James McDonald wins world's best jockey award
After dominating the competition throughout the year, James McDonald was honored on Friday with the 2025 world’s best jockey award. He first took the title in 2022 and was also celebrated last year.
McDonald accumulated 184 points throughout the 2025 competition. He won 12 of the world’s top 100 Group or Grade 1 races, with his qualifying victories coming in the Hong Kong Cup (Romantic Warrior), Longines Hong Kong Mile (Voyage Bubble), Stewards' Cup (Voyage Bubble), Hong Kong Gold Cup (Voyage Bubble), Verry Elleegant Stakes (Via Sistina), Ranvet Stakes (Via Sistina), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Via Sistina), Doomben 10,000 (Sunshine in Paris), Kingsford-Smith Cup (Joliestar), Winx Stakes (Via Sistina), Cox Plate (Via Sistina), and TAB Champions Stakes (Via Sistina).
“It was remarkable, unthinkable, in terms of the year we had,” said McDonald said. “Voyage Bubble, Via (Sistina), and Romantic (Warrior) have accumulated all these points, and it’s basically a reflection on them. The three horses who have been hugely a part of this have been special to ride. It’s obviously an honour for sure, but I am more proud of the three that I am riding. They have been so special to us.”
McDonald was honored Hong Kong International Races gala dinner.
The awarding of the world's best jockey title is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the world’s best racehorse rankings committee. The scoring incorporates races from Dec. 1 of the previous year until Nov. 30 of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second and 4 points for placing third.
The world’s best jockey award was established in 2014 by Swiss watch brand Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities to recognize a jockey as the best among his or her global peers. It marked the first time a rider was honored in such a way. Previous winners include Hugh Bowman, Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore. The full and final standings for the competition can be found at www.ifhaonline.org.