdèration Belge des Courses Hippiques ASBL
Brazil	Jockey Club Brasileiro Jockey Club de São Paulo
Canada	The Jockey Club of Canada
Chile	Club Hipigo de Santiago and Valparaiso Sporting Club
Croatia	Croatia Gallop Association
Cyprus	Cyprus Turf Club
Czech Republic	Jockey Club Ceske Republiky
Denmark	Danish Jockey Club
France	France Gallop
Germany	Direktorium für Vollblutzucht und Rennen
Great Britain	The British Horseracing Authority
Greece	Jockey Club of Greece
Hungary	Kincsem Nemzeti KFR
India	Turf Authorities of India
Ireland	Horse Racing Ireland Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board
Italy	Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (MASAF) General Directorate for Horseracing
Japan	Japan Racing Association the National Association of Racing
Korea	Korea Racing Authority
Lebanon	SPARCA
Macau	Macau Jockey Club
Malaysia	Malayan Racing Association
Mauritius	MTC Sports and Leisure Ltd. (MTCSL)
Mexico	Jockey Club Mexicano
Netherlands	NDR
New Zealand	New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Inc.
Norway	Galopp
Panama	Hipica de Panama S.A.
Peru	Jockey Club del Peru
Philippines	Philippine Racing Commission
Poland	Polski Klub Wyscigow Konnych
Qatar	Racing and Equestrian Club
Romania	The Romanian Jockey Club
Saudi Arabia	Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
Serbia	Serbian Gallop Association
Singapore	Singapore Turf Club
Slovakia	Turf Direktorium für die Slowakei
Slovenia	Slovenian Turf
South Africa	The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa
Spain	Jockey Club Español
Sweden	Svensk Galopp AB
Switzerland	Galopp Schweiz (IENA)
Thailand	The Royal Bangkok Sports Club
Tunisia	Société des Courses de Tunis
Turkey	The Jockey Club of Turkey
United Arab Emirates	Emirates Racing Authority
United States	Breeders' Cup/NTRA The Jockey Club
Uruguay	HRU S.A.
Venezuela	SUNAHIP
Additional members
Algeria	—
Bulgaria
Morocco
Oman
Pakistan
Taiwan
Countries that signed the horse-racing agreement but did not become members
Botswana	—
China
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
Iceland
Israel
Kuwait
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Namibia
Portugal
Ukraine
Zimbabwe

Top ranked horses

• Horse names are followed by a suffix indicating the country where foaled.

Year	Rating	Horse	Trained	Race
2003	134	Hawk Wing (USA)	Ireland	Lockinge Stakes
2004	130	Ghostzapper (USA)	United States	Breeders' Cup Classic
2005	130	Hurricane Run (IRE)	France	Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
2006	129	Invasor (ARG)	United States	Breeders' Cup Classic
2007	131	Manduro (GER)	France	Prince of Wales's Stakes
2008	130	Curlin (USA)	United States	Dubai World Cup / Stephen Foster Handicap
	130	New Approach (IRE)	Ireland	Champion Stakes
2009	136	Sea The Stars (IRE)	Ireland	Irish Champion Stakes
2010	135	Harbinger (GB)	Great Britain	King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
2011	136	Frankel (GB) [10]	Great Britain	Sussex Stakes
2012	140	Frankel (GB) [11]	Great Britain	Queen Anne Stakes / Juddmonte International Stakes
2013	130	Treve (FR)	France	Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
	130	Black Caviar (AUS)	Australia	T J Smith Stakes
2014	130	Just A Way (JPN)	Japan	Dubai Duty Free
2015	134	American Pharoah (USA)	United States	Breeders' Cup Classic
2016	134	Arrogate (USA)	United States	Breeders' Cup Classic
2017	134	Arrogate (USA)	United States	Dubai World Cup
2018	130	Cracksman (GB)	Great Britain	Champion Stakes
	130	Winx (AUS)	Australia	Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC)
2019	128	Crystal Ocean (GB)	Great Britain	Prince of Wales's Stakes
	128	Enable (GB)	Great Britain	King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
	128	Waldgeist (GB)	France	Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
2020	130	Ghaiyyath (IRE)	Great Britain	International Stakes
2021	129	Knicks Go (USA)	United States	Breeders' Cup Classic
2022	140	Flightline (USA)	United States	Pacific Classic
2023	135	Equinox (JPN)	Japan	Japan Cup
2024	128	City of Troy (USA)	Ireland	International Stakes
	128	Laurel River (USA)	United Arab Emirates	Dubai World Cup

See also

• Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
• List of horse races
• Dubai World Cup Night
• Dubai World Cup
• Breeders' Cup
• 1000 Guineas Stakes
• 2000 Guineas Stakes
• Yuga Kawada
• Tōkyō Yūshun
• Champions Cup (horse race)
• British Champions Series
• List of horse racing venues
• List of horse racing venues by capacity
• Horse racing in Great Britain
• Jockey
• List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses

References

1. "International Federation of Horseracing Authorities".
2. "The LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races for 3yos and upwards - 2018" . Retrieved 23 September 2023.
3. "International Federation of Horseracing Authorities".
4. "International Federation of Horseracing Authorities". www.ifhaonline.org. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
5. "International Federation of Horseracing Authorities". www.ifhaonline.org. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
6. "How a horse racing Olympics could work to make the sport better". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
7. "Saudi Arabia To Launch Horse Racing Championship To Rival Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup". Paulick Report | Shining Light on the Horse Industry. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
8. "When the Breeders' Cup isn't the be-all and end-all of championship racing | Topics: Washington DC International, Xtra Heat, Breeders' Cup, Let's Elope". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
9. Finnegan, William (15 May 2021). "Can Horse Racing Survive?". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved 10 May 2024.
10. The World Thoroughbred Rankings - 1st February 2011 to 31st July 2011 Retrieved 12 Aug 2011
11. 2012 WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS

External links

• International Federation of Horseracing Authorities