James McDonald was honored Dec. 6 for winning the Longines World's Best Jockey Award for the second time. A rising star on the international scene, the New Zealand-born, Australia-based jockey first took the title in 2022.
"I am very proud and very humbled to be in the position I am in," said McDonald. "Obviously, it is a great indication of the world-class horses I was able to partner throughout the Top 100 races in the world. To be able to win nine of them, including on arguably my two favorite horses at this time, was pretty special."
Australia-Based McDonald Named World's Best Jockey
The Gala Dinner, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, served as the perfect occasion for honoring McDonald as the 2024 Longines World's Best Jockey. In recognition, McDonald was presented with an elegant Longines timepiece from Longines CEO Matthias Breschan and the iconic crystal vase by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
The awarding of the Longines 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 Longines 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, six points for placing second, and four points for third.
