Hong Kong (Hong Kong) / Saint-Imier (Switzerland), December 6, 2024 – After a tremendous year, James McDonald claimed the 2024 Longines World’s Best Jockey title. The New Zealand-born, Australia-based jockey was recognised for his accomplishments during the Longines Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner on December 6, 2024.
James McDonald was honoured on Friday for winning the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award for the second time. A rising star on the international scene, the New Zealand-born, Australia-based jockey first took the title in 2022.
McDonald accumulated 160 points throughout the 2024 competition. He won nine of the world’s Top 100 Group or Grade 1 races, with his qualifying victories coming in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (Romantic Warrior), Stewards’ Cup (Voyage Bubble), Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Romantic Warrior), Ranvet Stakes (Via Sistina), FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Romantic Warrior), Yasuda Kinen (Romantic Warrior), Ladbrokes Cox Plate (Via Sistina), Darley Champions Sprint (Sunshine in Paris), and TAB Champions Stakes (Via Sistina).
“I am very proud and very humbled to be in the position I am in,” said McDonald. “Obviously, it is a great indication of the world class horses I was able to partner throughout the Top 100 races in the world. To be able to win nine of them, including on arguably my two favourite horses at this time, was pretty special.”
The Gala Dinner, held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, served as the perfect occasion for honouring McDonald as the 2024 Longines World’s Best Jockey. In recognition, McDonald was presented with an elegant Longines timepiece from Longines CEO Matthias Breschan and the iconic crystal vase by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
The awarding of the Longines World’s Best Jockey title is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from December 1st of the previous year until November 30th of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.
The Longines World’s Best Jockey Award was established in 2014 by Swiss watch brand Longines and the IFHA to recognise a jockey as the best among his or her global peers. It marked the first time a rider was honoured in such a way. Previous winners include Hugh Bowman, Frankie Dettori, and Ryan Moore. The full and final standings for the 2024 Longines World’s Best Jockey competition can be found at
www.ifhaonline.org
