What is the average lifespan of a jockey?

Jockey Age Breakdown

Interestingly enough, the average age of Jockeys is 40+ years old, which represents 40% of the population.

What age do most jockeys retire?

Jump jockeys tend to leave the sport when they're 35, compared to flat racing jockeys who retire at the age of 45 on average. There are numerous reasons why a jockey might choose to no longer take part in racing, with their physical health high on the list.

How long do jockeys last?

Much like in golf, the career of a professional jockey can stretch for three decades or, for a select few, even longer. Unlike golfers, however, jockeys must endure the incredible strain (and the life-threatening danger) of sitting on top of thousand-pound animals running in packs as fast as automobiles.

Who is the oldest jockey still riding horses?

CINCINNATI — Perry Ouzts is a horse racing legend, though most have probably never heard of his name. At the spry age of 67, he's competed in nearly 52,000 races — winning more than 7,000 — a number that is only set to grow as the Belterra Park racer stays in the saddle.

What is the oldest jockey?

12 with morning line odds of 12-1) for the 2022 Kentucky Derby, with the chance to make history as the oldest jockey to win the prestigious race. That title is held by Bill Shoemaker, who was 54 when he won the 1986 Kentucky Derby aboard Ferdinand.

What is the average age of a jockey?

What is the average jockey salary?

Salary Ranges for Horse Jockeys

The salaries of Horse Jockeys in the US range from $10,049 to $271,427 , with a median salary of $48,880 . The middle 57% of Horse Jockeys makes between $48,882 and $123,036, with the top 86% making $271,427.

How heavy is the average jockey?

The weight of a jockey usually ranges from 108 to 118 lb (49 to 54 kg). Despite their light weight, they must be able to control a horse that is moving at 40 mph (64 km/h) and weighs 1,190.5 lb (540.0 kg).

What is the average weight and height of a jockey?

On average, a horse jockey weighs between 108 to 118 Pounds & their Average Height Is 4'10” to 5'6 ″ It takes a lot of hard work and discipline for a rider to maintain weight. Jockeys have to meet minimum weight requirements to make sure all horses in a race are fairly matched.

Who was the smallest jockey?

15-year old Kenneth Glover, of Harregate Yorks, is probably the world's smallest jockey. He is so small that the bundles of straw he carried into the stables nearly bury him. He is, in fact, just 4ft.

Do apprentice jockeys get paid?

Apprentices and conditionals receive a wage as an employee of the trainer or the stable. These earnings are subject to income tax and Class 1 National Insurance contributions under PAYE as employment income.

Do jockeys love their horses?

Horses are not people, and they certainly don't think like them. However, a horse definitely forms a close bond with its jockey during training, and that is why it learns to appreciate how important a race maybe for its handler.

Do jockeys get paid if they don't win?

Rather than earn a salary, a jockey receives a “mounting fee” — often $50-$110 — for each race, riding sometimes eight races per day. The real money for jockeys comes from prize money, if they can ride a horse to finish first, second or third in a race and earn part of the purse.

How many jockeys are killed each year?

It is also true that the sport is considered to be one of the more dangerous occupations, stabilising at about 1.4 deaths per year nationally.

What nationality are most jockeys?

Latin American horse racing

Historically, the vast majority of professional jockeys have come from Latin America – trained in the jockey schools which opened in the 1950s and 1960s in Panama, Puerto Rico and Mexico City. In the 2015 Kentucky Derby, 61% of the jockeys were Latino.

Why are jockeys not allowed to have beards?

So why don't they? The likely truth, say racing historians, is the sport's long history and traditionalist roots have created a culture where it is frowned upon for jockeys to sport beards or facial hair.

Do jockeys starve themselves?

“Starvation is still a very common practice in that the jockey may not eat for 24 hours or more before a race, and combine this with a sauna or hot bath.” Among Irish jockeys, 14% use vomiting as a method for meeting weight requirements, Dr McGoldrick and his team found in a 2011 study into dieting habits.

Do horses feel the whip?

Two papes published in journal Animals lend support to a ban on whipping in horse racing. They respectively show that horses feel as much pain as humans would when whipped, and that the whip does not enhance race safety.

Who is the richest jockey in the world?

Meet Yutaka Take, the world's richest jockey. A legend in Japan, Take, 52, enjoys 'God' status in his homeland and has a film star wife. His face is plastered on posters at racecourses, he's been the 'pin-up' of racing for years and enjoys the same level of fame as pop stars.

Why are there no female jockeys?

Once the quality and capabilities of the horses being ridden were taken into account, the performance differences between male and female jockeys became nonexistent.

How hard is it to be a jockey?

First and foremost, being a jockey is no easy way to make a living. It is a tough demanding life, physically, emotionally, mentally, and even dietary. There are no guarantees, no off seasons, and the competition gets tougher with more success and recognition. Staying on top is as hard or even harder than getting there.

How tall are jockeys usually?

While there is no height restriction, most jockeys tend to be around 4-foot-10 and 5-foot-6 due to the weight restriction. While it's imperative that jockeys ride horses as they race, there are more benefits to having a buddy on the tracks than just companionship.

Are there girl jockeys?

Since 1977, female jockeys have been allowed in the Grand National horse race following the passing of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. A total of 19 female jockeys have entered the Grand National since then. Charlotte Brew on her horse, Barony Fort, was the first woman to compete in the race, in 1977.

Who is the best horse jockey?

Bill Shoemaker, who still holds the record as the jockey with the 3rd most career victories, is the best horse jockey of all time. His jockey career spanned for more than forty years, and during that time, he won awards for highest earnings in a season as well as the most victories in a season.

How do jockeys stay so small?

Jockeys who can't control their weight by diet are always in the sweatbox. Water control is their last resort. When they need to pull weight (lose pounds quickly) they come in before the race and jump in the sauna or steam room." Florida jockey Michael Lee, 26, tries to keep his weight down to 110 or 111.

How much of the purse do jockeys get?

While the vast majority of the purse goes to the winning horse's owners, a small portion is also paid to the jockey. Jockeys are typically paid around 10% of the purse, although their fee may be higher or lower depending on their experience and achievements.