2021 World's Best Racehorse Rankings

The 2021 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, sponsored by Longines was the 2021 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings.[1] It was an assessment of Thoroughbred racehorses issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) on 25 January 2022.[2] It included horses aged three or older which competed in flat races during 2021. It was open to all horses irrespective of where they raced or where they were trained.

Rankings for 2021

  • For a detailed guide to this table, see below.
Rank
Rating
Horse
Age
Sex
Trained
Surface
Cat.
1 129 Knicks Go (USA) 5 H USA Dirt I
2 127 Adayar (IRE) 3 C GB Turf L
2 127 Mishriff (IRE) 4 C GB Turf I
2 127 St Mark's Basilica (FR) 3 C IRE Turf I
5 126 Contrail (JPN) 4 C JPN Turf L
6 125 Baaeed (GB) 3 C GB Turf M
6 125 Golden Sixty (AUS) 6 G HK Turf M
6 125 Palace Pier (GB) 4 C GB Turf M
6 125 Torquator Tasso (GER) 4 C GER Turf L
10 124 Efforia (JPN) 3 C JPN Turf I, L
10 124 Flightline (USA) 3 C USA Dirt S
10 124 Life Is Good (USA) 3 C USA Dirt M
10 124 Medina Spirit (USA) 3 C USA Dirt I, M
10 124 Nature Strip (AUS) 7 G AUS Turf S
15 123 Essential Quality (USA) 3 C USA Dirt I, L
15 123 Glory Vase (JPN) 5 H JPN Turf L
15 123 Hurricane Lane (IRE) 3 C GB Turf L
15 123 Sealiway (FR) 3 C FR Turf I
15 123 Subjectivist (GB) 4 C GB Turf E
15 123 Verry Elleegant (NZ) 6 M AUS Turf E
21 122 Domestic Spending (GB) 4 G USA Turf I
21 122 Hot Rod Charlie (USA) 3 C USA Dirt M
21 122 Incentivise (AUS) 5 G AUS Turf L
21 122 Jackie's Warrior (USA) 3 C USA Dirt S
21 122 Mystic Guide (USA) 4 C USA Dirt I
21 122 Poetic Flare (IRE) 3 C IRE Turf M, I
27 121 Authority (JPN) 4 C JPN Turf L
27 121 Charlatan (USA) 4 C USA Dirt M
27 121 Deep Bond (JPN) 4 C JPN Turf L
27 121 Dubai Honour (IRE) 3 G GB Turf I
27 121 Eduardo (AUS) 8 G AUS Turf S
27 121 Golden Pal (USA) 3 C USA Turf S
27 121 Mandaloun (USA) 3 C USA Dirt I, M
27 121 Masked Crusader (AUS) 5 G AUS Turf S
27 121 Zaaki (GB) 6 G AUS Turf M
36 120 Addeybb (IRE) 7 G GB Turf I
36 120 Chrono Genesis (JPN) 5 M JPN Turf L
36 120 Exultant (IRE) 7 G HK Turf M
36 120 Gran Alegria (JPN) 5 M JPN Turf M
36 120 Lord North (IRE) 5 G GB Turf M
36 120 Midnight Bourbon (USA) 3 C USA Dirt I
36 120 Monomoy Girl (USA) 6 M USA Dirt M
36 120 Pyledriver (GB) 4 C GB Turf L
36 120 Shahryar (JPN) 3 C JPN Turf L
36 120 Skalleti (FR) 6 G FR Turf I
36 120 Snowfall (JPN) 3 F IRE Turf L
36 120 State Of Rest (IRE) 3 C IRE Turf I
36 120 Tarnawa (IRE) 5 M IRE Turf I, L
36 120 T O Keynes (JPN) 4 C JPN Dirt M
36 120 Trueshan (FR) 5 G GB Turf E
36 120 Yibir (GB) 3 G GB Turf L
52 119 Al Aasy (IRE) 4 G GB Turf L
52 119 Alcohol Free (IRE) 3 F GB Turf M
52 119 Aloha West (USA) 4 C USA Dirt S
52 119 Anamoe (AUS) 3 C AUS Turf I
52 119 Art Collector (USA) 4 C USA Dirt M
52 119 Colonel Liam (USA) 4 C USA Turf M
52 119 Do It Again (SAF) 7 G SAF Turf L
52 119 Dr Schivel (USA) 3 C USA Dirt S
52 119 Lone Eagle (IRE) 3 C GB Turf L
52 119 Max Player (USA) 4 C USA Dirt I
52 119 Mugatoo (IRE) 6 G AUS Turf M
52 119 Rainbow Bridge (SAF) 7 G SAF Turf I
52 119 Schnell Meister (GER) 3 C JPN Turf M
52 119 Starman (GB) 4 C GB Turf S
52 119 Stella Veloce (JPN) 3 C JPN Turf L
52 119 Suesa (IRE) 3 F FR Turf S
52 119 Village King (ARG) 7 H ARG Turf L
52 119 World Premiere (JPN) 5 H JPN Turf E
70 118 Alpinista (GB) 4 F GB Turf L
70 118 Broome (IRE) 5 H IRE Turf L
70 118 Creative Force (IRE) 3 G GB Turf S
70 118 Dalasan (AUS) 5 H AUS Turf I
70 118 Danon Kingly (JPN) 5 H JPN Turf M
70 118 Danon The Kid (JPN) 3 C JPN Turf M
70 118 Dream of Dreams (IRE) 7 G GB Turf S
70 118 Gamine (USA) 4 F USA Dirt S
70 118 Home Affairs (AUS) 3 C AUS Turf S
70 118 Indy Champ (JPN) 6 H JPN Turf M
70 118 Lei Papale (JPN) 4 F JPN Turf I
70 118 Letruska (USA) 5 M USA Dirt M
70 118 Love (IRE) 4 F IRE Turf I, L
70 118 Loves Only You (JPN) 5 M JPN Turf I, L
70 118 Mac Swiney (IRE) 3 C IRE Turf M, I
70 118 Mare Australis (IRE) 4 C FR Turf I
70 118 Maxfield (USA) 4 C USA Dirt M
70 118 More Than This (GB) 5 G HK Turf M
70 118 Order of Australia (IRE) 4 C IRE Turf M
70 118 Pixie Knight (JPN) 3 C JPN Turf S
70 118 Real World (IRE) 4 C GB Turf M
70 118 Rombauer (USA) 3 C USA Dirt I
70 118 Russian Camelot (IRE) 4 C AUS Turf M
70 118 Sanrei Pocket (JPN) 6 H JPN Turf I, L
70 118 Sir Dragonet (IRE) 5 H AUS Turf L
70 118 Sir Ron Priestley (GB) 5 H GB Turf L
70 118 Southern Legend (AUS) 9 G HK Turf M
70 118 Space Blues (IRE) 5 H GB Turf M
70 118 Stradivarius (IRE) 7 H GB Turf E
70 118 The Revenant (GB) 6 G FR Turf M
70 118 Think It Over (AUS) 6 G AUS Turf I
70 118 Titleholder (JPN) 3 C JPN Turf E
70 118 Unicorn Lion (IRE) 5 H JPN Turf L
70 118 Waikuku (IRE) 6 G HK Turf M

