In association with the Longines World Racing Awards, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has published its annual list of Top 100 Group 1 and Grade 1 races.
The ranked list is compiled using the annual race ratings, which are calculated based on the first four finishers in each race. Longines and the IFHA use this list to determine the winner of the annual Longines World's Best Horse Race Award.
For the fifth time, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp in France has been honoured as the highest rated race in the world. In 2021, it achieved a rating of 124.75 after Group 1 winners Torquator Tasso (GER), Tarnawa (IRE), Hurricane Lane (IRE), and Adayar (IRE) were the first four across the finish line.
The remaining Top 10 rated races are the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (124.50), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (123.50), Tenno Sho (Autumn) (123.00), Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (122.50), Qipco Champion Stakes (122.25), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by Qipco) (122.25), Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (122.00), Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines (122.00), and Osaka Hai (121.75).
The top rated races in the 5 respective distance categories are the Heineken T J Smith Stakes (120.50-Sprint); Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by Qipco) (122.25-Mile); Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (124.50-Intermediate); Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (124.75-Long); and Gold Cup (119.00-Extended).
The highest rated race for fillies/mares is the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (117.50), while the highest rated 3-year-old race is the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (122.50).
Twelve countries comprise this year's list, representing the foremost racing events throughout the world across 41 different racecourses. Australia leads all countries with 25 total races, followed by the United States (19), Great Britain (17), Japan (11), Hong Kong SAR, China (8), France (5), Germany (4), South Africa (4), Ireland (3), United Arab Emirates (2), New Zealand (1), and Uruguay (1).
In the context of their partnership, Longines and the IFHA have created a set of prizes rewarding racehorses, jockeys and prominent women and men of the equestrian world. The Longines World's Best Horse Race was created to complete this collection of awards by rewarding the top race in the world. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe previously won the title in 2019, 2018, 2017, and was the inaugural winner in 2015, while the Breeders’ Cup Classic won in 2016 and the Juddmonte International Stakes won in 2020.
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 honoured with the Longines World's Best Jockey Award. Ryan Moore was the 2021 Longines World’s Best Jockey, and he previously was honoured as the inaugural winner in 2014 and also won in 2016. Frankie Dettori has taken the competition the most, winning in 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2015, while Hugh Bowman won the title in 2017.
The 2022 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 2021 until 30 November 2022. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.
Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, picture Racingfotos
| THE WORLD'S TOP 100 GROUP/GRADE ONE RACES for 3yo's and upwards - 2021 | |||||||||||
| RANK | RACE | Distance | Cat | Track | Age | F&M | Rating | ||||
