In association with the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse and LONGINES World's Best Horse Race Ceremony, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities has published its annual list of top 100 Group 1 and Grade 1 races.
The ranked list is compiled using the annual race ratings, which are calculated based on the first four finishers in each race. LONGINES and the IFHA use this list to determine the winner of the annual LONGINES World's Best Horse Race Award.
The 2017 winner is the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, as it achieved a rating of 126.25. Held at Chantilly whilst Longchamp was under renovation, the Arc was won by European Horse of the Year Enable, while Cloth of Stars, Ulysses, and Order of St George rounded out the top four.
The remaining top 10 rated races are the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Sponsored by QIPCO (124.75), Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (124.00), Breeders' Cup Classic (123.75), China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (122.75), LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes (122.00), Juddmonte International Stakes (121.75), Prince of Wales's Stakes (121.75), QIPCO Champion Stakes (121.75), Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (121.50), and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (121.50).
The top rated races in the 5 respective distance categories are the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (120.00-Sprint), China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (122.75-Mile), Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (124.00-Intermediate), Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (126.25-Long), and Tenno Sho (Spring) (121.25-Extended).
The highest rated race for fillies and mares is the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (118.25), while the top 3-year-old race in the world is the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (121.50).
Eleven countries comprise this year's list, representing the foremost racing events throughout the world across 39 different racecourses. Great Britain leads all countries with 24 total races, followed by Australia (22), United States (15), Japan (12), Hong Kong (9), France (6), Ireland (4), South Africa (3), United Arab Emirates (3), Germany (2), and Canada (1). Because of a three-way tie for the 99th spot on the list of Top 100 G1 races, the 2017 edition consists of 101 races.
In the context of their partnership, LONGINES and the IFHA have created a set of prizes rewarding racehorses, jockeys and prominent women and men of the equestrian world. The LONGINES World's Best Horse Race was created to complete this collection of awards by rewarding the top race in the world. The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was the inaugural winner in 2015, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic won in 2016.
The top 100 Group 1 and Grade 1 races also serve as the base of an annual competition to recognize top jockeys throughout the world. The jockey who outperforms his or her peers in these races is honoured with the LONGINES World's Best Jockey Award. Hugh Bowman won the title in 2017, while Ryan Moore won the inaugural contest in 2014 as well as in 2016, and Frankie Dettori was crowned in 2015.
The 2018 LONGINES World's Best Jockey Award will be based upon performances in these 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races from 1 December 2017 until 30 November 2018. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.
About IFHA
The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) is the world peak body for the international sport of Thoroughbred racing. Its members are the national racing authorities across the globe which stage Thoroughbred races.
Major areas of the IFHA's activities include:
- Making and amending the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (the IABRW)
- Policy development relating to welfare and safety of horses and riders
- International Race Planning and Grading (“black type”)
- World Rankings
- Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices
- Harmonization of Race Day Rules
- Fostering commercial development of the racing industry globally
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