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Horse racing tournaments.
There are few braver athletes in the world than those that ride horses in professional races across the world.
Becoming a jockey requires more than just a high fitness level, as you will also need to have nerves of steel and not have any worries surrounding potential injuries that you could sustain.
Injuries are part and parcel of the life of a jockey, with many picking up fractures and broken bones on an annual basis. But, how are jockeys at the highest level developed from a young age in the United States, and how does it differ from the programmes in other nations around the world?
Attending Jockey School
One of the most popular ways to get a foot in the door when it comes to becoming a professional jockey is by attending one of the famed jockey schools in North America.
Interestingly, there is only one located in the United States, with the North American Racing Academy located in Lexington, Kentucky, which prepares jockeys for the best of the horse racing tournaments, the Kentucky Derby.
However, the U.S. is behind the eight ball when it comes to developing world class riders, as this school was only opened in 2006 after being the idea of retired jockey Chris McCarron. In fact, it is largely modelled on the British Racing School, which prepares riders for a life in racing from an early age. Students can be enlisted onto courses at the school as long as they are able to successfully pass a number of physical tests.
That includes being able to run a mile in a specified time. From here, students will learn about horses, whether that be their life away from racing or what students should be prepared to see when they are on track. Such is the professionalism of the world of racing that there is also a weight limit to the riding programme, as students heavier than 125 pounds will not be able to take the course.
But, there is a range of options available for those looking to take steps into a dream job in the sport, with courses specialising in riding, fitness, business, and horse care all available in Lexington.
Where Do U.S. Based Jockeys Learn Their Skills?
Given that there is only one-horse racing school in the United States, it isn’t breaking news to hear that the vast majority of top level jockeys have honed their craved outside of the nation. That is very much the case when is comes to legendary riders such as Luis Saez and Jorge Velazquez, who both learnt everything they know about racing after attending the Lafitte Pincay Jr technical Jockey Training Academy in Panama.
This school was opened in 1960, and is located just east of Panama City. Aspiring jockeys take their studies incredibly seriously within the nation, as the course lasts for two years. During this study period, riders will learn how to ride horses in professional races, as well as taking classes on equine care and barn management. Furthermore, it is during this period that the schools also teach students maths, English, and about nutrition.
Is A School The Only Way Into The Sport?
While many aspiring jockeys will look to learn everything that they need to know by attending a racing school, it is by no means the only way into horse racing at the highest level. That has been the case with two of the leading jockeys at Parx in recent history, with Frankie Pennington learning everything that he knows about the sport through working with his father in Texas.
His father taught him how to ride horses, and was also educated about the business of the sport and caring for the horses within their care. Pennington began to ride professionally at Thistledown in Ohio, before moving to compete at Parx soon after. To date, he has won over 2,500 races, highlighting that it’s not essentially important to attending a racing school if you want to reach the top of the sport.
Mychel Sanchez is another top-level rider that never attended a racing school, as he honed his craft in his home country of Venezuela before moving to the United States. He learned everything that there was to know about the sport under the stewardship of Joe Hampshire after moving to Philadelphia at a young age.
What Are The Key Skills Of Jockeys?
There is more to being a jockey than just riding winners, as athletes will need to have excellent knowledge of the sport, including know-how when it comes to breeding and how to train the runners.
However, above everything else, jockeys must reach physical demands that few other sports require. That includes weighing between 118 and 122 pounds, and being between 4 foot 10 and five foot 6. Therefore, a life as a jockey isn’t ideal for every aspiring rider, but for the few that make it, the rewards could be lucrative.
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