A weighty issue

By Caitriona Fenton

All athletes strive to maintain a perfect body weight for their sport, they exercise to build up muscle strength, eat to build up energy stores and shape their bodies to be the ultimate athlete for their particular sport. Elite sportspeople can be easily recognised by their physique, different sports require different body shapes and none so much so as for Jockeys. Sadly the ideal body shape for most jockeys especially those on the flat is to weigh as little as possible.

There has been some controversy over riding weights in the last few years and some weights have been changed, however in my opinion they still seem unnaturally low for a high percentage of jockeys. For example for National Hunt racing top weight is 12 stone and bottom weight is 9 stone 10lbs in Ireland and 10st in Great Britain. For racing on the flat top weight is 10 stone and bottom weight is 8st 4lbs in Ireland and 7st 12lbs in Great Britain. These are extremely low body weights for grown men and women to achieve and in the case of young claiming jockeys the weights can decrease again by up to 10lbs.

There is a vast difference in the weights of jockeys and that of other professional sportspeople. Rugby players for example are known for their strength and muscle mass as this is what the game depends on. Jockeys in an ideal world would also be very strong as they have to control a half tonne thoroughbred horse underneath them. Richard Hughes is one of the tallest flat jockeys in Britain at 5ft 10’’. Rugby player Brian O’Driscoll is also 5ft 10’’ however he weighs 14st 13lb whereas Richard Hughes rides at a minimum a weight of 8st 6lbs. Nicolas Roche the cyclist is also 5ft 10 and maintains a low weight to be top of his game and he weighs in at 10st 12lbs.

An article in the Racing Post recently discussed how British jockey Lee Newman made a comeback after an eight year absence. The former champion apprentice however had to lose 5 stone in order to do so. There have been numerous scientific studies carried out to examine the effect of ‘wasting’ on jockeys health, both physical and psychological. One study by Brunel University looked at the effects of weight loss on the moods and eating attitudes of 41 professional jockeys with an average age of 31. The results of the study were worrying; it found that 15% of those interviewed were at risk of eating disorders including self-induced vomiting (flipping) and regular starvation. The study also found that jockeys who do very light weights regularly experience mood disturbances. Not surprisingly other studies have also found that this kind of crash dieting leads to dehydration, eating disorders and muscle weakness.

Weight restrictions on jockeys were originally introduced for the welfare of the horse, however it seems that there is less concern for the welfare of the jockeys riding them. There is so much emphasis put on peak fitness and nutrition for racehorses and it would be unheard of to run a horse that was in any way weak or dehydrated. Why, is it ok for jockeys to race a couple of times a day after sweating in a sauna for hours with no food or drink as is commonplace in so many weigh rooms?

There is no question that a jockey’s profession is one of hardship and dedication and it is hard for the spectator to appreciate this. Many jockeys struggle with their weight and risk their health as a result. In my opinion the regulatory bodies should consider changing the weights to secure the future of racing and in respect to the individuals who put their bodies through the ringer to get results.

By Caitriona Fenton