| 1 | Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | G1 | 2400 | T | L | PARIS-LONGCHAMP | FR | 3+ | 124.75 | ||
| 2 | LONGINES Breeders' Cup Classic | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | D | I | DEL MAR | USA | 3+ | 124.50 | |
| 3 | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes | G1 | 2400 | 1 1/2 | T | L | ASCOT | GB | 3+ | 123.50 | |
| 4 | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | G1 | 2000 | T | I | TOKYO | JPN | 3+ | 123.00 | ||
| 5 | Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | D | I | CHURCHILL DOWNS | USA | 3yo | 122.50 | |
| 6= | QIPCO Champion Stakes | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | T | I | ASCOT | GB | 3+ | 122.25 | |
| 6= | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | ASCOT | GB | 3+ | 122.25 | |
| 8= | Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) | G1 | 2500 | T | L | NAKAYAMA | JPN | 3+ | 122.00 | ||
| 8= | LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines | G1 | 2410 | T | L | MEYDAN | UAE | 4+ | 122.00 | ||
| 10 | Osaka Hai | G1 | 2000 | T | I | HANSHIN | JPN | 4+ | 121.75 | ||
| 11 | Coral-Eclipse | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | T | I | SANDOWN PARK | GB | 3+ | 121.50 | |
| 12= | Irish Champion Stakes | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | T | I | LEOPARDSTOWN | IRE | 3+ | 121.25 | |
| 12= | Japan Cup in Association with LONGINES | G1 | 2400 | T | L | TOKYO | JPN | 3+ | 121.25 | ||
| 14 | Cazoo Derby | G1 | 2400 | 1 1/2 | T | L | EPSOM DOWNS | GB | 3yo | 121.00 | |
| 15= | Ladbrokes Cox Plate | G1 | 2040 | T | I | MOONEE VALLEY | AUS | 3+ | 120.75 | ||
| 15= | LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes | G1 | 2000 | T | I | RANDWICK | AUS | 3+ | 120.75 | ||
| 15= | Whitney Stakes | G1 | 1800 | 1 1/8 | D | M | SARATOGA | USA | 3+ | 120.75 | |
| 18= | Heineken T. J. Smith Stakes | G1 | 1200 | T | S | RANDWICK | AUS | 3+ | 120.50 | ||
| 18= | Ranvet Stakes | G1 | 2000 | T | I | ROSEHILL | AUS | 3+ | 120.50 | ||
| 20= | FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup | G1 | 2000 | T | I | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 120.00 | ||
| 20= | Takarazuka Kinen | G1 | 2200 | T | L | HANSHIN | JPN | 3+ | 120.00 | ||
| 20= | Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) | G1 | 2400 | T | L | TOKYO | JPN | 3yo | 120.00 | ||
| 23= | Mile Championship | G1 | 1600 | T | M | HANSHIN | JPN | 3+ | 119.75 | ||
| 23= | Yasuda Kinen | G1 | 1600 | T | M | TOKYO | JPN | 3+ | 119.75 | ||
| 23= | Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques Le Marois | G1 | 1600 | T | M | DEAUVILLE | FR | 3+ | 119.75 | ||
| 23= | Prix du Moulin de Longchamp | G1 | 1600 | T | M | PARIS-LONGCHAMP | FR | 3+ | 119.75 | ||
| 23= | Qatar Sussex Stakes | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | GOODWOOD | GB | 3+ | 119.75 | |
| 28= | LONGINES Hong Kong Mile | G1 | 1600 | T | M | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 119.50 | ||
| 28= | Stewards' Cup | G1 | 1600 | T | M | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 119.50 | ||
| 28= | TAB Chipping Norton Stakes | G1 | 1600 | T | M | RANDWICK | AUS | 3+ | 119.50 | ||
| 31= | Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets | G1 | 2400 | 1 1/2 | D | L | BELMONT PARK | USA | 3yo | 119.25 | |
| 31= | Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup | G1 | 2000 | T | I | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 119.25 | ||
| 31= | Fujitsu General George Main Stakes | G1 | 1600 | T | M | RANDWICK | AUS | 3+ | 119.25 | ||
