York’s Juddmonte International again best race in the world

Its status was confirmed by the 2020 Longines World’s Best Race rankings which is determined by the ratings of the first four horses home in every race.

This saw Ghaiyyath virtually make all in a remorseless and relentless piece of front-running from Magical, Lord North and Kameko – all proven Group One champions.

The Juddmonte International last won the coveted award in 2014 when a three-year rolling average of ratings was used to determine the best race.

The flagship race of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, the announcement is a particularly poignant one because it comes just a fortnight after the death of legendary owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah, who set up Juddmonte Farms.

His iconic horses included Frankel, whose mesmeric win in the 2012 Juddmonte International, a 10-furlong race, helped elevate the York contest to new heights in the racing public’s consciousness.

The regret is that no crowds were present on Knavesmire last August to witness the triumph of Ghaiyyath, also named the world’s best horse on ratings, and jockey William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby and Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin racing operation.

Now retired to stud, it was the horse’s third – and final– Group One win of 2020 following earlier successes in the Coronation Cup, run at Newbury, and Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse.

“This is a fantastic endorsement of the quality of racing at York,” said racecourse chief executive William Derby as the announcement was made.

“Everyone associated with York is delighted and honoured to win this prestigious award from the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee.

“It means that the Juddmonte International sits on top of the world, higher ranked than more than 100,000 horse races staged globally.

“It is a tribute to all the hard work and effort invested by the York Race Committee, Juddmonte and all the team at York, so I could not be more proud.”

He added: “We remain hugely grateful and appreciative of the continued support we receive from so many individuals, connections and organisations in helping stage top quality racing at York.

“Having been responsible for the number one race in the world is a huge accolade for York, Yorkshire and British racing. It means we are determined to keep building on this award by continuing to deliver fantastic racing action, facilities and experiences at York, into the future, so cannot wait to welcome everyone back.”

Bridget Guerin, the newly-appointed chair of York Racecourse, said: “York is particularly grateful to the late Prince Khalid and Juddmonte, whose support of the race for over 30 years meant another world-class field assembled on the Knavesmire in 2020.

“I am delighted that the ratings have now confirmed what we felt at the time – that the Juddmonte International is the best race in the world.”

Ruth Quinn, the British Horseracing Authority’s director of international racing, added: “It is excellent news that the Juddmonte International has once again been recognised as the strongest race in the world.

“Its roll of honour features some of the great names of the turf and 2020’s typically strong renewal did not disappoint.”

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