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.
How much does a jockey earn per ride?
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.
Who is the highest paid jockey?
John R. Velazquez
Columns
| Rank | Jockey Name | Total $ |
|---|---|---|
| *1 | John R. Velazquez | $460,324,298 |
| *2 | Javier Castellano | $375,080,375 |
| *3 | Mike E. Smith | $344,112,618 |
| 4 | Pat Day | $297,914,839 |
Do jockeys get paid if they don’t win?
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. The percentages a jockey receives for a thoroughbred race range from 5% for a second- or third-place finish to 10% for first place, according to the Covington Reporter.
How much of the winnings do jockeys get?
A winning jockey is entitled to 10% of the horse owner’s share of the purse. What is this? So, if a race has a purse of $100,000, the winning horse owner will typically receive 60% of it, which is $60,000. Then, the jockey will get 10% of that, which would equal $6,000.
How long does a jockey career last?
You would usually retire from riding by age 45 (35 for jump jockeys). At the end of your riding career you can get advice on retraining and employment from the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme.
How many hours does a jockey work?
You would work around 40 hours a week, depending on the number of races you take part in, often involving early starts and late finishes.
Is there a weight limit for jockeys?
Most jockeys are shorter and have weight restrictions
So, ultimately the jockeys should not weigh more than 119 pounds, according to Bustle. While there is no height restriction, most jockeys tend to be around 4-foot-10 and 5-foot-6 due to the weight restriction.
What is James McDonald’s salary?
The breakdown of McDonald’s income would make him the envy of every NRL and AFL player in the country. Jockeys earn five per cent of all prizemoney, which means McDonald has earned $482,050 in prizemoney from his rides that have netted a staggering $9.641m.
Can jockeys bet on horse races?
Betting Rules For Jockeys
They’re specifically prohibited from betting on races in which they’re involved. That means that they’re not allowed to bet if they’re taking part in the race but it’s a different matter if they want to bet on a race that they have nothing to do with.
Can a jockey get back on a horse?
Jockeys may remount, with the permission of the racecourse doctor or veterinary surgery, if they are unseated during the preliminaries but, once the race is underway, may only remount, with permission, for the purpose of riding back to the unsaddling enclosure.
How many winners before a jockey lose their claim?
Once they have ridden 75 winners, the jockey loses their claim and becomes a fully-fledged professional. In Flat racing, Apprentice jockeys have the same weight allowances, but the winning milestones lie at 20, 50 and 95 respectively.
Do horse owners make money?
From horses’ earnings, jockey and training fees are paid. After monthly expenses and fees are paid, there is usually very little profit remaining for the horse owner. As an example, in a race with a purse of $10,000, the winning horse owner gets $6000.
Do jockeys get paid per race?
Jockeys are some of the original “gig workers” because they work as independent contractors. Rather than earn a salary, a jockey receives a “mounting fee” — often $50-$110 — for each race, riding sometimes eight races per day.
Do jockeys earn good money?
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.
What age do most jockeys retire?
Jump jockeys will usually start to consider retirement at about the age of 35, whilst flat racing jockeys will often last for about ten years longer.
Is becoming a jockey hard?
Sounds like a tough process.
It is. Less than 5% of people on our course go on to become jockeys. Some people find it too scary while others struggle with the weight restrictions. You have to be really dedicated to get to the right weight and be fit enough.
How are jockeys chosen?
Jockeys Have No Contracts
Jockeys, like Triple Crown winner Victor Espinoza above, are hired on a race-by-race basis. To select a jockey you must first speak with their agent. Yes, every single one of them has an agent!
How often do jockeys train?
Every jockey has a different workout routine, but most professional riders train at least five days a week.
What age can you become a jockey?
Most jockeys tend to start quite young, around 16 to 22 years old, as they’re required to have a certain weight and height to be able to ride the horses. Although a higher number of women are starting to show an interest on the sport, the world of jockeys is mostly formed by men.
Do jockeys travel a lot?
A jump jockey will typically drive 70,000 miles a year going to and from races, according to Great British Racing, the sport’s promotional body in the UK. That’s equivalent to driving around the earth along the line of the equator just under three times.