How much do horse jockeys make a year?
The salaries of Horse Jockeys in the US range from $10,049 to $271,427 , with a median salary of $48,880 . The middle 57% of Horse Jockeys makes between $48,882 and $123,036, with the top 86% making $271,427.
Conclusion. At the top end, riders can earn hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. In fact, when retainers for top owners and foreign prize-money are included it is not inconceivable the very elite will nudge their earnings into seven figures.
Prize Money
In less competitive races, the jockey's earnings can be as low as 0.50% for a third-place finish, 1% for placing second and perhaps 6%-10% for first place.
2022 Kentucky Derby Prize Money
Meanwhile, the winning jockey who successfully crosses the finish line first will receive 10% of the winner's purse — which equates to a $186,000 payday before taxes and other payments.
Meet Yutaka Take, the world's richest jockey. A legend in Japan, Take, 52, enjoys 'God' status in his homeland and has a film star wife. His face is plastered on posters at racecourses, he's been the 'pin-up' of racing for years and enjoys the same level of fame as pop stars.
Working arrangements
Around 70% of people employed as Jockeys work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 4 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%). Full-time workers work an average of 49 hours per week in their main job. This is 5 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
A good jockey rides in seven or eight horseraces per day.
To earn a decent living, they have to ride as many horses as possible. Riders receive a small mount fee, commonly $50.00. The bulk of their earnings comes from the purse. Jockeys are paid 10% of the purse money the owner of the horse wins.
Q: What is the average age of a horse jockey? A person has to be a minimum of 16 years old to apply for a jockey license. The oldest jockey to still compete at the highest levels was 58 years old (Bill Shoemaker). The average age in this profession is currently about 40 years old.
| Thoroughbred top jockeys by earnings worldwide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Starts | Career earnings |
| Javier Castellano | $29,855 | $364,082,460 |
| Mike E. Smith | $33,945 | $337,917,625 |
| Pat Day | $40,300 | $297,914,840 |
On average, horse jockeys in America make $52,737 a year. Their salary is based on the class level of the race they are competing in, how many races they compete in, and what place they take in the race. A jockey can earn anywhere from just $28 to $184,000 or more per race.
How tall is a jockey?
Though there is no height limit for jockeys, they are usually fairly short due to the weight limits. Jockeys racing on the flat typically stand around 4 ft 10 in (147 cm) to 5 ft 7 in (170 cm). Jump jockeys are often taller, with multiple examples over 5 ft 10 in (178 cm).
However, as a general rule of thumb Flat jockeys receive around 8.5% of the advertised win prize and 2.61% of the advertised place prize. Jump Jockeys receive around 11.03% of the win prize and 3.44% of the place prize. The riding fee is negotiated annually between the PJA and the ROA.
Cheltenham Gold Cup prize money
On offer for the winning horse and jockey of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022 is a hefty chunk of prize money. The winning pair will receive about £625,000 in prize money for claiming success in the race – first run in 1924.
Conversation. Biggest Rich Strike bet in the sportsbook was $226 to win $22,600 Plus 10 $100 bets to profit $10,000.
In most states, jockeys are not prohibited from betting on races in which they don't ride or on betting on their own mounts. Nonetheless, a jockey betting against himself, no matter how few times it happened, is a serious offense that brings the integrity of those races into question.
Sir Gordon Richards is considered to be the best jockey of all time. During his career, he won 4,870 races, winning the British Flat Racing Champion Jockey title a record 26 times. Richards was born on May 5, 1904, in Donnington Wood, England.
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LONGINES World's Best Jockey Rankings.
| Jockey | James McDonald |
|---|---|
| 1st Place Points | 108 |
| 2nd Place Points | 30 |
| 3rd Place Points | 4 |
| Total Points | 142 |
It depends on the race day and the tension in the room. Sometimes there is chatter during a race, and sometimes there is not. Once again, it just depends on the race.
In fact, on average jump jockeys can expect to part company with their mount once in every 15 rides. While for their Flat compatriots that figure goes up to a slightly less hair-raising one in every 265 rides, their falls happen at a faster speed, and generally on a harder surface.
Every jockey has a different workout routine, but most professional riders train at least five days a week.
How many times are jockeys allowed to whip?
Whip Rules
The permitted number of uses of the whip with hands off the reins is 7 times for Flat races and 8 times for Jumps race.
Jockeys will remain limited one meeting per day after industry leaders agreed to extend the protocol, initially introduced last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It's estimated that only around 12% of jockeys are female – this remains a fact to this day despite scientific findings that women can jockey just as well as men.
