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The spirit of true competition in Horse Racing

Next year Lewis Hamilton could become the first athlete in history to win in excess of a formula of $ million as possibly the best one driver in the world. However, this year the title of best jockey in racing UK horses was shared by two men, and have not received a penny in recognition. So what drives a jockey to win the jockey championship?

The answer is simple – PRIDE

By taking the Open Golf Championship this year Padraig Harrington pocketed GBP750, 000. Not bad for four days work. Roger Federer had to put in a little more effort to claim the Wimbledon men's title, a set of two weeks in fact. But he was rewarded with a check for GBP700, 000.

Jamie Spence and Seb Sanders shared the title of Champion Jockey, and both have scored the same number of wins during the season. However, the reward for success of the sponsors was £ 10 for each victory (around GBP2, 000) which was all donated to charity.

The horse racing season in the UK Flat lasts eight months and ends in mid November. Between them, Jamie Spence and Seb Sanders scored to 2,000 trips. That equates to an average of more four trips each day for eight months. Take the day once in a while 'off' days when the lesion began in the margin, and days off because suspensions, and it is clear that the amount of dedication that requires a rider to win the title.

But it goes much deeper than traveling in a pile racing. The daily life of a horse racing jockey is very exhausting. We often hear about the best riders in flight, as Frankie Dettori, Mick Kinane, and Kieron Fallon flying all over the world to compete in some of the richest horse races on the planet. This glamorous picture of life in the chair is not only one side of the coin.

On the other side are the riders as Spencer and Sanders, plus many, many more that make his government thoroughbred living around the race courses of United Kingdom.

A typical day for a jockey will start at first light with riding work on the training gallop. Then he is off to the race course is staging a meeting that day. And in the UK, the meeting could be anywhere from Exeter and Bath in the south, to Perth and Musselburgh in Scotland.

Nowadays horse racing tales place almost every day of the year, with only a few exceptions. Lighted all-weather Racetracks also means evening. It is not uncommon for a rider to compete in the lawn during the afternoon, then dash to the highway at a meeting in the afternoon in the artificial surfaces of Wolverhampton or Kempton. Often the last race of the evening can be as late as 9:30 pm. Then, riders must weigh in and attend the presentations if successful, before changing his riding silks and making their way home. It is not unusual for a rider who comes back home in the early hours of the morning, and the alarm clock set for 6am to start all over again.

Approaching the height of the season, a particular day, Jamie Spence drove from their home in Newmarket to London for a hearing at the Jockey Club, then flew to Scotland for racing at Musselburgh, then back to Wolverhampton for the meeting of the night that ended the career of 9:20 pm, before finally returning to Newmarket. One round trip of about 900 miles. A few jockeys have the luxury of drivers and private flights paid for by the owners. But most of the drivers have to do with the car-sharing and endless miles up and down the highway.

And then there is the challenge of the jockeys' diet. Everybody knows that jockeys have to maintain feather-weight proportions. They do this to survive on a diet low boiled fish or chicken, and a few cups of tea without milk.

The biggest danger of following a very restrictive diet in pursuit of success is that of dehydration. In an attempt to avoid taking on extra weight, a rider to drink less, especially during the course of an evening of race day. And if you need to lose weight a few kilos are sit in a sauna and sweat the weight. The effect of dehydration may be the loss of concentration and even fainting.

People may think that riding a horse race is little more than it goes in the right direction and kicking him in the belly to get going. Nothing could be further from the truth. Highly strung thoroughbreds need little encouragement to run at full speed, and indeed most need restraining during the first part of a race. It takes great strength and power to control half a ton of muscle of animals traveling at 30 miles per hour. Similarly, physical effort is required to drive a horse out of the line in a close finish. All this on boiled chicken and tea!

Returning to the original question, of why jockeys will put themselves through this arduous routine?

"It's all about the prestige that comes with claiming the title." Explains British Horse Racing Authority spokesman Lucy Watson.

The names on the Trophy include many of the larger Racing – names such as Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott, Willie Carson, Pat Eddery, Kieron Fallon and Frankie Dettori. To have your name recorded alongside their 'heroes' is what drives people like Sanders and Spencer.

The top riders are paid for each trip – a rate of £ 125.94 the owner. In addition, normally receive 10 percent of any prize money. Jamie Spence winners by name in excess GBP2million this season and will earn about of GBP200, 000 through prize alone. But then Spencer is Champion Jockey and trainers and owners alike all clamor to bring the child to ride their horses. He finds it difficult to get better rides. It is something of a self-perpetuating upward spiral. If you're good, you get to ride with the best opportunity win, and win more races.

But as you can imagine, it works in reverse too. Spare a thought for the other riders that make up the numbers in each career. They often have to take all the attractions that can, in horses that can not win, at courses throughout the country, and bear all travel costs involved. Everyone in the spirit of this great sport of kings.

About the Author

About the author: Max Redd is the professional gambler behind the success of the Redd Racing betting service. Get a FREE trial at www.ReddRacing.co.uk and a 60-day money back profit guarantee.

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