weight?

RainbowspringsTB&QH · Postby **RainbowspringsTB&QH** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 7:51 pm

I was wondering what the max weight to be a jockey?? im considering it but i want to know what i have to get down to.

Kristie · Postby **Kristie** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:27 am

A new jockey needs to be able to make the MINIMUM weights, not the maximum. If you need to reduce to make maximum weight you might want to consider another occupation. No offense intended.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:56 am

Most of the jockeys I know try to hover between 105-112 lbs. But you can't just "become" a jockey. You would need to head out to the track and put some time in, work as an exercise rider, etc. Incidentally, exercise riders don't have that much of a weight restriction.

That's like asking what color you should dye your hair to become a movie star.

RainbowspringsTB&QH · Postby **RainbowspringsTB&QH** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 8:42 am

well im about 115 now, i have jumped for local barns oh no i didnt mean that i wanted just to start jockying i know and fully understand its somthing that i can just decide to do. I was just curious.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:06 am

Actually, exercise riders don't have to work to make weight.. and can pretty much stay put nearly all year. Jockeys have to "follow the meet" which can mean relocating several times a year. The good exercise riders that I know can earn better than $1K a week.. of course that is the few dedicated ones that work from 4:30 am until 3pm or so, seven days a week, at a track and then at one or two training centers. From exercise rider, it is possible to become an apprentice jockey and this is where the weight thing gets pretty ugly. As an apprentice (or "bug" rider -- so called because there is an asterisk next to the rider's name in the program) the rider is usually given a weight allowance of 5 lbs or so. So in order to ride where the assigned weight (total) is 116 lbs, the apprentice, complete with tack and gear, needs to be 111lbs or less. It gets uglier in allowance races where the horse can get weight allowances and most bug riders need to be around 101-105 lbs.

UmmYeah · Postby **UmmYeah** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:55 pm

Come on up to Portland and start as an exercise rider. If you want to become a jockey and you have talent, there is plenty of opportunity at Portland Meadows.

Intrinsic Worth · Postby **Intrinsic Worth** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:34 pm

Most of your top trainers do impose weight restrictions on exercise riders. Baffert only wants small, very lightweight riders (preferrably blonde lol.)

Niall O'Callaghan doesn't really care and actually has heavier riders breeze horses (which can be very good for stamina.) They actually get more out of a workout with a heavier rider.