Frankie Dettori Crowned The 2018 Longines World’s Best Jockey

Legendary rider Lanfranco “Frankie” Dettori was crowned the 2018 Longines World’s Best Jockey tonight at the Longines Hong Kong International Races annual Gala Dinner. He has won the award twice in the last four years, as he first took the title in 2015. With a total of 128 points, he claimed the award ahead of Oisin Murphy (114 points), and Ryan Moore (112 points). Frankie Dettori was presented with a Longines timepiece, as well as a crystal vase, by Walter von Känel, President of Longines and Louis Romanet, Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Italian-born, British-based jockey Frankie Dettori, who is known for his distinctive "flying dismounts", clinched a second Longines World’s Best Jockey title in recognition of his remarkable achievements throughout the 2018 racing season. He was recognised at a ceremony held during the Longines Hong Kong International Races Gala dinner on 7 December 2018, at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Walter von Känel, President of Longines and Louis Romanet, Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), presented Dettori with an elegant 18k rose gold Longines timepiece from The Saint-Imier Collection as well as a crystal vase.

The 2018 Longines World’s Best Jockey Award ceremony: (From left to right) Walter von Känel, Longines President, Frankie Dettori, winner of the 2018 Longines World’s Best Jockey Award, Louis Romanet, Chairman of the IFHA and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Vice Chairman of the IFHA

Frankie Dettori, winner of the 2018 Longines World’s Best Jockey Award, with Walter von Känel, Longines President

Showing his versatility, Dettori won eight of the world’s Top 100 Group or Grade 1 races aboard five different horses this year. His qualifying victories, seven of which were timed by Longines, came in the Prix Ganay - Prix de l'Inauguration de ParisLongchamp (Cracksman), Investec Coronation Cup (Cracksman), St James's Palace Stakes (Without Parole), Gold Cup (Stradivarius), Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Enable), QIPCO Champion Stakes (Cracksman), Breeders’ Cup Mile (Expert Eye), and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (Enable).

Walter von Känel, Longines President welcomes the guests of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Gala Dinner, which hosted the fifth Longines World’s Best Jockey Award Ceremony

Frankie Dettori was presented with an elegant 18k rose gold Longines timepiece of the Longines Saint-Imier Collection as well as a crystal vase

The scoring process rewards jockeys for finishing in the top three, giving Dettori a total of 128 points over the year. Second place went to Oisin Murphy, who finished with 114 points, while Ryan Moore was third with 112 points. Dettori joins Moore as a two-time winner of the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award, which was established in 2014. Moore won in the inaugural year and in 2016, while Hugh Bowman was honoured last year.

Longines had the pleasure to welcome as a special guest its Ambassador of Elegance Jung Woo-Sung at the LHKIR gala Dinner, on December 9, 2018

The awarding of the Longines World’s Best Jockey is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.

Prize giving ceremony of the 2018 QIPCO Champions Stakes, claimed by Cracksman led by Frankie Dettori

The Longines World’s Best Jockey Award was established five years ago by Longines and the IFHA as a way to quantitatively recognise a jockey as the best among his or her global peers. It marked the first time a jockey was honoured in such a way.