Horseracing: The Grueling Life of a Jockey
Perhaps one of the most underrated jobs in terms of fitness, health, and well-being is that of a jockey. These individuals go out on a daily basis, many of them working six days a week, sometimes seven during the peak of the season – each day toughing it out fighting two battles; the first is fitness and the second is weight. These two together can work for some people, but often losing weight and keeping fit can be tough to do together, especially when every single pound counts as it does for a jockey when competing in horseracing.
“Chester Races” by Onofre_Bouvila (CC BY-SA 2.5)
A horseracing jockey needs to be fit to ride in many races per day, but they also have to carefully watch their weight; they need to remain at ‘racing weight’, which is anywhere between 99 pounds and 140 pounds depending on the discipline they are riding in. For a taller horseracing jockey, or simply a horseracing jockey who likes to eat, this is often a very tough mental battle, and the reason why many of the stars of the saddle quit riding before their time is up to retire as a jockey. With horseracing taking place throughout the year, often a jockey only manages a short break, without an official off-season, which can make maintaining their weight an even bigger struggle, because there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
A recent interview with ex-jump jockey in the UK, Timmy Murphy, showed just what a tough slog riding can be, and what it can do to your state of mind. Murphy would regularly have to try and lose 10 or 11 pounds in a day to make the weight needed to ride in some races, and he resorted to wearing one of the specially-designed sweat suits while horseriding.
While jockeys are losing weight to be able to ride, they have to remain as fit as possible, to cope with the physical nature of horseracing. Often you will see a jockey combining the two if that is possible and going for a run around the track to keep fit and lose the last couple of pounds they need to lose ahead of horseracing that day.
“Aintree Grand National” by Paul (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Since retiring, Murphy has openly admitted to the problems he had when horseriding, and the mental issues that plagued him his entire career. He once rode the winner of the Grand National, a horse called Comply or Die in the biggest horse race in the world and even the jubilation felt by winning that race was not enough to save Murphy from his troubles. This gives an indication as to how tough it is inside the jockey’s weighing room, a place where few are allowed access to. It is a room of warriors and under-appreciated people who show us their talents on a daily basis.
Another jockey to struggle with his weight is Graham Lee. He made the unprecedented move to go from National Hunt racing to flat racing, where the weights are tougher to make, putting even more pressure on him to diet properly. Lee has spoken about depression and the problems he has making the weight needed. Perhaps the most shocking thing about Lee’s confession is that he is still a jockey right now, and one who has recently tasted success at the very highest level. Alpha Delphini won the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August when given a brilliant ride by Lee, who received a lot of praise for his efforts. The horse is now a 14/1 chance with Betfred, who are offering a triple your deposit offer through Oddschecker, for the Prix de L’Abbaye which takes place on Sunday, October 7th, 2018.
When we are betting on a horse race, we often forget just how important the jockey is that’s on board our selections. These people put a lot of hard work and effort into making sure they take part in the sport that we all know and love. Sometimes they don’t get the recognition they deserve for this, despite all the troubles they go through.
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