Behind the horses, Jockeys are the stars of the show in the sport of horse racing. They are true athletes who dedicate their lives to riding horses on a daily basis, at home/racing yards, and on track when the horses are running. They have to maintain an incredible level of fitness, which puts them on par with other athletes from various sports. This article will highlight everything you need to know about jockeys, from the differences in size, to the clothing they will wear for a race. 

Jump Jockeys vs Flat Jockeys - The Difference

Although all jockeys train and seemingly ride the same during races, there is a difference in stature with jockeys who ride flat or jumps horses, as described below… 

Flat Jockey - Jockeys who ride flat horses tend to be shorter and weigh less, due to the flat horses running with less weight on their backs during races. The horses are usually quicker and younger. 

Jumps Jockey - Jockeys who ride jumps horses tend to be taller and weigh a little more, as the horses who jump over obstacles carry more weight around when racing, due to being bigger and more pronounced than flat horses. We have seen instances of jumps jockeys being 6 feet tall and even taller.

Jockey Procedure - Before The Race

One of the most important things a jockey can do before a race when at the racecourse is “weigh out” - this ensures that the horse they are riding during the race carries the correct weight stated. If the Jockey is ever so slightly under the weight needed, which includes their saddle, small weights are added to the saddle cloth to get them to the correct weight declared. Once the weight has been recorded, the saddle will then go to the trainer for them to saddle up the horse in the pre parade ring. 

Jockey Procedure - After The Race  

Once the race has reached its conclusion, the winning and placed jockeys will unsaddle in the winners' enclosure, giving the punters, racegoers and owners a chance to clap and celebrate their victorious horses. The jockeys tend to unsaddle swiftly in the winners' enclosure, and have a picture with winning connections before heading into the weighing room to “weigh in”. This process is important as it makes sure the correct weight was carried around on the horse when they won, placed or ran in the race. Jockeys have to weigh in by a certain time to ensure they don’t lose the race or get bans/fines etc. This would be the reason why you might see a jockey in a rush when leaving the winners' enclosure/parade ring. 

What Jockey’s Wear During A Race

Helmet - Arguably the most important piece of equipment a jockey has to wear, it is mandatory and is there to protect them if they should unfortunately fall off their horse during a race. Jockeys tend to wear a cover over their helmet which is a part of the racing silks/colours.  

Goggles - Jockeys wear goggles to protect their eyes from dirt, bugs or gravel that might flick up during the race. If they didn’t wear goggles, the slightest bit of dirt could ruin the race for them or cause injury. 

Silks - One of the most important parts of a jockey's attire, not for safety reasons but for visual reasons - they are there so the punter, racegoer, trainer and commentator can recognise the horse during a race. The colours of the silks are usually determined by the owner of the horse. 

Skivvies - Underneath the silks jockeys will wear skivvies. A skivvy is a mesh or microfiber piece of clothing that is very light and stretchable.

Vests - Another mandatory item, a vest protects the jockeys in case they fall off the horse during a race, thanks to the padding around the vest. This protects the ribs and chest area of the jockeys, as well as all the vital organs. 

Gloves - A lot of jockeys say that wearing gloves gives them an edge in their races as they give them extra grip when trying to control the horse. Controlling and manoeuvring a horse at 40mph is already difficult enough as it is, so the extra grip and a little extra protection are a huge help for the jockeys.

Breeches - Riding breeches are athletically inspired “trousers” or “leggings” that are designed to fit snugly and reduce chafing. They can also help improve the rider's seat and stability in the saddle when riding a horse during a race. 

Boots - One of the most important things for the jockey during a race is the position of the feet and legs. The boots (specifically made for jockeys) ensure the jockey’s feet are locked into place. Riding boots go higher up on the leg of the jockey to avoid the saddle pinching the rider’s leg. 

Apprentice & Conditional Jockeys

Before a Jockey becomes a professional, they have to start as either an Apprentice or Conditional Jockeys.

They can both claim a weight allowance, which is 7 lbs when they first start to give the horse a slight advantage when having an inexperienced rider onboard. This helps to even it out and make it more competitive.

In Jumps racing, they are described as Conditional Jockeys. Their weight allowances can be reduced to 5 lbs after they’ve ridden 20 winners and then to 3 lbs after 40 winners. Once they have ridden 75 winners with the 3 lbs weight allowance, they lose their claim and become a fully-fledged professional jockey with no weight allowances.  

In flat racing, they are described as Apprentice Jockeys. They have the same weight allowances of 7, 5 and 3 lbs - but the winning milestones lie at 20 (they go down to 5 lbs), 50 (they go down to 3 lbs) and 95 winners respectively. Once they hit the 95-winner mark, they are a fully-fledged professional with no weight allowances.

There are certain Conditional or Apprentice races during a season, which only they can contest in. However, they tend to ride against the professionals in races most of the time.

There are also Amateur Jockeys, who juggle riding horses in races with other career paths, usually within racing. Once again there are certain races where the amateurs take on each other, but like Conditionals and Apprentices, they will compete against the professionals.

Jockeys Being Athletes    

It is a common misconception with how fit jockeys actually are, as jockeys are amongst the fittest of athletes in the world. When you look at their diets and exercise routines, it is very clear to see how dedicated they are to their profession and doing well within it.

Successful jockeys like Sir Anthony McCoy have been known to have only four main meals a week, with a number of sugar boosts on race days for energy. This is because they ride to a very strict weight day in, day out when going to the races and riding the horses.  

When they are not riding out at the yards or riding in races they are usually in the gym, keeping fit with various exercise routines. Their exercise routines include gym sessions and running to maintain cardiovascular health for the challenge of riding the world's best racehorses.