On 23 January, Swiss watch brand Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) proudly hosted the 2023 Longines World Racing Awards ceremony in London. Equinox won the 2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse title, while the Japan Cup in association with Longines (G1) was named the 2023 Longines World’s Best Horse Race.

The horse racing world gathered in London on Tuesday to celebrate the 11th time Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) have crowned the top Thoroughbred racehorse of the previous year. Additionally, the Longines World’s Best Horse Race was honoured for the ninth time.

During the Longines World Racing Awards ceremony, which was held at The Savoy, Equinox (JPN) was named the 2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse with a rating of 135. This is the highest mark a Japanese horse has received under the current system, besting the 134 that El Condor Pasa earned in 1999. It is the second time a horse from Japan has won the Longines World’s Best Racehorse title, following Just A Way in 2014.

Equinox earned his rating in the Japan Cup in association with Longines (G1), which he took by four lengths over Liberty Island, who won the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies earlier in the season. Equinox was undefeated in 2023, with his other victories coming in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), Takarazuka Kinen (G1), and Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1). The Japan Cup was the final race of his storied career. Tetsuya Kimura trained Equinox for Silk Racing, and he was ridden to victory by Christophe Lemaire.

Masashi Yonemoto, the CEO of Silk Racing, as well as Kimura and Lemaire were in London to celebrate their champion. 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.

Additionally, the Japan Cup in association with Longines (G1) was honoured as the Longines World’s Best Horse Race with a rating of 126.75. Longines is proud to be the Official Partner and Official Timekeeper of this historic race.

The Longines World’s Best Horse Race Award recognises 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. This is the first time the Japan Cup has won the award.

Masayoshi Yoshida, the President of the Japan Racing Association (JRA), as well as Masayuki Goto, the JRA’s Executive Adviser of International Affairs, were in London to accept the award. They received an elegant Longines timepiece as well as a replica of the trophy, representing a proud horse head, on behalf of the JRA.