| 31= | H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes | G1 | 1400 | 7f | D | S | SARATOGA | USA | 3yo | 119.25 | |
| 31= | LONGINES Grosser Preis von Berlin | G1 | 2400 | T | L | HOPPEGARTEN | GER | 3+ | 119.25 | ||
| 31= | PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes | G1 | 1600 | T | M | FLEMINGTON | AUS | 3+ | 119.25 | ||
| 31= | Qatar Prix du Jockey Club | G1 | 2100 | T | I | CHANTILLY | FR | 3yo | 119.25 | ||
| 38= | Gold Cup | G1 | 4000 | 2 1/2 | T | E | ASCOT | GB | 4+ | 119.00 | |
| 38= | Juddmonte International Stakes | G1 | 2050 | 1 1/4 | T | I | YORK | GB | 3+ | 119.00 | |
| 38= | TAB Turnbull Stakes | G1 | 2000 | T | I | FLEMINGTON | AUS | 4+ | 119.00 | ||
| 41= | Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes | G1 | 1000 | 5f | T | S | YORK | GB | 2+ | 118.75 | |
| 41= | Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap | G1 | 1600 | 1 | D | M | BELMONT PARK | USA | 3+ | 118.75 | |
| 41= | LONGINES Hong Kong Cup | G1 | 2000 | T | I | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 118.75 | ||
| 44= | LONGINES Hong Kong Vase | G1 | 2400 | T | L | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 118.50 | ||
| 44= | Lamaro's Sth Melbourne Futurity Stakes | G1 | 1400 | T | M | CAULFIELD | AUS | 3+ | 118.50 | ||
| 44= | Preakness Stakes | G1 | 1900 | 1 1/8 | D | I | PIMLICO | USA | 3yo | 118.50 | |
| 44= | Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Gns) | G1 | 2000 | T | I | NAKAYAMA | JPN | 3yo | 118.50 | ||
| 48= | Neds Might And Power Stakes (ex Caulfield Stakes) | G1 | 2000 | T | I | CAULFIELD | AUS | 3+ | 118.25 | ||
| 48= | Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | NEWBURY | GB | 4+ | 118.25 | |
| 48= | Black Caviar Lightning Stakes | G1 | 1000 | T | S | FLEMINGTON | AUS | 3+ | 118.25 | ||
| 48= | Prince of Wales's Stakes | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | T | I | ASCOT | GB | 4+ | 118.25 | |
| 48= | Queen Anne Stakes | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | ASCOT | GB | 4+ | 118.25 | |
| 48= | Winx Stakes (ex Warwick) | G1 | 1400 | T | M | RANDWICK | AUS | 3yo+ | 118.25 | ||
| 54= | FWD Champions Mile | G1 | 1600 | T | M | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 118.00 | ||
| 54= | Tenno Sho (Spring) | G1 | 3200 | T | E | HANSHIN | JPN | 4+ | 118.00 | ||
| 56 | Coral Coronation Cup | G1 | 2400 | 1 1/2 | T | L | EPSOM DOWNS | GB | 4+ | 117.75 | |
| 57= | Awesome Again Stakes | G1 | 1800 | 1 1/8 | D | M | SANTA ANITA | USA | 3+ | 117.50 | |
| 57= | Darley Sprint Classic | G1 | 1200 | T | S | FLEMINGTON | AUS | 3+ | 117.50 | ||
| 57= | Heineken 3 Canterbury Stakes | G1 | 1300 | T | S | RANDWICK | AUS | 3+ | 117.50 | ||
| 57= | LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf | G1 | 2400 | 1 1/2 | T | L | DEL MAR | USA | 3+ | 117.50 | |
| 57= | L'Ormarins Queen's Plate | G1 | 1600 | T | M | KENILWORTH | SAF | 3+ | 117.50 | ||
| 57= | Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | G1 | 2200 | 1 1/4 | T | L | DEL MAR | USA | 3+ | F&M | 117.50 |
| 57= | Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic | G1 | 1800 | 1 1/8 | T | M | CHURCHILL DOWNS | USA | 4+ | 117.50 | |
| 64= | Paramount+ Mackinnon Stakes | G1 | 2000 | T | I | FLEMINGTON | AUS | 3+ | 117.25 | ||
| 64= | Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes | G1 | 1800 | 1 1/8 | D | M | GULFSTREAM PARK | USA | 4+ | 117.25 | |
| 64= | Quayclean Underwood Stakes | G1 | 1800 | T | M | SANDOWN | AUS | 3+ | 117.25 | ||
| 67= | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | G1 | 1000 | 5f | T | S | DEL MAR | USA | 3+ | 117.00 | |
