Game On: Big ’Cap Winner Tops IFHA Rankings
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Game On Dude comes back after winning his third Santa Anita Handicap (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire).
Americans ruled the first International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IHFA) Longines World Rankings released on March 13 with Game On Dude leading the charge.
In all, 10 U.S.-based horses made the top 20 in the IFHA rankings with Game On Dude topping all horses with a ranking of 125 after his 2014 Santa Anita Handicap win. Game On Dude’s No. 1 ranking is the first time a U.S.-based horse has led the list since Quality Road led the standings with a 126 rating in May 2010.
Will Take Charge’s second-place finishes in the Donn Handicap and Santa Anita Handicap earned a rating of 123, good enough for third on the list while Donn winner Lea was the only other U.S. horse above 120, coming in with a 121 rating for sixth.
Another notable ranking for the United States was Cairo Prince’s 117, good enough for 15th on the list and topping all 3-year-olds. The United States 3-year-olds accounted for three of only five 3-year-olds on the list, with both California Chrome and Tapiture earning rankings of 116, although it should be noted that the European flat racing season doesn’t heat up until next month.
Other U.S.-based horses on the list are Lochte, with a 118 rating, and Groupie Doll with a 116 rating, tying with Twilight Eclipse and Vagabond Shoes.
The LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings is horseracing's equivalent to World Rankings by other major sporting organizations such as ATP Tennis Rankings, World Golf Rankings, FIFA World Rankings for soccer and IRB Rugby World Rankings. The LONGINES Rankings are based on the ratings earned by horses running worldwide from North and South America, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Asia through to Australia and New Zealand. The ratings are compiled under the auspices of The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) by racing officials & handicappers representing the five continents who compile the ranking order by agreeing on the rating for each horse. The ratings are based on the performance of horses in elite races held during the designated period which takes in account the quality of opposition and achievements of each horse. Throughout the year the Longines Rankings are published at regular intervals and the consolidated annual rankings are released in January. The annual rankings denote the champions in the various distance categories for example sprint or mile, surface either turf or dirt/artificial and also the fillies & mares category.