THE LONGINES WORLD’S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS

The official listing of the world’s best racehorses

(For 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January and 9th August 2026)

 

KA YING RISING (NZ) [131], who has resumed training after a scheduled break, and OMBUDSMAN (IRE) [131], who is expected to run in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1), continue to lead the sixth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2026, while BOW ECHO (IRE) [127] improved his rating and sits alone in the third position.

 

 

 

 

A perfect six-for-six in his career, Bow Echo most recently added the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) to his list of accomplishments. With his victory, Bow Echo improved his rating to 127 from 126. He defeated GSTAAD (GB) [125] by a half-length, while OPERA BALLO (IRE) [124] and TEN BOB TONY (IRE) [121] finished third and fourth, respectively. Bow Echo came into the race having beaten Gstaad in both the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) and the Betfred 2000 Guineas Stakes (G1). Bow Echo has since been retired.

 

SCANDINAVIA (USA) [125] also improved his rating during Glorious Goodwood. He is now rated 125 from 123 following his 8 ½ length score in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (G1).

 

At Saratoga, SOVEREIGNTY (USA) [125] raised his rating to 125, up from 122, when he won the Whitney Stakes (G1) by 4 ¾ lengths.

 

At Ascot, KALPANA (GB) [124] impressed in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) when she defeated CALANDAGAN (IRE) [124] by 1 ½ lengths. BENVENUTO CELLINI (IRE) [123] was a half-length back in third.

 

Also joining the rankings is ITEM (GB) [122], who won the Sky Bet York Stakes (G2) by 2 ¾ lengths.

 

 

 

*  *  *  *  *  *

 

 

The LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

For further details on the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, please contact:

Greg Carpenter, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee

Head of Racing Product, The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Telephone +852 2966 5901
Email greg.carpenter@hkjc.org.hk

Dominic Gardiner-Hill, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee

Head of Handicapping, British Horseracing Authority

E-mail dgardinerhill@britishhorseracing.com

 

Tom Robbins, chairman, North American Ratings Committee

Executive Vice President, Racing & Industry Relations, Racing Secretary, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Telephone +1 858 792 4230

Email tomr@dmtc.com

 

 

* * * * * *

 

The full list and further information on the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are available on the IFHA website http://www.ifhaonline.org.

 

The next edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings will be published on Thursday 10^th September 2026.

 

E-Mail: achesser@jockeyclub.com