[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Most boring sport

[rvotaw at i-55.com]

Iggy wrote:

> Just out of curiosity, and to possibly aid in my re-assessment of
> hose-racing as an actual sport for the rider... What does a jockey actually
> have to go through in the way of training and actual athletic ability? And
> what are the requirements to be a good one?

Well, this could get rather complicated.  To start at the beginning, 16 is the 
youngest a rider can be licensed to ride.  Which means they've started at least 
a year before, working horses early in the mornings at the track, slowly 
working their way in so that a trainer will be willing to hire them once they 
have a license.  Unless they are fortunate enough to be hired as an exercise 
rider, they don't get paid for that.  Nor do jockeys get paid for riding early 
in the mornings for years to get ahead and earn a trainer's (and owner's) 
confidence enough so that they don't have to spend their lives at the track at 
the crack of dawn.  Or several hours before, in most cases.

There are jockey schools as well, one just started in the U.S. a couple of 
years ago.  There may be another as well, in the New England area, I think.  
There's a very prominent one in Puerto Rico, and also South Africa.  At these 
schools, skills are taught, perfected, and so on.  Some jockeys are born with a 
natural talent, others learn it once they realize they aren't going to be tall 
enough to, say, play basketball. :)

A really good jockey sends signals through the reins, the horse knows what he's 
thinking.  A jockey must be gentle, yet powerful enough to control a fully 
grown thoroughbred.  Most of all, a good jockey must be confident.  It's easy 
to lose your nerve after a few close calls under pounding hooves, and a jockey 
who has lost his nerve will soon be off the market, either on his own choosing 
or simply because no one will hire him anymore.

Jockeys must also keep their weight down, a riding weight of 110 means not 
weighing more than around 103 lbs.  This involves, for the health conscious 
ones, running long distances (usually around the track) and a very strict 
diet.  For the unhealthy ones, sitting in the sweat box for hours on end.  
Weight training is almost always done, as I said before, it's tough controlling 
an animal that big.

Well, I'm sure I've left out a lot, but I hope that helps.

Richelle

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]