In association with the Longines World Racing Awards, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) 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 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) has been honoured as the highest rated race in the world. This is the second time the race has won the award, following the 2016 edition. In 2022, it achieved a rating of 126.75 after Grade 1 winners Flightline (USA), Olympiad (USA), Taiba (USA), and Rich Strike (USA) were the first four across the finish line.
The remaining Top 10 rated races are the Qipco Champion Stakes (124.75), Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (124.25), Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (123.75), Qatar Sussex Stakes (123.50), TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (123.25), Irish Champion Stakes (122.50), Queen Anne Stakes (122.50), Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (121.75), and Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (121.75).
The top rated races in the five respective distance categories are the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (119.50-Sprint); Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (123.75-Mile); Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (126.75-Intermediate); Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (124.25-Long); and Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (119.75-Extended).
The highest rated race for fillies/mares is the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (117.00), while the highest rated 3-year-old race is the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (121.75).
Twelve countries comprise this year's list, representing the foremost racing events throughout the world across 40 different racecourses. Australia leads all countries with 20 total races, followed by Great Britain (18), United States (18), Japan (12), France (10), Hong Kong SAR, China (10), South Africa (5), Ireland (4), United Arab Emirates (4), Canada (1), Germany (1), and Saudi Arabia (1). Because of a five-way tie for the 100th spot on the list of Top 100 G1 races, the 2022 edition consists of 104 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 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe previously won the title in 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, and was the inaugural winner in 2015, while the Juddmonte International Stakes won in 2020.
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. James McDonald was named the 2022 Longines World’s Best Jockey. Ryan Moore was the inaugural winner in 2014 and also won in 2016 and 2021. Frankie Dettori has taken the competition the most, winning in 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2015, while Hugh Bowman won the title in 2017.
The 2023 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 2022 until 30 November 2023. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.
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