The horse racing world came together in London on Jan. 20 to celebrate the 13th time Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) have honored the top Thoroughbred racehorse of the previous year. Additionally, the Longines World’s Best Horse Race was celebrated for the 11th time.

“Equestrian sports have been part of the Longines story for more than a century,” said Yannick Jenni, the Longines vice president sales international. “It is a sport that reflects what our brand stands for: respect for tradition, high performance, and timeless elegance. Our partnership with the IFHA is built on these same principles. Together, we work to support horse racing around the world and to highlight the achievements of its greatest champions.

“Today is about recognition. We are here to celebrate exceptional races and exceptional horses, and the many people behind them: owners, trainers, jockeys, and teams, all those whose dedication makes this sport so special.”

During the Longines World Racing Awards ceremony, which was held at The Savoy, Calandagan was named the 2025 Longines World’s Best Racehorse with a rating of 130. Calandagan earned his rating in the Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot.

A top-level winner in three countries in 2025, his other Group 1 victories came in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Japan Cup in association with Longines.

The winning connections were presented with elegant Longines watches as well as a replica of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse vase, named Equus, by representatives of Longines and IFHA. The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top races.

Forever Young, the Japan-based winner of the 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, and U.S. standout 3-year-old Sovereignty were among a group of five horses tied for second with a 128 rating. Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets as well as the DraftKings Travers Stakes.

Additionally, the Qipco Champion Stakes and Japan Cup in association with Longines both were honored as the Longines World’s Best Horse Race with an equal rating of 126.25. This is the first time the Champion Stakes has been celebrated, while the Japan Cup first won the title in 2023.

The Longines World’s Best Horse Race Award recognizes the best-rated race of the highest-rated Group/Grade 1 international races as established by a panel of international handicappers. The ratings of the top four finishers in each race serve as basis for the assessment. Calandagan, the world’s highest rated horse, won both contests, and it is the first time there has been a tie in this category.