Who are the top jockeys and trainers in 2025?

In Britain, thoroughbred horse racing is divided into two disciplines, or codes, namely Flat and National Hunt. Jockeys and trainers championships are staged in both, but the method by which the respective champions are determined varies, as does the length of time over which the championships run.

On the Flat, the jockeys’ championship is decided by the number of winners ridden, on turf or all-weather, between the start of the Guineas Festival at Newmarket in early May and British Champions Day at Ascot in mid-October. The trainers’ championship, on the other hand, is decided not on the number of winners trained, but the total prize money won during the entire calendar year, between January 1 and December 31.

In National Hunt racing, both the jockeys’ and trainers’ championships run for 51 weeks of the year, between early May and Jump Finale Day at Sandown Park in late April. As on the Flat, the jockeys’ championship is decided on the number of winners ridden during that period, whereas the trainers’ championship is decided on the total prize money won.

At the time of writing, Oisin Murphy leads the Flat jockeys’ championship, having ridden 97 winners from 424 rides in the specified period, so far, at a strike rate of 23%. Billy Loughnane lies second, with 71 winners, and Rossa Ryan third, with 62. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien leads the way in the Flat trainers’ championship, having amassed just over £6 million from just 24 winners on British soil. John and Thady Gosden lie second, with £5.4 million, and Andrew Balding third, with £5.37 million.

Over the sticks, Sean Bowen holds a healthy lead in the jockeys’ championship with 66 winners from 245 rides, at a healthy 27% strike rate. His younger brother, James, and Brian Hughes lie joint-second with 28 winners apiece. The leading trainers are James Owen, with £287,000, Mickey Bowen, with £279,000 and Dan Skelton with £227,000.