*Home>>>Horse Racing>>>What is the average height and weight of a jockey?

Question: What is the average height and weight of a jockey? Answer: A morning exercise rider can be between 123-127 lbs. This added weight should be more muscle than weight due to the rigors of training a horse to race. Any horse can run, but, can that horse race around an oval. That's where the morning training comes in and jockeys need that extra muscle weight to train the horse so as when the morning exercise program is complete and its race time, a much lighter jockey will get on the horse to race. Horses are assigned weights according to the specifications of a race. If the weight asignments afforded a racehorse-thoroughbred/quarter horse for a race are 121 lbs for every borse in the race and minus five lbs for age difference, the horse will carry 116 lbs. and if there is an addditional allowance for a horse to carry even 5 lbs. less due to past performances, then the weight now becomes 111 lbs. that particular horse will carry for that particular race. And, if the jockey has a bug (5-10 lbs. less for just starting out as a jockey-apprentice), than that particular horse will now carry 106 lbs., or even 101 lbs. for that particular race. The whole concept about weights is to have a jockey at race time meet the exact weight assignment as per the Racing Secretary's office and weight classifications. If a jockey weighs less than the assigned, or designated weight allowance, dead weights will be placed in the saddle bags to make up the difference between the assigned weight and the actual weight of the jockey. This is not a feature any good trainer would want because as the jockey shifts his weight during the course of the race, the weights remain in place in the saddle bags. Human or jockey weight is highly desireable over a combination of jockey weight and additional dead weights placed in the saddle bags. To answer the question, depending upon the graded race and the quality or reputation of a jockey, will strongly influence the weight of a jockey. In many grade one races, the weight assignments are usually between 115 lbs-to 121 lbs for a horse to carry. A jockey who races in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, etc. will keep his/her weight at around 109-114 lbs,, and allow for saddle and equipment weight to bring that jockey up to race day requirements. In lesser graded races, grades 2-3, allowances and claiming races where the weight requirement may be less due to the quality of the horse and race, many jockey's will keep their weight under 109 lbs. to meet race day weight requirements. So, in essence, Pat Day, who will race in the Kentucky Derby and other Grade 1 races will be a few pounds heavier than another jockey who may only race in lesser graded horse races due to the weight assignments afforded each horse and the overall quality of the race and reputation of the jockey. Kelso was probably one of the top ten horses that ever raced due to the fact he carried as much as 140 lbs. or more during a race and won. Two great jockeys, Ismael Valenzuela and Eddie Arcaro rode Kelso to many victories. And, as the master Arcaro claimed, Kelso was the best. Even better than Citation and Whiraway, whom Arcaro guided each horse to the winners circle in the Triple Crown. From the standpoint of 112 lb. Arcaro-Valenzuela, bringing Kelso to the winners circle took skill and great horsemanship. Their are no height requiremenst for a jockey, only weight.