International Federation of Horseracing Authorities

The Niarchos Family was awarded the 2021 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit at Del Mar during the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Champions on Friday, Nov. 5. Started in 2013 by Longines and the IFHA and given to horsemen and horsewomen who make lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing, the award was accepted by Maria Niarchos-Gouaze on behalf of her family. More than 125 Group or Grade 1 winners have been bred and/or campaigned under their banner, and they have been long-time supporters of the Breeders' Cup. Representatives from Longines,...

Saudi Arabia's $20-million Saudi Cup has been awarded Group 1 status beginning in 2022 it was announced during Monday's virtual meeting of the Executive Council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The move follows the promotion of both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from Part III to Part II of the ICS Book by the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC). In addition, the Neom Turf Cup, Saudi Derby, STC 1,351 Turf Sprint, Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Red Sea Turf, as well as Bahrain's Bahrain International Trophy...

The 2021 International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), will be held virtually for the second year in a row on Oct. 4. This year's focus will be on global racing's evolution and future challenges, with the conference digitally released on Oct. 7. New IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will give the keynote speech, as well as several panel discussions. Some of the topics to be covered in this year's conference include: digitalisation and media; equine welfare; and climate change and sustainability. Rishi Persad...

Louis Romanet will retire as chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities in October, and will be succeeded by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who was elected by the IFHA's executive council. Romanet has served as chairman of the IFHA since its inception in 1994 in Paris. Going forward, the IFHA will be supported by a global management team that will be announced in October. The IFHA executive council also elected four Vice Chairs: Jockey Club President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Gagliano and outgoing Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh...

G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) has joined dual French Classic winner and G1 Coral-Eclipse hero St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on top of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Both are now rated 127 after the Godolphin silksbearer won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), third behind St Mark's Basilica and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) (121) in the Coral-Eclipse, moved up to a mark of 124 after running second to Adayar in the Goodwood feature. Palace Pier (GB)...

The Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Japan (LRC) has been provisionally appointed as an International Federation of Horseracing Authorities Reference Laboratory after the IFHA Executive Council approved the appointment. Established in 1965, the LRC is an internationally accredited horse racing doping control laboratory primarily used to provide professional analytical testing services for the analysis of equine biological samples from horse racing and international equestrian events. LRC is the only equine drug testing laboratory in Japan, and its main role is to uphold the integrity of horse racing in Japan to ensure...

Saudi Cup hero and MG1SW Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) stands on top of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on Thursday. The John Gosden trainee and French Classic winner was rated 122, two better than Saudi Cup runner-up Charlatan (Speightstown) at 120. Australian sprinter Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) sits second on the list at 121 after winning the G1 Lightning S. in February. Rated equal to Charlatan are the Hong Kong-based duo of Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and...

The Longines World Racing Awards ceremony will take place virtually on Tuesday, Jan. 26 beginning at 2 p.m. GMT/9 a.m. EST. Francesca Cumani will host the show, which will be released on multiple digital platforms including the social media accounts of Longines, the IFHA and World Horse Racing, from the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket. The ceremony will reveal the highest-rated horses in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings in 2020, as well as the Longines World's Best Horse Race for 2020. The 2020 Longines World's Best Jockey, Frankie...

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) is the new official partner of the 55th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities. The conference, which is normally held in October, is organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The JRA will promote Japanese racing on the www.ifhaonline.org and social media channels, while the partnership is also expected to further development of international horse racing and international cooperation. "We are pleased to have the JRA become our partner for the Federation's signature conference," said IFHA Chairman Louis Romanet. "Our conference, which traditionally is...

The 2020 Longines World Racing Awards ceremony will be held in a virtual format on Jan. 26 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Organised by Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the event will celebrate the Longines World's Best Racehorse, the Longines World's Best Horse Race and the Longines World's Best Jockey of the 2020 season. The ceremony will be released on multiple digital platforms including the social media accounts of Longines and the IFHA. The Longines WBRR are established by international handicappers according to the performance...

The IFHA Minimum Horse Welfare Standards were published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on Monday. The standards are in line with the IFHA's terms of reference that include promoting best practice, harmonization and information exchange across racing nations. They also complement recent reforms that ensure traceability of horses from their foal stage through into retirement and beyond. Racing authorities should refer to this guidance to establish accepted horse welfare practices in their jurisdiction and to set minimum standards of participant behaviour, including behavioural change where necessary. "The IFHA...

Racing has been fortunate to forge ahead in 2020 without crowds, but it is imperative that they return as soon as possible. That was one of the overriding themes of the third panel of the virtual International Conference of Horseracing Authorities released on Monday and entitled "Participating and working in racing during a global pandemic." Moderator Rishi Persad spoke with trainers Charlie Appleby, Chris Waller and Ger Lyons as well as jockeys Hollie Doyle and Zac Purton about the experience of being a racing professional in 2020. "When the country...