# World's Best Racehorse Rankings

The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (LWBRR), known as World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (WTRR) before 2012, are horseracing's equivalent to World Rankings by other major sporting organizations such as ATP Tennis Rankings, World Golf Rankings, FIFA World Rankings for soccer and IRB Rugby World Rankings. The Longines Rankings are based on the rating earned by horses running worldwide from North and South America, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Asia through to Australia and New Zealand.
The ratings are compiled under the auspices of The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) by racing officials & handicappers representing the five continents who compile the ranking order by agreeing on the rating for each horse. The ratings are based on the performance of horses in elite races held during the designated period which takes in account the quality of opposition and achievements of each horse. The annual rankings denote the champions in the various distance categories for example sprint or mile, surface either turf or dirt/artificial and also the fillies & mares category.
According to the IFHA website, "The IFHA World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are the official assessment of the top performers." In 1977, France, Great Britain and Ireland published the first internationally agreed assessment of racing merit on behalf of the European Pattern Committee under the banner of the International Classifications. In 1985, Germany and Italy joined the system, to be followed by North America (both Canada and the United States) and Japan in the mid 1990s.
The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings measure a given horse's peak performance during the year. Throughout the year the Longines Rankings are published at regular intervals and the final annual rankings are released in January. The three highest-rated horses are honored during the Longines World's Best Racehorse and Longines World's Best Horse Race Ceremony.

## Related Awards

The ratings for the horses also help establish two other awards: the aforementioned Longines World's Best Horse Race and the Longines World's Best Jockey. The Longines World's Best Horse Race award recognizes the best-rated race of the highest-rated Group 1 international races as established by a panel of international handicappers. The ratings of the top four finishers in each race serve as basis for the assessment. Introduced in 2015, the award was won by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. The Breeders' Cup Classic won in 2016 and 2022, while the Juddmonte International won the title in 2020 and 2024. In 2023, the Japan Cup in association with Longines was named the World's Best Horse Race. Additionally, the IFHA releases the top 100 Group/Grade 1 races each year.
The Longines World's Best Jockey is named each December. The top 100 Group 1 and Grade 1 races serve as the base of this annual competition to recognize top jockeys throughout the world. Frankie Dettori has won the award four times, as he was named the Longines World's Best Jockey in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Ryan Moore has also won it four times, as he took the inaugural contest in 2014 as well as the 2016, 2021, and 2023 editions. James McDonald won the title in 2022 and 2024, while Hugh Bowman won the title in 2017.

## World Championship

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities was founded in 1961 and 1983 but now (2024) have not an official World Horse Racing Championship.

## Top ranked horses

* Horse names are followed by a suffix indicating the country where foaled.
| Year | Rating | Horse | Trained | Race |
| 2003 | 134 | Hawk Wing (USA) | Ireland | Lockinge Stakes |
| 2004 | 130 | Ghostzapper (USA) | United States | Breeders' Cup Classic |
| 2005 | 130 | Hurricane Run (IRE) | France | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
| 2006 | 129 | Invasor (ARG) | United States | Breeders' Cup Classic |
| 2007 | 131 | Manduro (GER) | France | Prince of Wales's Stakes |
| 2008 | 130 | Curlin (USA) | United States | Dubai World Cup / Stephen Foster Handicap |
| 2008 | 130 | New Approach (IRE) | Ireland | Champion Stakes |
| 2009 | 136 | Sea The Stars (IRE) | Ireland | Irish Champion Stakes |
| 2010 | 135 | Harbinger (GB) | Great Britain | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
| 2011 | 136 | Frankel (GB) | Great Britain | Sussex Stakes |
| 2012 | 140 | Frankel (GB) | Great Britain | Queen Anne Stakes / Juddmonte International Stakes |
| 2013 | 130 | Treve (FR) | France | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
| 2013 | 130 | Black Caviar (AUS) | Australia | T J Smith Stakes |
| 2014 | 130 | Just A Way (JPN) | Japan | Dubai Duty Free |
| 2015 | 134 | American Pharoah (USA) | United States | Breeders' Cup Classic |
| 2016 | 134 | Arrogate (USA) | United States | Breeders' Cup Classic |
| 2017 | 134 | Arrogate (USA) | United States | Dubai World Cup |
| 2018 | 130 | Cracksman (GB) | Great Britain | Champion Stakes |
| 2018 | 130 | Winx (AUS) | Australia | Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC) |
| 2019 | 128 | Crystal Ocean (GB) | Great Britain | Prince of Wales's Stakes |
| 2019 | 128 | Enable (GB) | Great Britain | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
| 2019 | 128 | Waldgeist (GB) | France | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
| 2020 | 130 | Ghaiyyath (IRE) | Great Britain | International Stakes |
| 2021 | 129 | Knicks Go (USA) | United States | Breeders' Cup Classic |
| 2022 | 140 | Flightline (USA) | United States | Pacific Classic |
| 2023 | 135 | Equinox (JPN) | Japan | Japan Cup |
| 2024 | 128 | City of Troy (USA) | Ireland | International Stakes |
| 2024 | 128 | Laurel River (USA) | United Arab Emirates | Dubai World Cup |