For the first time the Rankings will list all world performances in the 2008 Calendar year, irrespective of where individual horses raced or were trained.

In the past, two separate listings have been published. The first in January, listing performances only by horses raced and trained in countries whose racing season run from Jan-Dec and dominated by horses from the USA, Europe and Japan. A second list was then published in August, listing only horses trained and raced in countries whose racing season run from Aug-Jul and dominated by horses from the UAE, Hong Kong, Australia and South Africa.

The release of the 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings therefore represent a landmark event in World Thoroughbred Racing, in providing a comprehensive list of the best individual performances by the World’s racing elite during the calendar year.

The listings will reveal the best performances in age and distance categories with the honour of World’s Top Ranked Racehorse for 2008 likely to rest between unbeaten French filly and Arc de Triomphe heroine ZARKAVA, English Derby winner NEW APPROACH and Dubai World Cup winner CURLIN.