Guide

A complete guide to the main table above.

Rank
A horse's position in the list, with the most highly rated at number 1. Each horse is ranked once according to its highest rating. Any lesser ratings for the same horse are not ranked.
Rating
A rating represents a weight value in pounds, with higher values given to horses which showed greater ability. It is judged that these weights would equalise the abilities of the horses if carried in a theoretical handicap race. The minimum rating required for inclusion is 115.
Horse
Each horse's name is followed by a suffix (from the IFHA's International Code of Suffixes) which indicates the country foaled.[3]
Age
The age of the horse at the time it achieved its rating. The racing ages of all horses foaled in a particular part of the world increase simultaneously, regardless of the actual date of foaling.[4]
Dates of age increase by location foaled
Northern Hemisphere 1 January
South America 1 July
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa 1 August
Sex
C Colt Ungelded male horse up to four-years-old
F Filly Female horse up to four-years-old
H Horse Ungelded male horse over four-years-old
M Mare Female horse over four-years-old
G Gelding Gelded male horse of any age
Trained
The country where the horse was trained at the time of the rating, abbreviated using the International Code of Suffixes.[3]
Position
The horse's finishing position in the race shown. The actual finishing order can sometimes be amended following an inquiry or a disqualification.
= Dead-heat
Promoted from original finishing position
Relegated from original finishing position
Race
The race (or one of the races) for which the horse achieved its rating. A defeated horse can be rated above its higher-placed opponents if it carried more weight.
Surface
The surface of the track on which the race was run, eg. turf or dirt. Synthetic surfaces are described as "artificial".


Distance
The distance of the race in metres. In some countries (eg. Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and the United States), the length of a race is usually expressed in miles and furlongs. These units have been converted to metres to allow for universal comparison.
Common conversions
5 furlongs = 1,006 m 1 mile and 1½ furlongs = 1,911 m
6 furlongs = 1,207 m 1 mile and 2 furlongs = 2,012 m
6½ furlongs = 1,308 m 1 mile and 2½ furlongs = 2,112 m
7 furlongs = 1,408 m 1 mile and 3 furlongs = 2,213 m
7½ furlongs = 1,509 m 1 mile and 4 furlongs = 2,414 m
1 mile = 1,609 m 1 mile and 6 furlongs = 2,816 m
1 mile and ½ furlong = 1,710 m 2 miles = 3,219 m
1 mile and 1 furlong = 1,811 m 2 miles and 4 furlongs = 4,023 m
Category
Metres Furlongs
S Sprint 1,000–1,300
1,000–1,599 (CAN / USA)
5–6.5
5–7.99 (CAN / USA)
M Mile 1,301–1,899
1,600–1,899 (CAN / USA)
6.51–9.49
8–9.49 (CAN / USA)
I Intermediate 1,900–2,100 9.5–10.5
L Long 2,101–2,700 10.51–13.5
E Extended 2,701+ 13.51+
International Code of Suffixes
The following countries have been represented in the WTR as foaling or training locations since the first edition in 2004.[3]
ARG Argentina ITY Italy
AUS Australia JPN Japan
BRZ Brazil KSA Saudi Arabia
CAN Canada NZ New Zealand
CHI Chile SAF South Africa
CZE Czech Republic SIN Singapore
FR France SPA Spain
GB Great Britain TUR Turkey
GER Germany UAE United Arab Emirates
HK Hong Kong USA United States
HUN Hungary VEN Venezuela
IRE Ireland ZIM Zimbabwe
Shading
The shaded areas represent lesser ratings recorded by horses which were more highly rated in a different category. The IFHA publishes this information when the lower rating is the overall top performance in a particular category.

References

  1. ^ "The 2021 World Thoroughbred Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  2. ^ "2021 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Summary". Horseracingintfed.com. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  3. ^ a b c "International Code of Suffixes". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. May 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Weight-for-Age Scale". Godolphin. Retrieved 6 March 2011.