Three-Way Tie in World's Best Racehorse Ratings

Enable, Crystal Ocean, and Waldgeist, three middle-distance stars who last year took turns beating each other, have been jointly named the world's top racehorses in 2019. They also share the title of being the lowest-rated world champions since the international rankings began.

In what was a distinctly underwhelming flat season judged on numbers, Prix du Jockey Club (G1) hero Sottsass has been revealed to be the poorest No. 1 3-year-old since the inaugural international classifications in 1977.

The official champions of 2019 were unveiled in London at the Longines World's Best Racehorse Awards, during which the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1)—in which the Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist narrowly denied Enable a historic third consecutive success—was named the world's top race for the fourth time in five years.

Enable, Waldgeist, and Crystal Ocean all finished their 5-year-old seasons with an official rating of 128, matching the former benchmark low of Rock of Gibraltar in 2002.

Crystal Ocean was prepared by Sir Michael Stoute to earn his highest mark in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), in which he was beaten a neck by Enable when carrying three pounds more due to the sport's sex allowance, which is not built into the Longines rankings.

Enable's 128 was secured when she landed the Yorkshire Oaks (G1), and Waldgeist—who finished third to Enable and Crystal Ocean in the King George (G1)—soared to his personal-best mark by thwarting Enable at ParisLongchamp.

Enable stays in training with John Gosden as a 6-year-old, but Crystal Ocean and Waldgeist have both been retired.

Star Hong Kong miler Beauty Generation was next in the Longines list at 127.

The top rating given to an American horse was 126 for Vino Rosso  for his triumph in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), a performance that tied him for fifth on the ratings scale with Battash, Ghaiyyath, and Lys Gracieux.

Last year's joint world champion Winx, who retired following her 33rd consecutive victory in April, was this time bracketed in ninth at 125, alongside Benbatl and Glory Vase.

Down in co-16th was the world's leading 3-year-old, Sottsass, whose 123 was collected for his Arc third behind Waldgeist and Enable. 

No champion 3-year-old had ever rated below 125, while Roaring Lion, Cracksman, and Arrogate , division leaders of the Classic crop in 2018, 2017, and 2016, finished their seasons at 127, 130, and 134, respectively.

Overall, 296 horses trained in 17 countries were rated 115 or higher in 2019, compared to 332 from the same number of countries in 2018.

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities also published its annual list of top 100 group 1 and grade 1 races Jan. 22, calculated based on the first four finishers from each race.

The top American race, tied for 10th worldwide, was the Breeders' Cup Classic with a rating of 121.50.