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24 January 2017 Contact: Andrew Chesser Secretary General, IFHA |
Top 100 G1 Races Announced for 2016
Coinciding 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 top 100 Group 1 and Grade 1 races.
The ranked list is compiled using the annual race ratings, which in turn are an average of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings ratings of the first four placed horses. For the second time, LONGINES and the IFHA have used this list to name the LONGINES World's Best Horse Race.
The 2016 winner of the award is the Breeders' Cup Classic, as it achieved a rating of 125.25. The race, which was held at Santa Anita in California, featured a dramatic stretch run between Arrogate and California Chrome, the two highest-rated horses in the world.
The remaining top 10 rated races are the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (124.75), $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (124.75), William Hill Cox Plate (124.75), QIPCO Champion Stakes (124.00), LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf (122.25), China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (122.00), Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (122.00), Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by LONGINES (121.50), and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) (121.25).
The top rated races in the 5 respective distance categories are the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (118.75-Sprint), China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (122.00-Mile), Breeders' Cup Classic (125.25-Intermediate), LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf (122.25-Long), and Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) (118.50-Extended).
The highest rated race for fillies and mares is the LONGINES Breeders' Cup Distaff (120.50), while the top 3-year-old race in the world is a tie between the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (119.75) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (119.75).
Eleven countries comprise this year's list, representing the foremost racing events throughout the world across 35 different racecourses. Australia and the United States of America lead all countries with 23 total races a piece, followed by Great Britain (19), Japan (12), Hong Kong (11), France (7), United Arab Emirates (4), Ireland (3), Canada (1), Germany (1), and South Africa (1). Because of a six-way tie for the 99th spot on the list of Top 100 G1 races, the 2016 edition consists of 105 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.
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. Ryan Moore, who won the inaugural title in 2014, was also the LONGINES World's Best Jockey in 2016. Frankie Dettori was crowned in 2015.
The 2017 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 2016 until 30 November 2017. 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:
á Making and amending the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (the IABRW)
á Policy development relating to welfare and safety of horses and riders
á International Race Planning and Grading (Òblack typeÓ)
á World Rankings
á Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices
á Harmonization of Race Day Rules
á Fostering commercial development of the racing industry globally