The 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, sponsored by Longines was the 2020 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings.[1] It was an assessment of Thoroughbredracehorses issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) on 26 January 2021.[2] It included horses aged three or older which competed in flat races during 2020. It was open to all horses irrespective of where they raced or where they were trained.
A horse's position in the list, with the most highly rated at number 1. Each horse is ranked once according to its highest rating. Any lesser ratings for the same horse are not ranked.
Rating
A rating represents a weight value in pounds, with higher values given to horses which showed greater ability. It is judged that these weights would equalise the abilities of the horses if carried in a theoretical handicap race. The minimum rating required for inclusion is 115.
Horse
Each horse's name is followed by a suffix (from the IFHA's International Code of Suffixes) which indicates the country foaled.[3]
Age
The age of the horse at the time it achieved its rating. The racing ages of all horses foaled in a particular part of the world increase simultaneously, regardless of the actual date of foaling.[4]
The country where the horse was trained at the time of the rating, abbreviated using the International Code of Suffixes.[3]
Position
The horse's finishing position in the race shown. The actual finishing order can sometimes be amended following an inquiry or a disqualification.
=
Dead-heat
↑
Promoted from original finishing position
↓
Relegated from original finishing position
Race
The race (or one of the races) for which the horse achieved its rating. A defeated horse can be rated above its higher-placed opponents if it carried more weight.
Surface
The surface of the track on which the race was run, eg. turf or dirt. Synthetic surfaces are described as "artificial".
Distance
The distance of the race in metres. In some countries (eg. Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and the United States), the length of a race is usually expressed in miles and furlongs. These units have been converted to metres to allow for universal comparison.
Common conversions
5 furlongs
= 1,006 m
1 mile and 1½ furlongs
= 1,911 m
6 furlongs
= 1,207 m
1 mile and 2 furlongs
= 2,012 m
6½ furlongs
= 1,308 m
1 mile and 2½ furlongs
= 2,112 m
7 furlongs
= 1,408 m
1 mile and 3 furlongs
= 2,213 m
7½ furlongs
= 1,509 m
1 mile and 4 furlongs
= 2,414 m
1 mile
= 1,609 m
1 mile and 6 furlongs
= 2,816 m
1 mile and ½ furlong
= 1,710 m
2 miles
= 3,219 m
1 mile and 1 furlong
= 1,811 m
2 miles and 4 furlongs
= 4,023 m
Category
Metres
Furlongs
S
Sprint
1,000–1,300 1,000–1,599 (CAN / USA)
5–6.5 5–7.99 (CAN / USA)
M
Mile
1,301–1,899 1,600–1,899 (CAN / USA)
6.51–9.49 8–9.49 (CAN / USA)
I
Intermediate
1,900–2,100
9.5–10.5
L
Long
2,101–2,700
10.51–13.5
E
Extended
2,701+
13.51+
International Code of Suffixes
The following countries have been represented in the WTR as foaling or training locations since the first edition in 2004.[3]
ARG
Argentina
ITY
Italy
AUS
Australia
JPN
Japan
BRZ
Brazil
KSA
Saudi Arabia
CAN
Canada
NZ
New Zealand
CHI
Chile
SAF
South Africa
CZE
Czech Republic
SIN
Singapore
FR
France
SPA
Spain
GB
Great Britain
TUR
Turkey
GER
Germany
UAE
United Arab Emirates
HK
Hong Kong
USA
United States
HUN
Hungary
VEN
Venezuela
IRE
Ireland
ZIM
Zimbabwe
Shading
The shaded areas represent lesser ratings recorded by horses which were more highly rated in a different category. The IFHA publishes this information when the lower rating is the overall top performance in a particular category.