The Longines International Jockeys’ Championship: a celebration of the world’s best jockeys

The Swiss watch brand Longines had the pleasure to be the Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of the Longines International Jockey’s Championship for the sixth year in a row. Leading up to the Longines Hong Kong International Races, this much-anticipated evening event concluded with the crowing of Zac Purton as the 2017 champion. The electric atmosphere of the stunning setting of Happy Valley racecourse, located in the very heart of Hong Kong, was the perfect occasion for Longines to present its new Record collection, combining classic elegance and excellence, while all its models are chronometer certified.

Creating a build-up to the Longines Hong Kong International Races, the Longines International Jockey’s Championship each year invites twelve world-class jockeys from all over the globe to take part in four intense rounds of racing. The jockey accumulating the biggest score is crowned the winner of the championship. With 24 points, Zac Purton claimed the coveted title, taking home the first prize as well as a Longines timepiece. Silvestre de Sousa finished second with 18 points, followed by Pierre-Charles Boudot with 16 points.

The Longines International Jockey’s Championship is not the only occasion to celebrate the jockeys this week, as will take place on Friday December 8, during the annual Longines Hong Kong International Races Gala dinner, the “Longines World’s Best Jockey Award” ceremony. This prize, a proud initiative from Longines and the IFHA, honours the jockey who has scored the most points throughout the year in the 100 highest-rated Group One and Grade One races, from 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2017.

As the Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of Longines International Jockeys’ Championship, the Swiss watch brand was proud to highlight its new Record collection, launched at the occasion of the brand’s 185th anniversary. Combining classic elegance and excellence and aspiring to become the spearheads of the brand, these timepieces house a movement which includes a single-crystal silicon balance spring with unique properties – a first for Longines. In addition, it is certified as a “chronometer” by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).