Arrogate named World’s Best Racehorse
Arrogate defeats California Chrome in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Photo by Michael McInally/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup.
Swiss watchmaking brand Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) presented the 2017 Longines World’s Best Racehorse and Longines World’s Best Horse Race Awards Ceremony today in London at the iconic Claridge’s Hotel.
The American colt Arrogate was awarded – for the second consecutive year – the Longines World’s Best Racehorse title with a rating of 134. The Australian mare Winx took second place with 132, followed by Cracksman (GB) and Gun Runner (USA), who were tied at 130. The 2017 Longines World’s Best Horse Race went to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which was also the inaugural winner in 2015, with a 126.25 rating.
American Thoroughbred and 2016 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Arrogate set himself apart again in 2017 with a rating of 134 and was given the prestigious Longines World’s Best Racehorse Award for the second consecutive year. Incidentally, the watch brand Longines proudly timed his victory in the Dubai World Cup. Arrogate’s owner Juddmonte Farms Inc., represented by Lord Teddy Grimthorpe and trainer Bob Baffert were each presented with a unique Longines watch and an iconic Longines Equus Crystal Vase.
Australian mare Winx, who occupied third place in 2016, was honoured as the second highest-rated horse with a rating of 132 in 2017. Currently the richest horse in Australian history and the highest rated turf horse in the world, she won all nine of her starts in 2017. Winx’s regular jockey, Hugh Bowman, claimed the 2017 Longines World’s Best Jockey title, a recognition he received last December during the Longines Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner.
Third place was taken by both Cracksman (GB) and Gun Runner (USA) with a rating of 130. Cracksman earned his rating in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, timed by Longines. His primary jockey, Frankie Dettori, received the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award in 2015. Gun Runner’s victories in 2017 include the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a feat timed by the Swiss watch brand, the Official Timekeeper of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Additionally, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe claimed the title of 2017 Longines World’s Best Horse Race. France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild was in London to accept the award and was presented with an elegant Longines timepiece and a replica trophy representing a proud horse head. The first four finishers of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2017 were Enable, Cloth of Stars, Ulysses and Order of St George. The Arc was also the inaugural winner of the Longines World’s Best Horse Race Award in 2015.
The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are determined by international handicappers according to the performance of horses around the world, while the Longines World’s Best Horse Race Award recognizes the highest rated race of all the Group 1 international races, with the ratings of the top four finishers in each race serving as basis for the assessment.
