York has the best horserace in the world.
The Juddmonte International was officially recognised as the World’s Best Horserace during the prestigious Longines World Racing Awards.
Hosted by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities at The Savoy in London, the awards took place today (Tuesday).
The Group 1 Juddmonte International’s top ranking reflects the high-quality of the first four horses home in last August’s race, the centrepiece of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.
It’s the second time the race has won the award.
This year, the race offered a record prize fund of £1.25m and attracted the largest and most international field of horses since the race was first run in 1972.
It was won in a record time by City of Troy, for his Coolmore owners, trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.
This accolade rounds off a fabulous season at York, where the highest ever prize pot attracted a record number of runners leading to the highest average field size of any racecourse in Britain.
William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course said, “It is such an honour that our flagship race, the Group 1 Juddmonte International, has been awarded the Longines World’s Best Horserace 2024.
“It is the ultimate recognition for the vision, commitment and investment by the York Race Committee and Juddmonte over the past four decades.
“So many people play a part in delivering fabulous horse races such as these at the global elite level; this is a credit to all of them.
“Of course, it would not be possible without the support of the connections of the horses themselves – we are incredibly grateful to those owners of the thirteen fabulous thoroughbreds and to the trainers, jockeys and racing staff who contributed to the memorable spectacle as well as everyone who supports racing at York.
“To win for a second time so joining a small cohort of the world’s iconic races only reinforces the commitment of everyone at York to top quality sporting action.”