Swiss watchmaker Longines and The Jockey Club announced today that they have signed a partnership agreement, making Longines the official partner and watch of the breed registry and the title partner of its multimedia fan development initiative known as America’s Best Racing (ABR).
The partnership, the latest in a large and growing series of Longines agreements with various equestrian sports, will feature Longines branding on The Jockey Club and ABR websites, emails and newsletters, as well as the production and distribution of digital content specifically designed to expand awareness of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf and Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
That content will include pre- and post-race videos, stories, photos and extensive promotion of those races through social media.
Longines has demonstrated its passion for equestrian sports since 1878, when the brand produced its first chronograph engraved with a jockey and his mount
Those timepieces made it possible to time horses to the second and have been used at American racecourses since 1881. They proved to be extremely popular among both jockeys and race-goers.
Currently, Longines is partnering with races around the world, including the Kentucky Derby, the Longines Kentucky Oaks, the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Prix de Diane Longines, the Melbourne Cup, the Longines Singapore Gold Cup, the Dubai World Cup, the Longines Hong Kong International Races. and the Longines Gran Premio Latinamericano. The brand is also official timekeeper of the Triple Crown.
The company maintains a long-term partnership with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), where the best of global horse racing are annually honored with the presentation of the Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit, the Longines World’s Best Jockey, the Longines World’s Best Racehorse, and the Longines World’s Best Horse Race.
“Longines has built one of the most prominent brands in the world, and The Jockey Club is honored to enter a partnership with such a prestigious entity,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club.
Juan-Carlos Capelli, vice president of Longines and head of International Marketing, declared, “Being strongly committed to equestrian sports all over the world, as well as having a long-lasting passion for them for more than a century, we are proud to be associated with The Jockey Club. Horse racing perfectly illustrates elegance, which is one of our brand’s key values.”
LONGINES has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. LONGINES has generations of experience as the official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federations. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, LONGINES is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 150 countries.
The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It is the sole funding source for America’s Best Racing, the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing. You can follow America’s Best Racing at americasbestracing.net. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.