A horse racing jockey rides the horses in their races. Being a jockey takes skill, guts and determination.
A great jockey doesn’t just ride their horse, they ride the race. They judge pace and track biases correctly and use them to their advantage.
In our horse racing statistics guides, we list all the latest in-form jockeys and the top trainers they are connected with.
In our Horse Racing Jockeys guide, we look at some of the best flat jockeys and jump jockeys, both current and past.
Check out the best horse racing jockeys:
Contents
How much of the outcome of a horse race is attributable to the jockey?
Many of the best tipsters for horse racing believe that a good jockey is worth 75% of the race in an average horse race, whereas the horse’s ability contributes to 25% of the likely outcome of the race.
In higher-quality races, such as Group 1 events or Group 2 races, they believe this to be the case, with jockeys accounting for approximately 25% of the race result.
No matter how good a jockey is, he can’t make a slow horse run fast. But a bad jockey can make a fast horse run slow or get their timings and fractions wrong.
- A bad jockey will lose even if he has the best horse.
- A good jockey will usually win if he has the best horse.
- A great jockey can sometimes win without the best horse.
What differentiates a great jockey from a good one?
A great jockey doesn’t just ride his horse; he rides the race.
He judges pace and tracks biases accurately, using them to his advantage.
The best jockeys find ways to hinder other horses (like herding them, crowding them, or forcing them wide) without doing anything that would cause a disqualification.
Popular Terms Used For a Horse Rider
Here are popular terms used for a horse rider:
- Racehorse rider
- Racehorse pilot
- Racehorse rider jockey
- Jockey horse riding
Summary of Horse Racing Jockeys
Being a jockey is a dream for many; however, to make it professionally, an individual will need skill, determination and a high level of fitness.
In our jockey guides, we look at the best jockeys from across the world, looking at their current ride, biggest wins and background info. Find out more about your favourite jockey today.
