When you think of a jockey, many qualities likely come to mind. Be it their bravery in the saddle, tactical acumen, never-say-die attitude, or any other facet required to steer a one-tonne beast to victory. However, when asked to name the key attributes, towering height likely finishes towards the bottom of the list. After all, jockeys are all pretty small individuals, aren’t they?
Well. Not always. Ryan Mania, Adam Kirby, and Davy Russell all stand at a respectable 5ft11. Then we have Thomas Costello, who may be sighted in all his 6ft4in glory at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. Should the rider prove successful aboard Asian Master in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle or Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, he will become the tallest winning rider in the history of the biggest meeting in the National Hunt game. But where does Thomas sit on our list of tallest riders of all time?
Joint 8th: Andrew McNamara, Height: 6ft
Hailing from a famous riding family, Andrew is the brother of fellow jockeys Robbie and the late JT McNamara, who tragically died at 41 in 2016. Much like his siblings, the tallest of the McNamara clan enjoyed significant success in the saddle, including wins in the Irish Gold Cup, Irish Champion Hurdle, and, most famously, aboard Newmill in the 2006 edition of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. These days, Andrew plies his trade as a trainer from his Athboy base in County Meath.
Joint 8th: George Baker, Height: 6ft
Flat riders tend to be smaller than their National Hunt counterparts, but 6ft has proven no barrier to victory on the level, as frequently displayed by the now-retired George Baker. As the son of a farrier, the Lambourn native was born into the game and enjoyed a hugely successful career in the saddle. A Group 1 winner in Ireland, France, and Britain, Baker’s finest hour came when driving Harbour Law to victory in the 2016 St.Leger Stakes at Doncaster.
Joint 8th: Donnacha O’Brien, Height: 6ft
When it comes to famous racing families in the modern age, they don’t come much bigger than the O’Brien clan over in Ireland. Aidan O’Brien needs little introduction as one of the most successful trainers in the history of flat racing, mopping up global Group 1s at a scarcely credible rate. Sons Joseph and Donnacha both previously displayed their talents when riding for their father before joining Aidan in the training pursuit. At 5ft9, Joseph fell towards the upper end of the jockey spectrum but was looked down upon by 6ft Donnacha, who won the Irish Derby, 2000 Guineas (twice) and Epsom Oaks.
7th. Louise Moeller, Height: 6ft1
Next up, the only lady on our list, the Great Dane of the saddle, Louise Moeller. Like Baker and O’Brien, Moeller also strutted her stuff on the flat. First appearing at the US track of Gulfstream Park in 2002, Moeller recorded over 70 winners from a shade under 500 rides – representing a strike rate of which most jockeys, both large and small, would be proud.
6th. Bruce Hobbs, Height: 6ft1.5
Coming in at number six, Long Island native Bruce Robertson Hobbs, who, in 1938, became both the youngest and tallest rider to win no less a race than the Aintree Grand National. Something of a Grand National collector, Hobbs also won the US and Welsh versions of the race during his time in the saddle. Earning the title of Captain during WWII, Hobbs went on to a long career as a trainer, with his former yard now the home of the British National Horse Racing Museum.
5th. Stuart Brown, Height: 6ft2
Moving to the other side of the world, Stuart Brown tops the list of tallest Australian riders. Steady and consistent rather than spectacularly successful on the big stage, Brown amassed over 200 wins over his 20-year career. A winner of three Bedgerabong Cups in his homeland, Brown also hauled his considerable frame aboard camels to some success on the hump-backed racing scene before sadly passing away in 2015 aged just 45.
Joint 3rd: Jack Andrews, Height: 6ft4
As of 2024, Andrews stands alone as the tallest professional rider of all time. In love with the equine game from an early age, Jack showed precocious talent in the saddle and wasn’t about to let a late and significant growth spurt derail his dream. Appearing at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, he couldn’t quite manage a win on the day but picked up over 40 successes elsewhere during his professional career. Equally proficient on the amateur scene, Andrews was the Champion Point to Point rider in 2019/20.
Joint 3rd: Thomas Costello, Height: 6ft4
Joining Andrews towards the top of the tall tree is the man featured in our intro – 22-year-old amateur Thomas Costello. Another with familial racing links, Tom’s grandfather unearthed such racing talents as Best Mate, One Man, and Imperial Call. Hopefully, that horse selection talent runs in the family, as the only horse Tom has ridden under rules – the Willie Mullins-trained Asian Master – is owned by his parents. The seven-year-old has taken Tom to the winner’s enclosure on four occasions and is the rider’s big hope ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
2nd. Patrick Sankey, Height: 6ft7
With the possible exception of Basketball, 6ft7 is pretty tall by any sporting standards. Despite a frame more associated with shooting hoops than climbing aboard an equine athlete, amateur rider Sankey has tasted some success in the saddle. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sankey struggled to make weight ahead of a Point-to-Point event at Bredwardine in 2019 – weighing out fully 10lbs over the required weight. Undeterred, Sankey and his gallant partner, Gallybally King, promptly stormed to a resounding victory.
1st. Manute Bol, Height: 7ft7
Finally, we really are into the basketball stratosphere – which isn’t surprising, as Manute Bol was, in fact, an NBA centre who lined up for the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat. There is, however, a significant caveat to this entry as, although Bol received an official jockey licence from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission ahead of a charity event – and even donned what may have been the largest jockey silks ever created – he didn’t actually ride in the race due to arthritis issues. All of which no doubt came as a relief, both to Bol’s knees and his proposed mount, who appears a little dubious in the footage documenting Bol’s many sporting adventures.