You Won't See Many Riders Over The Age Of 40
As it becomes more difficult to control their weight as they get older, many horse jockeys call time on their careers in the saddle after the age of 40. It's rare for riders to go on past 50, although there are notable exceptions.
"Many jockeys also smoke, and they have told us that they smoke specifically to control their weight."
First and foremost, being a jockey is no easy way to make a living. It is a tough demanding life, physically, emotionally, mentally, and even dietary. There are no guarantees, no off seasons, and the competition gets tougher with more success and recognition.
Focus On Exotic Bets
Generally speaking, exotic bets pay the best odds, so, therefore, you'll have more chance of snaring bigger wins. Keep in mind that the very reason they pay better odds is that they are harder to pick. Some examples of exotic bets in Australian thoroughbred horse racing are: Quinella.
1. Hayley Turner. With more than 860 winning rides worldwide and £8,000,000 in career prize money, Hayley Turner is the most successful professional female jockey in history.
Jockeys are some of the original “gig workers,” because they work as independent contractors. Rather than a salary, a jockey will earn a “mounting fee” (often $25-$100) for each race, riding sometimes eight races per day.
Riding a winner is one of the best feelings you will ever have. Professional Jockeys make their living from riding horses in races. They receive a riding fee for every race, as well as a percentage of the prize money. Some Jockeys also manage to secure sponsorship deals, which provides extra income.
How much does a jockey get for winning the Kentucky Derby?
With the rider earning roughly 10 percent of the winnings. $186,000 isn't bad for a days work. However, agent fees, valet and taxes dwindle those earnings down to about $50,000 in take-home pay.
The purse money for a horse race comes from different places, such as gambling, entry fees, and sponsorships. Typically, the amount of money bet at a track is used to determine the racing purses for a season. The winnings from a horse race are usually split between the owner 80%, the trainer 10%, and the jockey 10%.
They are required to spend numerous hours honing their skills and preparing horses for racing, with their days typically starting around 4am up to seven days per week. Professional jockeys face pressure to maintain a low body weight in order to participate in their sport.
Strict weight requirements
This includes about 7 lbs. of gear, so that an adult male must weigh less than 119 lbs. in order to participate in the Kentucky Derby. There is no height requirement, however, jockeys tend to be shorter due to this weight requirement.
Lighter weight riders have the opportunity to ride more horses, and they can't make money if they aren't riding. But, jockeys have to be careful; they want to stay thin but not lose strength. Shorter jockeys have an advantage because they can maintain muscle strength at low body weight.
- Mounted police officer. National average salary: $53,211 per year. ...
- Equine science professor. National average salary: $55,287 per year. ...
- Ranch manager. National average salary: $56,948 per year. ...
- Equine insurance agent. ...
- Equestrian program director. ...
- Occupational therapist. ...
- Equine veterinarian.
Collectively, these deductions amount to roughly 25% of riding fees and 10% of prize-money. In summary, at the top end of the profession, jockeys can earn hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of pounds a year.
Rather than earn a salary, a jockey receives a “mounting fee” (often $50-$110) for each race, riding sometimes eight races per day. The real money for jockeys comes from prize money, if they can ride a horse to finish first, second or third in a race and earn part of the purse.
- Dental Hygienist.
- Physical Therapist.
- Radiation Therapist.
- Optometrist.
- Human Resources Manager.
Veterinarian. A veterinarian is one of the highest-paying animal careers. There are many different types of veterinary jobs. Mixed practice veterinarians work with both small and large animals, domestic or exotic.
What is the highest paying stable job?
- Anesthesiologist: $208,000.
- Surgeon: $208,000.
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist: $208,000.
- Orthodontist: $208,000.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $208,000.
- Physician: $208,000.
- Psychiatrist: $208,000.
However, as a general rule of thumb Flat jockeys receive around 8.5% of the advertised win prize and 2.61% of the advertised place prize. Jump Jockeys receive around 11.03% of the win prize and 3.44% of the place prize. The riding fee is negotiated annually between the PJA and the ROA.
A jockey can earn anywhere from just $28 to $184,000 or more per race. To become a jockey takes skill, dedication, experience, and patience. Some jockeys may race up to eight or nine races in a single day.
The purse money for a horse race comes from different places, such as gambling, entry fees, and sponsorships. Typically, the amount of money bet at a track is used to determine the racing purses for a season. The winnings from a horse race are usually split between the owner 80%, the trainer 10%, and the jockey 10%.
“Starvation is still a very common practice in that the jockey may not eat for 24 hours or more before a race, and combine this with a sauna or hot bath.” Among Irish jockeys, 14% use vomiting as a method for meeting weight requirements, Dr McGoldrick and his team found in a 2011 study into dieting habits.
