Archive December 31, 2025

Billy Loughnane, a teenager jockey, has won the most titles in a calendar year so far this century.

Loughnane won the 14:30 GMT mile handicap at Lingfield Park after surpassing Kieren Fallon’s 221 total at Wolverhampton on Tuesday.

At his final meeting on Wednesday, the 19-year-old Irishman had five chances to break the record.

Loughnane led favorite Invited to victory on the All Weather track after being unable to take his first three chances.

Loughnane told Sky Sports Racing, “It’s a relief to get it done because the last few days have been busy.”

“I’ve been attempting to ride as much as I can.” When I’m not riding, I get bored.

Before the home straight, Loughnane had a late challenge from Hitched and was in command of the George Boughey-trained Invited.

His 222 victories from 1, 320 races in 2025 were also Boughey’s 100th year of victory.

There was a little bit of pressure today, but I’m so happy to have it finished, Loughnane said.

Without George, I wouldn’t be where I am; he has been everything and has always backed me up. I’m delighted to be his 100th winner as well.

He won the Annual Flat Jockey Championship title during his outstanding year, which is determined by the total wins for the calendar year from January 1 through December 31.

The British Flat Jockeys’ Championship, which was won by Oisin Murphy this year ahead of runner-up Loughnane, was decided by the total number of victories between May 3 and October 18.

At the age of 16, Loughnane began racing professionally in the late 20th century before going on to ride 23 winners in January 2023.

He has a passion for horseback riding since he was a young child, and he has gained racing knowledge from the horseback riding scene.

Loughnane acknowledged that the record had been “in everyone’s minds” after riding his 220th winner of the year at Newcastle on Monday.

Billy Loughnane, a teenager jockey, has won the most titles in a calendar year so far this century.

Loughnane won the 14:30 GMT mile handicap at Lingfield Park after surpassing Kieren Fallon’s 221 total at Wolverhampton on Tuesday.

At his final meeting on Wednesday, the 19-year-old Irishman had five chances to break the record.

Loughnane led favorite Invited to victory on the All Weather track after being unable to take his first three chances.

Loughnane told Sky Sports Racing, “It’s a relief to get it done because the last few days have been busy.”

“I’ve been attempting to ride as much as I can.” When I’m not riding, I get bored.

Before the home straight, Loughnane had a late challenge from Hitched and was in command of the George Boughey-trained Invited.

His 222 victories from 1, 320 races in 2025 were also Boughey’s 100th year of victory.

There was a little bit of pressure today, but I’m so happy to have it finished, Loughnane said.

Without George, I wouldn’t be where I am; he has been everything and has always backed me up. I’m delighted to be his 100th winner as well.

He won the Annual Flat Jockey Championship title during his outstanding year, which is determined by the total wins for the calendar year from January 1 through December 31.

The British Flat Jockeys’ Championship, which was won by Oisin Murphy this year ahead of runner-up Loughnane, was decided by the total number of victories between May 3 and October 18.

At the age of 16, Loughnane began racing professionally in the late 20th century before going on to ride 23 winners in January 2023.

He has a passion for horseback riding since he was a young child, and he has gained racing knowledge from the horseback riding scene.

Loughnane acknowledged that the record had been “in everyone’s minds” after riding his 220th winner of the year at Newcastle on Monday.

After losing to Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda were both suspended for four games for violating the referee.

The decision was taken by a African Football Confederation (Caf) disciplinary panel after it reviewed the referee’s report from the Group E clash on Sunday, which resulted in the National Thunder exiting the tournament.

Following the full-time whistle, referee Messie Jessie Nkounkou Mvoutou claimed that the two players “repeatedly uttered insulting and obscene remarks” toward him and his assistants.

The Congolese official continued, “These remarks were made in a context of intense anger related to the defeat, but they still constitute a serious violation of the Caf disciplinary rules as well as the principles of respect and fair play,” the official added.

Wednesday (16:00 GMT) will both players miss the National Thunder’s final group game against Algeria.

In addition, the nation’s football federation (Feguifut) was fined $10, 000 (£7,435) after its technical staff and players “protested excessively and violently” against officials’ decisions.

After Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco scored an own goal in the 74th minute, Mvoutou’s report stated there was “a progressive deterioration in behavior on the sidelines.”