| 67= | HKJC World Pools Champions Cup | G1 | 1800 | T | M | GREYVILLE | SAF | 3+ | 117.00 | ||
| 67= | Lexus Melbourne Cup | G1 | 3200 | T | E | FLEMINGTON | AUS | 3+ | 117.00 | ||
| 67= | Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup | G1 | 1400 | T | M | SHA TIN | HK | 3+ | 117.00 | ||
| 67= | Runhappy Travers Stakes | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | D | I | SARATOGA | USA | 3yo | 117.00 | |
| 67= | The Star Doncaster Mile Handicap | G1 | 1600 | T | M | RANDWICK | AUS | 3+ | 117.00 | ||
| 67= | Vodacom Durban July Handicap | G1 | 2200 | T | L | GREYVILLE | SAF | 3+ | 117.00 | ||
| 74= | Agency George Ryder Stakes | G1 | 1500 | T | M | ROSEHILL | AUS | 3+ | 116.75 | ||
| 74= | Moet & Chandon Memsie Stakes | G1 | 1400 | T | M | CAULFIELD | AUS | 3+ | 116.75 | ||
| 74= | Schweppes All Aged Stakes | G1 | 1400 | T | M | RANDWICK | AUS | 3+ | 116.75 | ||
| 74= | Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | CURRAGH | IRE | 3yo | 116.75 | |
| 74= | Wettstar Grosser Preis von Baden | G1 | 2400 | T | L | BADEN BADEN | GER | 3+ | 116.75 | ||
| 79= | Allianz - Grosser Preis von Bayern | G1 | 2400 | T | L | MUNICH | GER | 3+ | 116.50 | ||
| 79= | Pennsylvania Derby | G1 | 1800 | 1 1/8 | D | M | PARX RACING | USA | 3yo | 116.50 | |
| 79= | Qatar Prix du Cadran | G1 | 4000 | T | E | PARIS-LONGCHAMP | FR | 4+ | 116.50 | ||
| 79= | Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint | G1 | 1200 | 6f | D | S | DEL MAR | USA | 3+ | 116.50 | |
| 79= | QIPCO 2000 Guineas | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | NEWMARKET | GB | 3yo | 116.50 | |
| 84= | Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline | G1 | 2000 | D | I | MEYDAN | UAE | 4+ | 116.25 | ||
| 84= | Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes | G1 | 2000 | T | I | ELLERSLIE | NZ | 3+ | 116.25 | ||
| 84= | Channel 7 Doomben Cup | G1 | 2000 | T | I | DOOMBEN | AUS | 3+ | 116.25 | ||
| 84= | FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented By PDJF | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | DEL MAR | USA | 3+ | 116.25 | |
| 84= | Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (Handicap) | G1 | 2400 | T | L | CAULFIELD | AUS | 3+ | 116.25 | ||
| 84= | Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes | G1 | 1600 | 1 | T | M | NEWMARKET | GB | 3+ | F&M | 116.25 |
| 90= | Cape Town Met Presented by Cape Racing | G1 | 2000 | T | I | KENILWORTH | SAF | 3+ | 116.00 | ||
| 90= | LONGINES Gran Premio Latinoamericano | G1 | 2000 | D | I | MARONAS | URU | 3yo+ | 116.00 | ||
| 90= | Preis von Europa | G1 | 2400 | T | L | COLOGNE | GER | 3+ | 116.00 | ||
| 90= | Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas | G1 | 2000 | T | I | ROSEHILL | AUS | 3yo | 116.00 | ||
| 94= | Betfair Sprint Cup | G1 | 1200 | 6f | T | S | HAYDOCK PARK | GB | 3+ | 115.75 | |
| 94= | Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare | G1 | 1800 | 1 1/8 | D | M | CHURCHILL DOWNS | USA | 3+ | 115.75 | |
| 94= | Darley July Cup | G1 | 1200 | 6f | T | S | NEWMARKET | GB | 3+ | 115.75 | |
| 94= | Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby | G1 | 2400 | 1 1/2 | T | L | CURRAGH | IRE | 3yo | 115.75 | |
| 94= | Hyland Race Colours Toorak Handicap | G1 | 1600 | T | M | CAULFIELD | AUS | 3+ | 115.75 | ||
| 94= | Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) | G1 | 3000 | T | E | HANSHIN | JPN | 3yo | 115.75 | ||
| 94= | Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes | G1 | 2000 | 1 1/4 | T | I | BELMONT PARK | USA | 4+ | 115.75 | |
