Horse racing is loved by millions of people all around the world, and while most will only get the chance to watch on from a distance, there are those who find themselves in a position where they’re involved with the horse racing industry itself. Some are lucky enough to have the money to own horses, but they will need to put their trust in others if they’re to be successful, and jockeys will play a key role in this. In fact, according to a Unibet spokesman, the choice of jockey is key in determining the probability of that particular horse actually winning the race.
Jockeys are tasked with riding a horse during the race, with the owner hoping that their horse comes first. This means that they’re a very important cog in the system but just how do owners go about in selecting jockeys to ride the horses that they own? Well, one of the first things an owner will look at is the reputation of the jockey. There are jockeys out there who have been at the top of their game for many years and these are always the most sought after, as they have continuously delivered over long periods and proved themselves not to be a flash in the pan.
Form can also be an attractive quality that a horse owner looks for. While some jockeys will be secured to contracts with specific yards, others will not, meaning a call can be put in to offer them the ride for an upcoming race or series of races. If a jockey is on form and has a good strike rate based on the most recent rides taken, this will make them more appealing to owners in need of a jockey, as they will be looking to capitalise on a good run of form. An in-form jockey is also going to be full of confidence too, enabling them to potentially fare better in a race than others.
A horse racing owner may also look to consult the trainer that they have schooling the horse for their advice on a jockey. This is because the trainer will know exactly what kind of runner the horse is, be it one who prefers to lead from the front or a horse who is more suited to being delivered late on in a race due to a good burst of energy. They will then be able to select a jockey who has proven ability when on board a specific type of runner, increasing their chances of success in a race.
With a jockey being pivotal when it comes to winning a race, it’s important that a horse owner considers as many things as possible before deciding on who will take the ride. With so many jockeys out there, it can be a difficult task, but there are plenty of stats now available which show which jockeys are in form for example, as well as the total history of the jockey depicting the races they have won and the horses they have ridden.
