JUMPS: The weight allowance is maintained at 2kg for female jockeys but will be capped at 4kg.
Male jockeys have no more influence over the performance of a racehorse than female jockeys. Experts from the University of Nottingham have found that the sex of a jockey doesn't influence any aspect of racehorse physiology and performance.
While every race will have a different set of rules, the average horse jockey weight requirement falls between 112 – 126 lbs. On average, male horse jockeys weigh 113 lbs. while female horse jockeys weigh in on average at 107 lbs.
They must be light, typically around a weight of 100–120 lb. (45–55 kg), and physically fit. They are typically self-employed and are paid a small fee from the horse trainer and a percentage of the horse's winnings.
The BHA has confirmed that the 3lbs COVID allowance will be replaced with an across-the-board 2lbs rise in published weights, with the current 3lb back protector allowance rising to a general 4lbs safety allowance for jockeys.
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.
After the race the jockey must weigh in with all his kit, to confirm that the horse carried the right weight. When all the jockeys have been weighed after a race, you will hear the racecourse commentator announce “Weighed in.
In the US, the average male is about 5'9” tall and weighs close to 200 pounds. US women aren't far behind, with an average of 5'4” and 170 pounds. The average male thoroughbred jockey, in contrast, is 5'2” and weighs 113; women riders have it a bit easier, averaging only 107 pounds for the same 5'2” average height.
The Kentucky Derby requires the jockeys weigh a maximum of 126 pounds, which includes the jockey and the gear. So, ultimately the jockeys should not weigh more than 119 pounds, according to Bustle. While there is no height restriction, most jockeys tend to be around 4-foot-10 and 5-foot-6 due to the weight restriction.
The lightest jockey with an officially listed weight for the 2023 Preakness Stakes is Joel Rosario, who weighs 109 pounds and stands 5 feet 2 inches.
Running. You will often see jockeys running around a racecourse before the meeting begins. They will do this with lots of layers of clothes on. This is done to lose a few pounds of water weight which could put them overweight for their ride.
By crouching over the withers, a jockey redistributes their weight, taking that burden off the horse and putting it on the rider's legs instead.
1. Hayley Turner. With more than 860 winning rides worldwide and £8,000,000 in career prize money, Hayley Turner is the most successful professional female jockey in history.
What do you call a female horse rider? The most common terms are equestrian and cowgirl, which are not discipline specific.
Q: What is the average age of a horse jockey? A person has to be a minimum of 16 years old to apply for a jockey license. The oldest jockey to still compete at the highest levels was 58 years old (Bill Shoemaker). The average age in this profession is currently about 40 years old.
The world's tallest jockey, Jack Andrews, makes his Cheltenham Festival debut on Thursday – all 6ft 4in of him. The 24-year-old is over a foot taller than the average rider and faces a constant battle to stay at the correct weight.
When it comes to modern-day horseracing, jockeys are required to pass a fitness test before being allowed to compete or even gain a professional racing licence. This examination includes a bleep test for cardiovascular health, pull-band routines, press-ups, leg raises and even exercises on a mechanical horse.
Sounds like a tough process.
It is. Less than 5% of people on our course go on to become jockeys. Some people find it too scary while others struggle with the weight restrictions. You have to be really dedicated to get to the right weight and be fit enough.
Jockeys Have No Contracts
Jockeys, like Triple Crown winner Victor Espinoza above, are hired on a race-by-race basis. To select a jockey you must first speak with their agent. Yes, every single one of them has an agent! The jockey agent has one very simple, yet often times extremely difficult, job…
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. Doing this is "very hard work," says Wilson, because the rider uses his legs in their short stirrups as springs or pistons.
There is a certain group of male athletes who must maintain a certain physique in order to be successful in their job; jockeys. Horse jockeys have a demanding job that requires very specific weight requirements and as a result many jockeys are diagnosed with eating disorders.
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.