Following a historic year, FLIGHTLINE (USA) [140] has been named the 2022 Longines World’s Best Racehorse. His rating of 140 equals Frankel’s benchmark rating set in 2012 under the current system. Previously, the highest rating given to a dirt horse was the 135 achieved by Cigar in 1996.

LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Leading Horses

1 FLIGHTLINE (USA)

140

USA

2 BAAEED (GB)

135

GB

3 EQUINOX (JPN)

126

JPN

3 NATURE STRIP (AUS)

126

AUS

5 EPICENTER (USA)

125

USA

5 LIFE IS GOOD (USA)

125

USA

5 VADENI (FR)

125

FR

8 GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS)

124

HK

8 KYPRIOS (IRE)

124

IRE

8 OLYMPIAD (USA)

124

USA

8 PYLEDRIVER (GB)

124

GB

8 REAL WORLD (IRE)

124

GB

8 ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE)

124

HK

8 TITLEHOLDER (JPN)

124

JPN

8 TORQUATOR TASSO (GER)

124

GER

Flightline earned his historic rating in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), which he won by 19 ¼ lengths over Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA) [121].

Undefeated during his career, Flightline also won the Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in 2022. In the Classic, Flightline pulled away from the field to win by a record 8 ¼ lengths. OLYMPIAD (USA) [124] was second, followed by TAIBA (USA) [123], RICH STRIKE (USA) [120], and LIFE IS GOOD (USA) [125]. The Breeders’ Cup Classic was named the 2022 Longines World’s Best Horse Race, which is determined by averaging the rankings of the first four placed horses.

Flightline was not the only horse to achieve a historically notable figure in 2022. BAAEED (GB) [135] received his rating of 135 in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1), where he defeated MISHRIFF (IRE) [120] by 6 ½ lengths. It was his 10th consecutive career victory. In 2022, Baaeed also won the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1), Queen Anne Stakes (G1), and Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1).

Baaeed’s rating of 135 makes him the second-highest rated horse and the highest rated turf horse in the world for 2022. His rating is the highest given on turf since Frankel received his 140 in 2012 and is one below the 136 his own sire, Sea the Stars, earned in 2009. Both Flightline and Baaeed have retired from racing.

Two horses share the mantle of co-third highest rated horse for 2022. EQUINOX (JPN) [126] earned his rating in the Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) (G1), which he won by 2 1/2 lengths over his elders. Equinox, who also won the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1), is the highest rated 3-year-old in the world for 2022.

NATURE STRIP (AUS) [126] is also rated at 126 for his efforts in 2022. The Australian runner traveled to Royal Ascot to win the King's Stand Stakes (G1), and he also impressed at home in such races as the Furphy T J Smith Stakes (G1). Nature Strip finished the year as the highest rated sprinter in the world.

Three horses are jointly rated in the co-fifth position. Among their races in 2022, EPICENTER (USA) [125] received his rating in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), LIFE IS GOOD (USA) [125] impressed in the Whitney Stakes (G1), and VADENI (FR) [125] beat older horses in the Coral-Eclipse (G1) before going on to finish second in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Rounding out the Top 10 are eight horses in the co-eighth position on a rating of 124: GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) [124], KYPRIOS (IRE) [124], OLYMPIAD (USA) [124], PYLEDRIVER (GB) [124], REAL WORLD (IRE) [124], ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) [124], TITLEHOLDER (JPN) [124], and TORQUATOR TASSO (GER) [124].

Overall, 288 horses, trained in 16 different countries, were rated 115 or higher.