World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
Encyclopedia
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (WTRR) are compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), an organization established in 2003 with headquarters in Paris
, France
made up of members from around the world.
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."
Like most commercial enterprises, Thoroughbred horse racing has become part of the global economy
. As such, beginning in 2004, the organization of the world's most senior Handicapper
s undertook an official end-of-season assessment of the top Thoroughbred
performers and produced the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings which are published twice a year. Its January publication includes the end of season assessments of horses aged three years old and upwards which have either raced in, or been trained in, countries whose racing season runs from January 1 to December 31.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
made up of members from around the world.
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."
Like most commercial enterprises, Thoroughbred horse racing has become part of the global economy
Economic globalization
Economic globalization refers to increasing economic interdependence of national economies across the world through a rapid increase in cross-border movement of goods, service, technology and capital...
. As such, beginning in 2004, the organization of the world's most senior Handicapper
Handicapping
Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated...
s undertook an official end-of-season assessment of the top Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
performers and produced the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings which are published twice a year. Its January publication includes the end of season assessments of horses aged three years old and upwards which have either raced in, or been trained in, countries whose racing season runs from January 1 to December 31.
Top ranked horses
- Horse names are followed by a suffix indicating the country where foaled.
Year Rating Horse Trained Race 2003 134 Hawk Wing Hawk WingHawk Wing is a Thoroughbred racehorse trained by Aidan O'Brien.-2001: Two-year-old career:He was the top two-year old of 2001 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, by virtue of a two and a half length win in the National Stakes. He was not undefeated at two, however, having earlier finished second in...
(USA)Ireland Lockinge Stakes Lockinge StakesThe Lockinge Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...2004 130 Ghostzapper GhostzapperFoaled in Kentucky on April 6 in the year 2000, the thoroughbred racehorse Ghostzapper won the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2004, outdistancing Roses in May by three lengths in a stakes record of 1:59.02...
(USA)United States Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup ClassicThe Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...2005 130 Hurricane Run Hurricane RunHurricane Run is a world champion thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:Hurricane Run was trained by André Fabre, and ridden in most of his races by jockey Kieren Fallon for owner Michael Tabor....
(IRE)France Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Prix de l'Arc de TriompheThe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...2006 129 Invasor Invasor (horse)Invasor is a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan. The winner of the 2005 Triple Crown in Uruguay, he was later purchased by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who paid approximately USD 1.4 million for the horse...
(ARG)United States Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup ClassicThe Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...2007 131 Manduro ManduroManduro is a World Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Monsun, a multiple Group One winner in Germany, he is out of the mare Mandellicht, a daughter of Northern Dancer's son Be My Guest who was the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1982.Manduro was purchased by Baron Georg von...
(GER)France Prince of Wales's Stakes Prince of Wales's StakesThe Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....2008 130 Curlin (USA) United States Dubai World Cup Dubai World CupThe Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
Stephen Foster HandicapStephen Foster HandicapThe Stephen Foster Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in mid-June near the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Louisville, Kentucky...130 New Approach New ApproachNew Approach is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion. He won the 2008 Epsom Derby, and was rated the best racehorse in the world in the 2008 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings....
(IRE)Ireland Champion Stakes Champion StakesThe Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...2009 136 Sea The Stars Sea the StarsSea The Stars is a champion Irish Thoroughbred colt racehorse. Regarded by many as one of the greatest racehorses of all time, he is best known for winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, - the first colt to accomplish this treble since 1989 champion Nashwan - the...
(IRE)Ireland Irish Champion Stakes Irish Champion StakesThe Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...2010 135 Harbinger Harbinger (horse)Harbinger is a retired thoroughbred racehorse trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He won the 2010 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in a track record time, and beat the previous race record set by Grundy in 1975, albeit at the old Ascot track.He was sold at yearling auction for 180,000 guineas...
(GB)Great Britain King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2011 135 Frankel (GB) Frankel (horse)Frankel is a thoroughbred colt racehorse bred by Juddmonte Farms, trained by Sir Henry Cecil and owned by Prince Khalid Abdulla. Named after the renowned and late American trainer Bobby Frankel, Frankel is unbeaten in nine races and is officially rated as the best racehorse in the world...Great Britain Sussex Stakes Sussex StakesThe Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
External links
- IFHA official website (French & English)