When you watch horse racing, you may not often consider the people riding the noble steeds. However, jockeys are just as important as the animals themselves, and they play a huge part in whether a horse makes it over the finish line in a winning position.
The best jockeys in the business go through rigorous training that would rival the SAS. They need to ensure that they are at peak physical strength, along with being incredibly light and agile. That means their training involves an eclectic mix of activities that mould them into elite sportspeople.
Jockey Training is Unique to Any Other Sport
The kind of training that jockeys need to go through to become elite level is unlike that of any other sport. Being able to ride in high-stakes situations requires a balanced skillset that combines strength, balance, and power. Jockeys also need to have exceptional endurance and lightning-fast reactions. On top of all that, there are strict weight limits, as being too heavy will slow the horse down greatly.
Because of all these factors, the best in the business go through a hybrid training routine that aims to cover all the core skills that jockeys need. This involves strength work with high repetitions, high-intensity interval training, and balance board sessions. There’s even mechanical horse practice and boxing-inspired sparring drills to improve reactions. Riders need to do all these things and maintain a low weight, which means morning runs and measured meals to stay race ready.
The wildest thing about being a jockey is that this is all-year round. Boxers, for example, have the luxury of only going to such extremes during fight camps, but jockeys are maintaining this level of training constantly. That makes it all the more impressive.
Bettors Need to Factor in Jockey Fitness and Form
The average horse racing fan might not even consider the jockey when they place their bets, but more experienced bettors know that factoring in the jockey’s fitness levels and ability is crucial. When the betting platforms advertise their upcoming horse racing odds, they consider the horse’s pedigree as well as the jockey’s.
As of the time of writing on 21st November, jockeys like J J Slevin may be under a special spotlight, having just been nominated for the ‘Ride of the Year’ award. The sport betting odds for today’s meet at Chepstow (riding Le Frimeur) put Slevin at 2.40, so certainly both horse and jockey are thought to be in great form, showing how this impacts the odds.
The best advice for bettors is to check the jockey statistics alongside the horse’s profile when placing bets. Along with fitness and training, the riders also need to know the horse and the terrain well. With all these things considered, it’s surprising that jockeys don’t get more credit. They have to put in an exceptional amount of work to have a chance at being the best in the business, and it’s a career-long pursuit that never lets up.
For anyone looking for a new training regime that’s going to make you better in almost every realm, you may want to try out a professional jockey’s routine. There are few sports that train such a wide range of attributes, and jockeys are some of the fittest people on the planet.