Rising young talent Billy Loughnane has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first jockey to reach 100 Flat victories in 2025. At just 19 years old, Loughnane made a name for himself in the horse racing world when he emerged as a standout performer on the British racing circuit at the age of 16.
The son of Mark Loughnane, a renowned trainer from Kidderminster, Billy made waves by claiming the champion apprentice title in his debut full season as a jockey with an impressive record of 130 wins. His success continued last year when he notched his first triumphs at Royal Ascot and finished the season with a total of 162 wins, securing fourth place in the Flat jockeys’ championship rankings, just behind Oisin Murphy.
In 2025, Loughnane started off strong by being crowned the All-Weather champion jockey, despite facing an 11-day ban early in the turf season. With an outstanding performance of nine wins in the past two weeks, Loughnane surpassed Murphy, who had 98 victories, to become the leading jockey of the year.
On a recent Friday, Loughnane reached the 100-win mark by guiding Gewan, trained by Andrew Balding, to victory in a 7f novices race for two-year-olds at Newbury. His rides this year have accumulated over £1.3 million in prize money.
While Loughnane aims to clinch the jockeys’ title, which is determined by wins recorded between May 3 and October 18, he currently holds the fourth spot with 38 wins. He trails behind Murphy (61 wins), William Buick (44 wins), and Rossa Ryan (41 wins) in the standings.
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Loughnane expressed confidence in his potential for growth, especially after securing his first Group victory of the year at York and achieving success with trainer Charlie Appleby. Reflecting on his achievements, he highlighted memorable wins at prestigious events like Newmarket and expressed optimism for more victories ahead.