Horse races are some of the most watched events on earth. Their huge purses attract bettors from around the world and they have a storied history of prestige and impact. But what makes a great race? Ratings are one identifier, but there are many other factors at play.
A horse race is a contest between two or more horses that involves running over obstacles and is typically conducted under the watchful eye of human trainers. There are different types of horse racing, including flat racing (on turf or dirt) and steeplechasing (over fences). The sport’s biggest draw is betting, with a global market of over $115 billion.
Horses are bred for speed, endurance, and beauty. The sport is also infamous for its cruelty, with growing awareness of abusive training practices, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns leading to euthanasia and slaughter. While spectators adorn themselves in fancy outfits and sip mint juleps, the horses run for their lives and risk suffering from severe injuries.
The top rated horse race in the world is The Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s heavyweight showdown to decide equine supremacy. It is deserving of its status as the best race in the world, but it is important to remember that ratings alone don’t make a race great.
There are many other identifying features, such as prize money, prestige, and impact that can make a race the best in the world. Ultimately, it comes down to what the public wants to see. A race’s success is measured by how much it entertains, whether the event is televised, and its historical significance.
Ratings are an essential part of any handicapping system, and the IFHA rankings have been published since 1977. The ratings are compiled by racing officials and handicappers from across the globe who agree on a ranking order for each horse based on their performance in elite races. In addition to the IFHA rankings, many individual countries also publish their own.
A race’s ratings can be influenced by a number of factors, including surface and distance, sex of the horse, weight carried, and position in the starting gate. Despite these limitations, a horse’s overall rating is an accurate reflection of its ability and a useful tool for predicting its performance.
A horse’s speed rating peaks at a certain age, depending on the breed. It is not uncommon for a horse to earn its highest speed rating as a two-year-old, but this is not always the case. For example, Man o’ War earned his top speed figure in 1919 when he was only six years old. Similarly, Sunshine Bear ran a Beyer speed figure of 91 when winning in a three-year-old stakes and Messenger Springs earned a 73 at nine years of age. However, in both of these cases, a horse’s best speed figure did not factor in the additional weight it was carrying. Therefore, the ratings were adjusted to correct for this factor.