In a dramatic finish to the year, teenage sensation Billy Loughnane has rewritten the history books by setting a new 21st-century record for the most British horse racing wins in a single calendar year.
A Record Secured at the Death
The 19-year-old prodigy left it until the very last day of 2025, New Year's Eve, to claim the landmark victory. Riding the George Boughey-trained Invited at Lingfield Park, Loughnane notched up his 222nd win, finally overtaking the legendary Kieren Fallon's total of 221, which had stood since 2003.
Loughnane had drawn level with Fallon's tally at Wolverhampton just one day earlier, setting up a nail-biting finale. With five rides booked on Lingfield's all-weather card, the decisive moment came on his penultimate mount. The 4-5 favourite Invited led early, kicked clear two furlongs from home, and held on bravely at the post to seal a historic achievement for its young rider.
A Meteoric Rise to the Top
Loughnane's ascent in the racing world has been nothing short of spectacular. He burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old in late 2022 and, within just 12 weeks of taking out his licence, rode an impressive 23 winners in January 2023. His phenomenal talent was recognised at the end of that year when he was crowned champion apprentice, joining an elite list of previous winners including Ryan Moore, Frankie Dettori, and William Buick.
His record-breaking year was underlined by another significant milestone in December, when he became the only jockey in 2025 to reach 200 wins, also achieved at Lingfield. Furthermore, Loughnane is one of the fastest jockeys in history to reach 500 British career wins, accomplishing the feat in just three seasons. For context, stars like Oisin Murphy, Frankie Dettori, and Tom Marquand took six seasons, while Ryan Moore and Kieren Fallon needed seven and nine seasons respectively.
What This Historic Feat Means
This record cements Billy Loughnane's status as a once-in-a-generation talent. To surpass a benchmark set by a six-time champion jockey like Kieren Fallon, and to do so as a teenager, speaks volumes about his skill, consistency, and dedication. A blistering run of 17 wins in the 14 days leading up to New Year's Eve showcased his relentless drive and put the record firmly within his grasp.
The achievement marks a fitting climax to an extraordinary year for Loughnane and signals the arrival of a new major force in British horse racing. The sporting world will now watch with great anticipation to see what heights this remarkable young jockey can reach in the seasons to come.
