Why do jockeys have to weigh so little?

The reason jockeys are often so light is to protect the health of the horse. Thoroughbreds are very durable, but carrying too much weight can cause the horse unnecessary pain.

Why is there a jockey weight limit?

Weighed in.” Trainers prefer jockeys to be as close to the allocated weight as possible, as it is harder for the horse to carry this than a human which can move with it.

How do jockeys stay so thin?

The need to keep weight low week after week has caused some jockeys to turn to extreme measures to control weight including severe dieting, laxatives, appetite suppressants, and the use of saunas, hot baths and diuretics to facilitate fluid loss.

What happens if a jockey weighs in heavy or light after a race?

If a rider weighs in two pounds or more over the weight that he weighed out, the Clerk of the Scales will report the rider to the Stewards and may be suspended. The one pound under and two pound over tolerances reflect the weight loss or gain a rider may incur dependant on weather conditions.

How heavy is too heavy for a jockey?

There are horse carrying weight limits that are set by racing authorities. The Kentucky Derby, for example, has a weight limit of 126 lb (57 kg) including the jockey's equipment. The weight of a jockey racing on the flat usually ranges from 108 to 118 lb (49 to 54 kg).

Do all jockeys have to weigh the same?

What does a jockey get paid?

The average national salary for a jockey is $80,496. The amount jockeys earn is typically dependent on their reputation and performance. Most jockeys are self-employed and control their own training, career progression and for whom they work.

What happens if a jockey is overweight?

If the rider is too heavy, he may be replaced by another rider, or be permitted to carry 'overweight', which will always be announced on the racecourse before a race begins. However, no rider is allowed to weigh out at four pounds or more over the weight he is set to carry.

Why do jockeys stand up when riding?

Jockeys "don't follow the movement of the horse but stay relatively stationary," says co-author Alan Wilson. By, in effect, floating above his mount, the jockey saves the energy the horse would otherwise expend to shove him back up after each bounce down into the saddle.

Why do jockeys weigh themselves after the race?

Most people probably know that jockeys are weighed both before and after a race to ensure they are carrying the weight printed in the program or on the changes list, but unless you've spent time in the jocks' room, you may not know the finer points of how the process works.

Does it hurt when jockeys hit horses?

There is no evidence to suggest that whipping does not hurt. Whips can cause bruising and inflammation, however, horses do have resilient skin. That is not to say that their skin is insensitive. Indeed, a horse can easily feel a fly landing on its skin.

Do jockeys lose their teeth?

“They're usually in their own cubicle at the end of a line of toilets.” Riders would lose their teeth due to the constant acidic bile, some even to the point of needing dentures.

What a jockey eats in a day?

Over the years, these top riders have all developed favourite recipes for meals that are quick to make and are extremely low in calories. While most men in Britain devour around 3,000 calories a day and women consume up to 2,000 calories – jockeys manage to perform a highly active job on around 1,500 calories per day.

Why are there less female jockeys?

Still, as horse racing grapples with a reported attendance decline in Pennsylvania, the dearth of female jockeys persists. Some around the industry say women are more likely to retire from racing to start families and are less likely to enter the industry in their teenage years to make money.

Why can't jockeys be tall?

While there isn't a height requirement (or minimum) for jockeys, there is a weight requirement. This makes it tougher for a taller person to become a jockey, as they will have a more difficult time meeting the weight requirement.

How tall is the tallest jockey?

At 6ft 4in (1.93 metres), Jack Andrews is used to towering over his fellow jockeys, who tend to be at least a foot shorter than him.

Do female jockeys get a weight allowance?

The weight conditions will now be distinct over flat and jumps: FLAT: The weight allowance is reduced from 2.0kg to 1.5kg (roughly 4 to 3lbs) and will be limited to a maximum of 4kg (8lbs) for apprentices and young jockeys.

Why can't jockeys have a beard?

So why don't they? The likely truth, say racing historians, is the sport's long history and traditionalist roots have created a culture where it is frowned upon for jockeys to sport beards or facial hair.

Do jockeys talk to each other during a race?

It depends on the race day and the tension in the room. Sometimes there is chatter during a race, and sometimes there is not. Once again, it just depends on the race.

Do jockeys talk to their horses during races?

Jockeys do talk to each other during races. The day after he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on The Dikler and celebrated into the early hours, a badly hungover Ron Barry only won a race at Uttoxeter thanks to two fellow jockeys shouting a warning to him and his mount every time they approached a hurdle.

How much does a horse jockey make a year?

Jockeys make $52,645 per year on average, or $25.31 per hour, in the United States. Jockeys on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $35,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $77,000.

How many times can a jockey whip a horse in a race?

The basic rules for use within a race, implemented as of 13 February 2023 in Jump racing and 27 March 2023 in Flat racing, are as follows: The whip can be used a maximum of 6 times in a Flat race or 7 times in a Jump race.

How many times are jockeys allowed to whip?

The whip can be used a maximum of six times in a Flat race or seven times in a Jump race.

Is being a jockey physically hard?

Although the horses are the main athletes in horse racing, the job of the jockeys is also very demanding, and requires a very specific set of physical attributes. Most importantly, horse jockeys need to small and light. They also need good leg strength and flexibility, endurance fitness, and balance and coordination.

What is the maximum weight a jockey can be female?

while female horse jockeys weigh in on average at 107 lbs. The actual average horse jockey weight is on the lower side although the race requirements range up to 126 lbs. because the weight has to include an average 6-7 lbs. of horse gear.

Is there a height limit to be a jockey?

Jockeys must be at least 16 years old. There is no set height or weight requirement, but the majority of jockeys do not weigh more than 125 pounds, many even less, with height (usually around 5 feet tall) or proportionate to their weight.