How Important Is The Jockey?
There are many factors to consider when picking your best bet in a horse race, but one of the most overlooked is the jockey. He – or she – is a critical factor in the chance of a horse performing at its best, and often the rider can make the difference between finishing in the money or at the back of the field. Some riders are going to be better than others, some jockeys will perform differently in various conditions, while others may have a great relationship with a particular horse. It’s important to recognise the contribution of jockeys and their potential to influence the result of a race when considering your racing tips .
Look at recent performances
Remember to think of jockeys as athletes – sometimes they are hot, sometimes not. So when taking into account a jockey, have a look at their recent record. This will often be shown as race statistics, such as 11-3-4-1, which means 3 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 11 starts. It can also be shown as a percentage and will usually be packaged with a range of other stats, including overall record.
Jockey and the horse
It’s important to recognise if a jockey is riding a horse in a race for the first time. While they may have ridden a particular mount in track work, a race is a different matter. Horses have personality and often they will have different reactions to particular riders. A good jockey/horse pairing with boast an understanding of each other and is more likely to be successful. Trainers will often look for a connection between jockey and horse – for example, how does the horse respond to the jockey’s commands, and how how does the jockey control the horse? Check the record of the jockey on that horse as well – a good strike rate is a pretty good indication that they are a good match.
Jockey and the trainer
Good jockeys will listen to the riding instructions given by a trainer and be able to carry them out to achieve the best possible result. The trainer is the person who understands the horse better than anyone and is always in the best position to understand its strengths and weaknesses – it’s the jockey’s responsibility to understand this and ride accordingly. Often a trainer will give a jockey some leverage in terms of riding the race. Often everything doesn’t go to plan – a horse that prefers an outside run may get stuck on the rail – so the jockey has to have the ability to reposition the horse as they see best. Strike rate statistics are available for jockey/trainer combinations and if you see it is healthy, pay attention.
Stick to the facts, not rumours
Horse racing tips abound at the track and often there is conjecture about a jockey and his ability on a particular horse. While it may make for an interesting conversation, there is no denying that facts speak louder than scuttlebutt. Check out anything you hear and look at such stats as a jockey’s record on similar horses, his strike rate at the track, success over the distance, and his record in the track conditions. These are far better indicators than track talk.
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