U.S. Horses Remain Strong in New IFHA Rankings
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Wise Dan (left) and Game On Dude (right) rank in the top four of the IFHA World Thoroughbred Rankings.
The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) released its new rankings of the world’s best racehorses on Thursday, and the list continues to be dominated at the top by U.S.-based or -raced horses with four horses ranked in the top six.
The IFHA takes input from racing officials and handicappers from five continents to come up with a rating for each horse for a specific period of time based upon their performances during this timeframe. Be sure to check out the Equibase IFHA World Thoroughbred Rankings page, featuring the rankings, age, sex and connections. The Equibase page also includes links to the Equibase bios, the America’s Best Racing bios of American-based or –raced horses, 5-cross pedigrees from Equineline, and detailed race records.
In the most recent ratings (based on racing from Dec. 1, 2012 through Sept. 8, 2013), four U.S. horses (including Animal Kingdom, now at stud in Australia but based in Maryland throughout his career) ranked in the top six and nine horses ranked in the top 34.
Wise Dan tops the U.S. contingent in the rankings. He sits in second with a 129 rating that is just a point behind Australian star sprinter Black Caviar.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Game On Dude checks in tied for fourth with a rating of 126. Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2013 Dubai World Cup, and 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Fort Larned are tied for sixth at 125.
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.