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jockey
Jockeys ride horses in flat races or National Hunt races (sometimes known as jump racing), and occasionally in both types of race.
Before becoming an apprentice jockey in flat racing or conditional jockey in jump racing, time has to be served as a stable hand (also known as stable lad or lass), performing tasks like:
- filling haynets
- sweeping the yard and mucking out stables
- grooming, feeding and watering horses
- taking horses through exercises
- noting any changes in horses' health and report to the head lad or trainer.
On race days, apprentice and conditional jockeys:
- travel with the horses to meetings to learn racing techniques under instruction from the trainer
- are advised by the trainer on tactics to suit the horse and the track
- groom and calm the horses
- kitting horses out in race livery
- look after horses after races.
They perform stable hand duties on days when they are not race riding.
Full professional jockeys are also engaged by trainers for early morning 'work-rides' to train horses for racing.
Hours and Environment
Jockeys work around 40 to 45 hours a week, depending on the number of races they take part in. They attend races held at courses throughout the UK, so must be prepared to travel and spend time away from home.
The work is physically demanding, often involving early starts and late finishes. There is high risk of injury from falls and kicks.
Skills and Interests
To be a jockey you should:
- be skilled at riding and handling horses
- have fitness, strength and stamina
- be determined and dedicated
- have good eyesight and fast reaction speeds
- be able to work well with others
- be able to cope with the risks and pressures of racing
- have knowledge of horse care and welfare
- be willing to work and live away from home.
Entry
To become a jockey you will first need to be employed by a trainer in a racing yard as:
- an apprentice jockey; or
- a conditional jockey (if you are racing over jumps).
You can prepare for work in a racing yard by doing the NVQ Level 1 and 2 Racehorse Care Residential Course. This course is free if you are aged between 16 and 25. The training centres for the course are:
- the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket
- the Northern Racing College (NRS) in Doncaster.
The course consists of:
- a 9 to 12 week residential foundation course
- a placement in a racing yard where you will do a 10 to 12 month apprenticeship leading to NVQ Level 2 in Racehorse Care.
If you are already working in a racing yard you may be able to do NVQ Level 2 in Racehorse Care by day release. You can find details of colleges offering the NVQ on the British Horseracing Board website. Please see Further Information for a link.
If you show exceptional riding skills you may then be selected to train as an apprentice or conditional jockey.
You will need to be small in stature, weighing about 9 stone 7lbs as a jump jockey and about 8 stone as a flat jockey.
Training
You will receive training on the job. The trainer takes responsibility for where and what horses you ride and decides when you are competent and ready to race-ride (usually about two years). You will then apply to the Horseracing Regulatory Authority for a licence to ride.
Before the licence is granted you will need to take a 5-day residential Apprentice or Conditional Licence course at the BRS or NRC. You will also need to pass a medical examination.
The Horseracing Regulatory Authority is responsible for the regulation of the conduct of British racing. Details of licensing can be found on their website – please see the Further Information section of this profile.
Once you have been granted a licence as an apprentice or conditional jockey you will serve your apprenticeship at your trainer's yard. You will usually do this between the ages of 16 and 25, after which you can become a professional jockey (age 27 for racing over jumps).
To keep your licence you will need to continue your development by taking a 4-day Apprentice or Conditional Continuation course and an advanced Apprentice or Conditional course.
Please see the British Horseracing Board website for more information.
Apprentices and conditionals may work towards NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Race-horse Care and Management.
Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland
Opportunities
There are 500 racing stables around the country, located mainly in rural areas. Employment prospects for trained stable hands are good, but progression to apprentice jockey is difficult and becoming a successful professional jockey even more so.
As a professional jockey, you may work for one trainer or owner, or ride for different trainers and owners as a self-employed jockey. If the trainer or owner races horses abroad, jockeys travel to those meetings as well. Work for stables overseas is possible, especially in Dubai, Japan and the USA.
Most jockeys retire by age 45 (35 for jump jockeys). The Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme (JETS) offers advice on retraining and employment for licensed jockeys who have reached the end of their riding career. See Further Information for contact details.
Stable hands could gain promotion to travelling head lad/lass (responsible for the horses and hands when they travel to meetings), assistant head lad/lass, and head lad/lass (overseeing the work of all the hands and apprentices) rather than becoming jockeys. NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Racehorse Care and Management may help with progression.
A few head lads/lasses and ex-jockeys go on to become assistant trainers and trainers.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Apprentice jockeys start at around £9,500 a year.
Experienced jockeys can earn around £20,000.
Senior jockeys can earn over £50,000 a year.
Earnings can be increased by taking a percentage of the prize money.
There may be free travel, lodgings and food or paid expenses to cover these. Extra payments for racing abroad may be given.
Further information
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
Hambridge Road
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 5SJ
Tel: 01635 230410
London
WC2H 8AL
Tel: 020 7189 3800 (NB: Calls to this number may be recorded)
Rossington Hall
Great North Road
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN11 0HN
Tel: 01302 861000
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7NU
Tel: 01638 665103
London
WC2H 8AL
Tel: 020 7152 0000
Email: info@careersinracing.com
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The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.
Careers Database Information By Learn Direct Advice