Every amateur and professional horse racing fan will recognise the names of James McDonald, William Buick, Joel Rosario, Flavien Prat, and Frankie Dettori. They ride the world’s most athletic horse specimens, and every ambitious racehorse owner wants to own a horse ridden by one of these iconic jockeys.
However, remember that everything has a price, and having a horse ridden by one of them will cost you a fee, as would having a horse ridden by any jockey. In addition, when a horse ridden by a jockey wins a race, the rider is entitled to a portion of the winning purse the victorious horse receives for winning races. However, no matter how meticulous a trainer can be in preparing a horse for a particular race, circumstances beyond the control of a trainer can result in the horse having to be scratched.
Do Jockeys Get Paid if a Horse is Scratched – If a horse is scratched before 9 a.m. on race day, jockeys are paid 40% of the riding fee. If a horse becomes a non-runner after a final declaration, jockeys will be paid 50% of their riding fee. In the United Kingdom, self-employed jockeys are paid on a ride-by-ride basis at a set rate of £120.66 or £164.74 each, depending on whether they compete under Flat or National Hunt regulations. In the United States, a jockey is paid a “mounting fee” (typically $50-$110) for each Race, and they may ride up to eight races daily.
Flat jockeys in the United Kingdom typically receive approximately 7% of the announced winning purse and 3% of the advertised place stakes. In the United States, the percentages a jockey receives for a thoroughbred race range from 5% for a second or third-place finish to 10% for first place in the more prestigious race meetings, but can be as low as 0.5 per cent for a third-place finish, 1% for placing second, and possibly 6% -10% for first place in the regular run-of-the-mill meetings that take place every day across the country.
How to Become a Jockey – The Hard Road
When we talk about jockeys, we’re talking about a little individual that needs to ride a thoroughbred horse that may weigh ten times their weight. They must assist a horse run at 40 miles per hour, overcome obstacles in jump racing, and direct a horse to the winning post in a flat race. Jockeys also have to judge the pace of the Race, know the horse they are riding to try and make their run at the right time and try to follow the trainer’s instructions.
This must be done as the horse is encouraged to gallop faster with a whip amidst the encouragement from the saddle. Most jockeys begin their careers at a young age, on average between 16 and 22 years old, whether in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, or Asia, since they must be of a certain weight and height to train to become a rider.
All aspiring jockeys will get free tuition, study materials, and lodging at the Jockeys Academy during their pre-apprenticeship. After completing the theoretical training, the Raceriding component of the apprenticeship will commence, and jockeys will be ready to compete in Race meetings
Earning a Living – Vital Statistics of the Typical Jockey
The most crucial part of becoming a jockey is that you are not overweight for the height of the individual jockey. To participate in a race, all jockeys must conform to weight restrictions which vary according to the event, with flat jockeys weighing about eight stone (about 50 kilograms) and jump jockeys weighing up to nine stone (approximately 57 kilograms).
There is no established height requirement for jockeys. However, since jockeys are tiny, the average height is between 4″10 and 5″6 feet (between 1.47 and 1.67 meters). Even a legend like Sir AP Mccoy had a tale of an awful situation that retrospectively was a blessing in disguise.
For the first several years of his career, McCoy worked as an apprentice at Jim Bolger’s stable. While riding with Bolger one morning, McCoy was involved in an accident and fractured his leg in the gallops. McCoy had grown taller by the time he recovered from his leg break, and it was decided that becoming a jump jockey was the best option for him at that point in his career. Well, we all know how that career transpired.
The Grind and Extra Income that a Jockey requires to Survive
Away from the racecourse, jockeys must cope with more than simply the never-ending grind of life on the road. There’s the strain of reducing weight, maintaining fit enough to drive a half-ton beast capable of reaching speeds of 40 mph, and meeting and greeting the sport’s key players.
Other revenue sources, including sponsorships and ambassador employment at racetracks, might boost earnings. It all adds up over time, but the climax of that steady increase in profits is only possible via consistent hard work and devotion. The finest in their field can all testify to the grind, the early morning gallops effort, and the perks that follow.
The Advantages to the Current Jockeys that have resulted from Tragedy of the Deceased
After a mishap at the Kempton racecourse in England in October, flat jockey Freddie Tylicki was trampled after falling from his saddle, leaving him with life-changing injuries. Following this near-fatal incident, jockeys were offered various services, including injury insurance, pension plans, and a voice to press racing authorities to enhance their daily visibility and hazards.
The Excitement of Winning when all goes to Plan
The life of a jockey is hard. They have to be up at the crack of dawn to ride work for various trainers, watch their weight at all times, and put their lives on the line every day when they mount the horses they are riding in Races.
However, after each Racing Season, jockeys are evaluated based on the number of wins they ride and the strike rate they achieve despite the horses they are to ride being scratched, which is beyond their control.
There will be setbacks and disappointments along the road, as well as forthright talks with owners when necessary. However, the exhilaration of victory is unrivaled in the life of a jockey, as are the monetary benefits that come with those victories.