Best Racehorses Ranking 2023

Each year, specialists from The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), along with officials and handicappers from across the globe, compile the ratings of the world's top racehorses. These ratings are measured in pounds. When multiple horses achieve the same speed, the one that carries the heaviest weight is deemed the best. Since 2012, the Swiss luxury watchmaker Longines has sponsored the world ratings, enhancing their prestige and credibility. Thoroughbreds ranked in the top thirty are viewed as possessing the finest racing genetics and command exorbitant prices, as do their progeny.

A bit of history

As international racing expanded, the need for uniform rules and classifications across various countries became apparent. In 1961, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) was established to address this need, initially comprising four nations: Great Britain, Ireland, the USA, and France. Over the years, the organisation has welcomed more members, currently totaling around 55 countries that have entered into an international agreement on breeding, racing, and betting practices.

This standardisation has enabled the compilation of the World Horse Ranking. Since 1948, the British company Timeform, known for its sports data, has been responsible for these rankings. Founded by Phil Bull, Timeform was created to establish a mathematical correlation between a horse's race performance and its completion time. The company has been releasing an extensive 1,200-page annual publication titled “Racehorses of …” since March, detailing ratings and insights on the top horses from regions including Australia, Dubai, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, North America, and Scandinavian countries. Additionally, the October issue, “Chasers and Hurdlers,” features profiles of every horse that has participated in the National Hunt races in the UK, Ireland, and France, while the annual report “Horses to Follow: Flat Season” highlights the 50 most promising horses for the upcoming season.

The Longines World Racehorse Rankings are updated multiple times a year, from March through November, with a comprehensive summary published in December that incorporates interim rankings. Horses are ranked based on their best performance, considering various factors such as pace, level of competition, and track conditions. However, racing is inherently complex and not an exact science, leading to the potential for subjective evaluations and emotional influences that could affect the rankings. Despite this, the Longines rankings remain the sole global standard, guiding the entire industry.

Rating 2023

The Longines World Racing Awards ceremony for 2023 was held at the Savoy Hotel in London in January 2024. The standout winner was the Japanese stallion Equinox, who became the second Japanese horse to claim this honour, following Just A Way's victory in 2014. 

The Group 1 Japan Cup was recognized as the Longines World's Best Race, achieving a rating of 126.5—an unprecedented milestone in the race's 43-year history. 

In total, 36 horses received ratings above 120 pounds in 2023, with 9 trained in the UK, 7 each in Japan and the US, 4 in Hong Kong, and 3 each in Australia, Ireland, and France. Notably, Frankel sired 4 of the top 15 European horses and is the great-grandfather of Ace Impact, who ranked second overall.

This year proved to be significant for European three-year-olds, with three of the top four rated mares coming from the Newmarket stables of Ted and John Gosden. Emily Upjohn, rated at 121, achieved her score with a strong performance in the Dahlbury Coronation Cup. Inspiral and Nashwa both earned ratings of 120, the former for her run in the Prix Jacques Le Marois and the latter for her victory in the Falmouth S, all of which were Group 1 races.

The British-bred Irish horse Paddington, rated 124, shared the 10th spot in the rankings with four others, having won six races in 2023, including four Group 1 events: the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, and Coral-Eclipse. 

British-bred Shaquille, rated 120, was recognized as the top sprinter of the year, clinching victories in the Commonwealth Cup and the July Cup. Meanwhile, the Melbourne Cup winner Without A Flight, rated 121, can also be considered a British stallion since he began his career under the training of British trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.

Table: horses with a rating from 124 to 135.

Equinox, 135 pounds

Equinox positioned himself for the top rank in the standings back in March with a stellar performance at the Dubai Sheema Classic, a Group 1 race. Following that impressive win at Meydan Racecourse, he continued his success by capturing three additional Group 1 victories: the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse in June, and both the Tenno Sho and Japan Cup at Tokyo in late October and November, respectively.

Over the course of three seasons, Equinox achieved remarkable results, winning eight out of ten races while finishing second twice, amassing earnings of $15.9 million.

Born at Northern Farm, Equinox was trained by Tetsuya Kimura, with Christophe Lemaire as his regular jockey. Lemaire praised the horse, stating, “Equinox had his own aura; he was special. He was very intelligent and knew exactly what it took to win.” After his victory in the Japan Cup, Equinox was transferred to Shadai Stallion Station to commence his career as a stallion.

Ace Impact and Mostahdaf, 128 pounds

The horses are tied for second place, 7 pounds behind winner Equinox.

Ace Impact is an Irishman trained by French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. The horse's grandfather was Frankel, who gave him his winning genes. In 2023, he won six races, including the Prix du Jockey Club, Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In November, Ace Impact was named Cartier Horse of the Year and awarded the Cartier Awards for best three-year-old foal.

Frankel's son Mostahdaf, an Irishman trained by John and Teddy Gosden, won the 2023 Neom Turf Cup, Prince of Wales's Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes.

This made them the best horses in Europe, 1 pound ahead of the Irishmen Big Rock and Hucum.

Big Rock and Hucum, 127 pounds

The French colt Big Rock, trained by Maurizio Guarnieri, emerged as a standout performer this year, making a notable impact in races across Ascot, Newbury, Deauville, ParisLongchamp, and Woodbine. His victories in the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1), as well as the Prix de Guiche (G3) and Prix La Force (G3) in 2023, propelled the three-year-old to the fourth position in the rankings.

On the other hand, Hucum, a British horse bred at the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum stud farm and trained by Owen Burrows at Kingwood House Stables in Berkshire, had Jim Crowley as his regular jockey. Hucum's racing career spanned from 2019 to 2023, with key wins in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) bolstering his high ranking this year. In October, Hucum was sent to Darley Japan in Hokkaido for breeding, with a fee of 1.2 million yen set for his services in 2024.

Golden Sixty and Westover, 126 pounds

Golden Sixty is an Australian horse bred in Hong Kong. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, the gelding was named Horse of the Year in Hong Kong, winning 7 starts in the first and second years, and 16 in the third.

At the time of the rating, the horse was 8 years old, and his career in 2023 was impressive: in February 2023, he was first in the Hong Kong Gold Cup, this was his 24th victory. On March 9, 2023, in the Longines Intermediate World Rankings, he took first place with 125 points. In April, he was first in the Champions Mile (G1) in Hong Kong, and in December he won the Hong Kong Mile (G1).

After Golden Sixty's place in the world ranking was determined, his career did not end, he participated in races, but without notable victories. In September 2024, Golden Sixty was retired. His career earnings totalled HK$167,170,600.

Frankel's son Westover was born in April 2019 at Judmonte Farm in the UK, owned by Khalid Abdullah, a member of the House of Saud.

He was second to Equinox in the 2023 Dubai Sheema Classic. In June, he was second to Emily Upjohn in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. In July, Westover was first in France in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and three weeks later was second to Hukum in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. In October, he was second to Ace Impact in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Westover has been among the favourites throughout his 2023 racing career, which has allowed him to finish sixth in the rankings.

Irishman Auguste Rodin and Lucky Swainess from New Zealand scored 125 pounds each, sharing the 8th place in the rating, and in 10th place there are five participants with a rating of 124: White Abarrio and Cody's Wish (USA), Do Deuce and Titleholder (Japan) and the British Paddington.

4 horses took the 15th place in the rating with 123 pounds, 5 horses in 19th place (122), 13 horses in 24th place (121) and 16 horses in 37th place, with a rating of 120.