James McDonald has won the Longines World's Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The New Zealand-born, Australia-based jockey also won the Longines World's Best Jockey Award in 2022.
On his way to claiming the 2025 title, McDonald won 12 of the world's top 100 group or grade 1 races, with his qualifying victories coming aboard Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Cup (G1); Voyage Bubble in the Hong Kong Mile (G1), Stewards' Cup (G1), and Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1); Via Sistina in the Verry Elleegant Stakes (G1), Ranvet Stakes (G1), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), Winx Stakes (G1), Cox Plate (G1), and Champion Stakes (G1); Sunshine In Paris in the Doomben Ten Thousand (G1); and Joliestar in the Kingsford Smith Cup (G1).
McDonald dominated this year's award, holding a sizeable lead throughout much of the competition. The scoring process rewards jockeys for finishing in the top three, giving McDonald a total of 184 points on the year. Mickael Barzalona was second with 132 points, while William Buick was third with 114 points.
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 placing third.
A ceremony will be held during the gala dinner of the Hong Kong International Races Dec. 12 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to honor McDonald. The full and final standings for the 2025 Longines World's Best Jockey competition can be found at www.ifhaonline.org.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
