The sport of horse racing for jockeys is considered as one of the Luckiest, joyful and one of the most profitable  profession for them but if you look the other side, it is stressful, adventurous, risky  and dangerous occupation too, where every day risk of injury and threat to their life persists either at morning workouts for horses or in actual race competition, due to multiple factors such as unruly behaviour of the horses, erratic runnings, racing incidents like bumping, boring, clipping the heels etc. breakdown of horses, bad maintenance of tracks, bad weather,  use of old or unserviceable equipments, faulty saddling etc., etc., . Other than these factors,  sometimes jockeys inexperience and immaturity to control or balance while riding also results in for such sudden and unexpected  incidents and happenings. 

Often we see jockeys fall or dislodge from horses due to above mentioned reasons, which result in minor or major injuries and sometimes tragic accidents also happens. 

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION:

At the teen-age,  between 11-14 with weight below 40kg they appear for admission at apprentice jockeys training schools and after getting admission they undergo two years rigorous training and then get license to ride first as apprentice jockeys claiming allowance upto first 40 winners or upto 25 years of age whichever is earlier and than they become full jockeys and their joyful,stressful, adventurous, risky and profitable career starts in a new world of name, fame, money and glamour.

MISHAP DUE TO TRACK NOT FIT FOR RACING:

I quote a incident of last Bangaluru winter season when a mishap occurred where safety of jockeys and horses, not taken care. As per Express News Service last year during winter season BTC witnessed stormy scenes when three jockeys suffered a bad fall. Will to win, a top contestant, suffered  a broken leg and later was euthanised. Top jockeys S Narredu, astride Will to win, Kiran Rai piloting Sir Piggot unhurt while Srinath, who was guiding the public choice Aceros, sustained hip injury. The stewards later decided to cancel the remaining races, as the jockeys were not willing to ride on the dangerous track. Jockey Suraj Narredu later confirmed that the track was certainly not fit for racing. He further said I consider myself very lucky to escape serious injury. 

WHEN JOCKEYS LOST THEIR LIVES: 

No one can forget the tragic incident of K Umrigar in which he lost his life. Many other jockeys too lost their lives like -  D K Aashish, V Rajashekhar, Yogender Singh, K Suresh, B Madhu Kumar, Pramod Gaud, K Kariappa and Laxman. Many jockeys permanently disabled due to various injuries including spinal cord most expected one. Death of any jockey and horse on track is really tragic and a matter of utmost concern. I do agree Race clubs have taken many measures to avoid all such happenings at their respective ends and  ensuring  better safety measures and facilities for jockeys  but still repetition and occurrence of such incidents are not avoidable. Now it is made mandatory for jockeys to wear body protectors.      

Maximum incidents of injuries results for collarbone and ankle  fractures too. 

Sometimes jockeys recovers quickly and sometimes recovery takes long time. Some jockeys are continuing riding with rods and plates in their body. There job is really tough but they fulfill their riding engagements. Risk of injury and danger to life is a part of their life/routine.  

RIDING FOR SURVIVAL AND LIVELIHOOD: 

Few jockeys are totally dependent on rides because they get mount fee after every ride,  which is essential for their livelihood. They are more concerned about getting mounts rather than winning. It is the question of their livelihood and survival. Racing is not profitable and a favourite profession for all jockeys. Jockeys not getting winners or mounts to ride are more sufferers in this line of racing. The life of a jockey is a combination of comfort and stress along-with risk, pressure and dangers. 

APPLAUSE AND ABUSE :

Generally jockeys get lot of praise and applause when they win races but when they fails to win races, particularly on  favourite and fancied horses they get wreath of abuse and face anger of punters too. Their integrity always remains in doubt,  when they fail on favourite horses. Interpretations can go any  way but they are the ones who feel pressure of public perceptions. Many times they ride and feel themselves under pressure and stress, to deliver as per expectations. Jockeys  have to be cool, stress free and athletic, light weight, fit and trim and they must possess the required skills of riding. 

Apart from high voltage drama, intoxicating thrill and excitement, sometimes horse racing became a life danger sport too, both for jockeys and horses. Jockeys ride are running at speeds of 40mph, which means that paralysis and even death are not uncommon.

HOW TO KEEP THEMSELVES FIT AND SAFE: 

Jockeys are expected to pay more attention on their fitness and body weight. 

