Females Top World's Best Racehorse Rankings

Two females—Australia's Black Caviar and Treve from France—shared top rating of 130 on the final World's Best Racehorse Rankings of 2013 published Jan. 15 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.



Both horses were honored during the World's Best Racehorse ceremony held during the Longines Hong Kong International Races Dec. 6. Longines is an official partner of the IFHA and sponsor of the rankings.



Joint third-best horses for 2013 at 129 were reigning North American Horse of the Year Wise Dan and Japanese horse Orfevre, who attained his ranking with an impressive victory in the Arima Kinen (Jpn-I) Dec. 22.



The year "was truly an exceptional and exciting year in global horse racing, where a number of brilliant performances were achieved on the racetrack and key partnerships and initiatives were undertaken by horse racing bodies," said IFHA chairman Louis Romanet. "There has never been a time when our sport's best performers have been so recognized at an international level."



It "will long be remembered for two very special undefeated racehorses in Black Caviar and Treve," said Nigel Gray, co-chairman of the World Rankings supervisory committee. "The 2013 World's Best Racehorse Rankings also marks the first time in official rankings history that the top two racehorses in the world are female."



"For 2013, no less than 20 countries are represented and the top 10 racehorses in the world are equally diverse, being comprised of four horses trained in Europe, three horses trained in North America, two horses trained in Asia, and one horse trained in Australia," said Garry O'Gorman, co-chairman of the World Rankings supervisory committee.



The rankings mark the second year in which South American horses are included, eight in total. The South American countries have also established a new Pattern Race Committee, which is examining the grading and ranking of all group races in eight South American countries.