What Is 2017 World's Best Racehorse Rankings

Overview

The 2017 World's Best Racehorse Rankings provided a comprehensive assessment of Thoroughbred racehorses globally, evaluating performances across major races from January to December 2017. Released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the rankings serve as an official benchmark for equine excellence.

For the first time in history, three horses tied for the top ranking with a rating of 132: Arrogate, Gun Runner, and Winx. This reflected an unusually balanced year at the elite level, with standout performances across continents and racing styles.

• Arrogate earned his 132 rating with victories in the Dubai World Cup and the 2017 Pegasus World Cup, both high-value, Grade 1 races.
• Gun Runner secured his 132 mark by winning the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Woodward Stakes, showcasing consistent elite-level form.
• Winx, racing in Australia, maintained an undefeated season with wins in the Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, contributing to her 132 rating.
• The IFHA uses a complex formula based on race class, margin of victory, and strength of competition to assign ratings on a point-per-pound system.
• Only horses competing between January 1 and December 31, 2017, were eligible, ensuring a strict annual evaluation window.

How It Works

The World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are determined through a collaborative effort by international handicappers under the IFHA, ensuring standardized evaluation across regions.

• Rating System: Horses are assigned numerical ratings based on performance, with 120 considered Group 1 quality and 130+ reserved for elite champions.
• Global Scope: The rankings include races from over 30 countries, including the U.S., UK, Japan, Australia, and the UAE, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
• Weight-for-Age Adjustments: Evaluators adjust for age and sex, allowing fair comparisons between 3-year-olds and older horses.
• Margin of Victory: A dominant win by three or more lengths in a top-tier race can significantly boost a horse’s rating.
• Strength of Competition: Finishing ahead of highly rated rivals increases a horse’s score, emphasizing quality over mere win count.
• Consistency: Horses with multiple high-level performances, such as Winx’s 13 consecutive wins in 2017, receive bonus consideration.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the top five horses in the 2017 rankings by rating, nationality, major wins, and race type.

The table highlights how different racing styles and surfaces contributed to rankings. Winx’s success on Australian turf contrasted with Arrogate and Gun Runner’s dominance on American dirt tracks, illustrating the IFHA’s ability to compare across diverse conditions. This global inclusivity is central to the ranking’s credibility.

Why It Matters

The 2017 rankings were significant not only for recognizing equine achievement but also for shaping breeding values, race invitations, and international prestige. The rare three-way tie underscored a year of exceptional parity among champions.

• A rating of 132 placed all three top horses among the highest-scoring in history, comparable to legends like Black Caviar and Frankel.
• Winx’s inclusion affirmed the competitiveness of Southern Hemisphere racing on the world stage.
• Arrogate’s performances helped boost the global profile of the Pegasus World Cup as a premier international event.
• Gun Runner’s consistency elevated his stud value, later selling for over $15 million to stand at Ashford Stud.
• The rankings influence invitations to elite races like the Dubai World Cup and Breeders’ Cup, based on merit rather than nationality.
• For fans and bettors, the list provides an authoritative reference for comparing horses across different racing jurisdictions.

Ultimately, the 2017 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings captured a golden era in global horse racing, where excellence emerged from multiple continents and racing traditions, united by a common standard of evaluation.