They should be punctual and regular on their daily visit to track for workouts to horses and keep themselves athletic and fit, they have to pay more attention on their daily diet. This types of routine,  helps  them to keep themselves more fit, fresh and energetic and they can continue the riding for long period of time. 

EXTRA CARE AND CAUTIOUSNESS: 

They should take additional care of proper saddling and ensure the good quality of equipments used on horses for their own safety. They are responsible for maintaining riding equipments including helmets,saddles, boots, whips, elastic girth’s, goggles and riding pants. They have to wear registered colour dress of respective owners and they have to wear skull cap and body protectors too. 

BEST RATING DECIDES CHARGES :

Jockeys  riding experience, confidence, riding skills, control and balance on horses and final delivery of results,  decides their superiority and best ratings,  on which owners pay them extra riding charges as per their demand or retain them by offering good remuneration, apart from regular mount fee they receive from race clubs. 

JOCKEYS GOT GOOD NAME AND FAME AND PREFERRED MOST:

In present lot of jockeys my likes for average -middle -weight (  weight between 50 to 54 kg ) full jockeys is as follows : Suraj Narredu, A Sandesh, P Trevor, , Neeraj Rawal, I. Chisty, S Zarwan, Akshay Kumar, Umesh, Dhanu S Deora, Nikhil Naidu, Aakash Rajput and Hindu Singh.  In top weight riders S Srinath and A Imran Khan is cut above the rest.  

ACHIEVEMENTS OF TREVOR AND SANDESH:

P Trevor is the first jockey of our country to complete fastest 1000 winners in less than eight years. ( As per a news report). 

A Sandesh created history in Indian racing by notching up 151 wins within a year May, ‘13 to April, ‘14 concluding of Mumbai racing season. ( As per a news report).

FOREIGN RIDERS WHO RODE FOR DECADES AND DECADES: 

While reading international racing articles I came across some interesting facts about some jockeys who rode for decades and decades and their riding fitness, really needs applause and compliments and their numbers of wins are : 

Russell Avery Baze rode for more than four decades from 1974. Retired in 2016. Born in Canada in 1958 to a American family and he holds the record for most race wins in Northern American horse racing history. Out of 53,578 mounts, he won 12,842 races, 9600 second and 7855 third . His average in top three placings  stands at 57 percent of total rides. Significant greatest horses whom he rode are — “Lost in the fog” and “ Bold Chieftain “.

Laffit A Pincay Jr. of US won 9530 races out of 48,486 rides and his average in top three placings stands at 49 percent of total rides.

William Shoemaker of US won 8833 races out of 40,356 rides and his average in top three placings stands at 49 percent of total rides.  The above statistics of riding and winning is really astonishing.      

EXPERIENCE COUNTS:

A good jockey does not need orders. He take spot decisions as per the pace and demand of the situation and accordingly he rides. Experience jockeys knows when to make a final assault. They do not become champion when they wins but in hours, weeks, months and years they spent preparing, learning and gaining experience for it. Than they become champions.

JOCKEYS ARE BETTER JUDGES : 

As a horse owner,  we too learned many things from jockeys, while obtaining their feedback after the races. They proved far better judges to reveal us the habits, weaknesses of horses and like and dislikes of horses and suggested us many corrective measures, many times. Many times they suggested for change in equipments too like aluminium bit to rubber bit, TS on or off, Blk on and off etc., and when we really effected the changes,  we got different and better results. Many crucial elements and informations of horse racing do not appear in black and white. You have to seriously discover such things from the available data/informations. 

We also found the outcome of most races did seem to be the product of logical factors rather than conspiracies. Jockeys evaluate the ability of horses better. Trainers opinion about their horses are usually very subjective and some times wrong but jockey can possess objective evidence that will tell when a trainer is likely to be right or wrong. Jockey’s develop a sense of when he is likely to lose and when he is likely to win. 

Jockeys know dreams take time to accomplish and hence they never gives up. They remain confident,fearless and courageous despite many adversities. The best proverb I know and is fit  in any activity, is — “ No defeat is certain, till you keep trying.” 

The power and opportunity that each has within is limitless. Be responsible and make wise decisions but don’t feel you have to grow up too fast. 

Stay safe and take good care of your health. God bless you all.