World's Best Racehorse Rankings

The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (LWBRR), known as World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (WTRR) before 2012, are a horseracing ranking.

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 highest-rated horse is honored as the Longines World's Best Racehorse during the Longines World Racing Awards, which also celebrates the Longines World's Best Horse Race each year.[1]

Related Awards

The ratings for the horses are also critical to establishing two other awards that are given out by the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities: the aforementioned Longines World's Best Horse Race and the Longines World's Best Jockey. [2]

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[3]. In 2023, the Japan Cup in association with Longines was named the World's Best Horse Race. The Japan Cup shared the title with the QIPCO Champion Stakes in 2025. Additionally, the IFHA releases the top 100 Group/Grade 1 races each year.

The Longines World's Best Jockey is named each December. Performances in 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, 2024, and 2025 while Hugh Bowman won the title in 2017.

Top ranked horses

Year Rating Horse Age Trainer Owner Race Ref
2003 133  Hawk Wing (USA) 4  Aidan O'Brien (IRE)  Susan Magnier (IRE)  Lockinge Stakes (GB) [4]
2004 130  Ghostzapper (USA) 4  Robert J. Frankel (USA)  Stronach Stables (CAN)  Breeders' Cup Classic (USA) [5]
2005 130  Hurricane Run (IRE) 3  André Fabre (FR)  Michael Tabor (GB)  Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR) [6]
2006 129  Invasor (ARG) 4  Kiaran McLaughlin (USA)  Shadwell Stable (UAE)  Breeders' Cup Classic (USA) [7]
2007 131  Manduro (GER) 5  André Fabre (FR)  Georg Baron von Ullmann (GER)  Prince of Wales's Stakes (GB) [8]
2008 130  Curlin (USA) 4  Steven M. Asmussen (USA)  Stonestreet Stables LLC (USA)  Dubai World Cup (UAE) [9]
 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA)
130  New Approach (IRE) 3  James S. Bolger (IRE)  Princess Haya bint Hussein (JOR)  Champion Stakes (GB)
2009 136  Sea The Stars (IRE) 3  John Oxx (IRE)  Christopher Tsui (HK)  Irish Champion Stakes (IRE) [10]
2010 135  Harbinger (GB) 4  Michael Stoute (GB)  Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (GB)  King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (GB) [11]
2011 136  Frankel (GB) 3  Henry Cecil (GB)  Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud (KSA)  Sussex Stakes (GB) [12]
2012 140  Frankel (GB) 4  Henry Cecil (GB)  Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud (KSA)  Queen Anne Stakes (GB) [13]
 International Stakes (GB)
2013 130  Treve (FR) 3  Criquette Head-Maarek (FR)  Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani (QAT)  Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR) [14]
130  Black Caviar (AUS) 6  Peter Moody (AUS)  G. J. Wilkie, K. J. Wilkie (AUS),
 Werrett Bloodstock Pty, Ltd. (AUS) et al. 		 TJ Smith Stakes (AUS)
 Black Caviar Lightning (AUS)
2014 130  Just A Way (JPN) 5  Naosuke Sugai (JPN)  Akatsuki Yamatoya (JPN)  Dubai Duty Free (UAE) [15]
2015 134  American Pharoah (USA) 3  Bob Baffert (USA)  Ahmed Zayat (EGY)  Breeders' Cup Classic (USA) [16]
2016 134  Arrogate (USA) 3  Bob Baffert (USA)  Juddmonte (KSA)  Breeders' Cup Classic (USA) [17]
2017 134  Arrogate (USA) 4  Bob Baffert (USA)  Juddmonte (KSA)  Dubai World Cup (UAE) [18]
2018 130  Cracksman (GB) 4  John Gosden (GB)  Anthony Oppenheimer (GB)  Champion Stakes (GB) [19]
130  Winx (AUS) 6  Chris Waller (AUS)  Magic Bloodstock Racing (AUS),
 R. G. Treweeke & D. N. Kepitis (AUS) 		 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (AUS)
2019 128  Crystal Ocean (GB) 5  Michael Stoute (GB)  Evelyn de Rothschild (GB)  Prince of Wales's Stakes (GB) [20]
128  Enable (GB) 5  John Gosden (GB)  Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud (KSA)  King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (GB)
128  Waldgeist (GB) 5  André Fabre (FR)  Gestüt Ammerland (GER),
 Newsells Park (GB) 		 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR)
2020 130  Ghaiyyath (IRE) 5  Charlie Appleby (GB)  Godolphin (UAE)  International Stakes (GB) [21]
2021 129  Knicks Go (USA) 5  Brad H. Cox (USA)  Korea Racing Authority (KOR)  Breeders' Cup Classic (USA) [22]
2022 140  Flightline (USA) 4  John W. Sadler (USA)  Hronis Racing LLC (USA),
 West Point Thoroughbreds (USA) et al. 		 Pacific Classic (USA) [23]
2023 135  Equinox (JPN) 4  Tetsuya Kimura (JPN)  Silk Racing (JPN)  Japan Cup (JPN) [24]
2024 128  City of Troy (USA) 3  Aidan O'Brien (IRE)  Susan Magnier (IRE),
 Michael Tabor & Derick Smith (GB) 		 International Stakes (GB) [25]
128  Laurel River (USA) 6  Bhupat Seemar (UAE)  Juddmonte (KSA)  Dubai World Cup (UAE)
2025 130  Calandagan (IRE) 4  Francis-Henri Graffard (FR)  Aga Khan Studs SCEA (FR)  Champion Stakes (GB) [26]
  • Horse names are followed by a suffix indicating the country where foaled.

References

  1. ^ "International Federation of Horseracing Authorities".
  2. ^ "International Federation of Horseracing Authorities". www.ifhaonline.org. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  3. ^ Carr, David (21 January 2025). "Juddmonte International named world's best race again following City Of Troy's York heroics". Racing Post. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  4. ^ "The 2003 International Classifications" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2021.
  5. ^ "The 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  6. ^ "The 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  7. ^ "The 2006 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  8. ^ "The 2007 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  9. ^ "The 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  10. ^ "The 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  11. ^ "The 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  12. ^ The World Thoroughbred Rankings - 1st February 2011 to 31st July 2011 Archived 10 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "2012 World Thoroughbred Rankings". Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  14. ^ "The 2013 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  15. ^ "The 2014 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  16. ^ "The 2015 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  17. ^ "The 2016 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  18. ^ "The 2017 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  19. ^ "The 2018 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  20. ^ "The 2019 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  21. ^ "The 2020 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  22. ^ "The 2021 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  23. ^ "The 2022 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  24. ^ "The 2023 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  25. ^ "The 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  26. ^ "The 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  • International Federation of Horseracing Authorities [1]
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.