IFHA Releases the Top 100 Group 1 and Grade 1 Races

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, an average of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings ratings of the first four placed horses in each of the past three years. 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 honored with the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award.

South Africa has only one race ranked in the world to 100, the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, coming in at 93.

The top rated race for years 2012 through 2014 was the Juddmonte International Stakes with a rating of 124.17. This premier race has seen recent winners Frankel (highest rated horse in the world, 2012), Declaration of War, and Australia head strong fields at York Racecourse’s showcase event in Great Britain. The remaining top 10 rated races are the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (123.67), QIPCO Champion Stakes (123.50), Breeders’ Cup Classic (123.42), Prince Of Wales's Stakes (123.33), Prix du Haras De Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques Le Marois (123.17), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (123.00), The Japan Cup in association with Longines (122.92), Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (122.58), and Qipco Irish Champions Stakes (122.17).

The top rated races in the 5 respective distance categories are the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (119.58-Sprint), Prix du Haras de Fresnay Le Buffard-Jacques Le Marois (123.17-Mile), Juddmonte International Stakes (124.17-Intermediate), Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (123.67-Long), and Tenno Sho (Spring) (117.67-Extended). The highest rated race for fillies and mares is the Qatar Prix Vermeille (117.50).

12 countries comprise this year’s list, representing the foremost racing events throughout the world across 39 different racecourses. Australia leads all countries with 26 total races, followed by the United States of America (23), Great Britain (16), Japan (10), France (9), Hong Kong (6), United Arab Emirates (5), Canada (1), Germany (1), Ireland (1), Singapore (1), and South Africa (1).

The 2015 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 2014 until 30 November 2015. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third. Following his great success in the Longines Hong Kong International Races, jockey João Moreira leads the competition with 24 points, with Douglas Whyte and Zac Purton tied for second place with 18 points each.

Ryan Moore of Great Britain was awarded the inaugural Longines World’s Best Jockey Award at the gala dinner of the Longines Hong Kong International Races in December 2014.