It’s estimated that only around 12% of jockeys are female – this remains a fact to this day despite scientific findings that women can jockey just as well as men.
What percentage of jockeys are female?
Jockey Statistics By Gender
27.2% of jockeys are women and 72.8% of jockeys are men.
How many female jockeys have there been?
Since 1977, female jockeys have been allowed in the Grand National horse race following the passing of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. A total of 19 female jockeys have entered the Grand National since then.
Are there any current female jockeys?
Rachael Blackmore
Her six wins at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021, made her the first female jockey to win the Ruby Walsh Trophy for leading Cheltenham jockey. She then added three more in 2022 including the much coveted Gold Cup.
Why are there fewer female jockeys?
There’s a host of reasons why those numbers are so low, jockeys say. In interviews with NBC, five female jockeys described what they say is a long and persistent history of gender discrimination in the sport. Some say their careers have been deterred by sexual harassment and bullying.
How much do you have to weigh to be a female jockey?
For years, US jockeys have been advocating for a higher scale of weights. At most tracks in this country, riders need to be able to weigh out at 115 or 116 (22 pounds below the healthy weight for men, 9 pounds low for women).
Are male jockeys faster than female?
Male jockeys have no more influence over the performance of a racehorse than female jockeys. Experts from the University of Nottingham have found that the sex of a jockey doesn’t influence any aspect of racehorse physiology and performance.
Has a female horse ever won a race?
Lady’s Secret won eight Grade I stakes races.
All ten wins were graded stakes races, and eight were grade 1 races. Eight grade I wins is still a single-season record, only matched by Cigar in 1995. Lady’s Secret won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and the Outstanding Older Female Horse Award in 1986.
Has a girl horse ever won the Derby?
Regret, winner of the 1915 Kentucky Derby and the first of three female horses to ever win the famed race. The lady is a champ ! Speed, power and grace are not the exclusive domain of male thoroughbreds at the Kentucky Derby.
Why are jockeys mostly men?
In the present day, more than 90% of jockeys in most racing nations are men. This is likely an unconscious bias toward male jockeys being—on average—physically “stronger,” able to push horses harder, and thus performing better in races than female jockeys.
How tall is a female jockey?
On account of this, horse jockeys tend to have an average height that is shorter than most people. A male horse jockey tends to be between 4’10” and 5’6” in height. Meanwhile, female jockeys tend to be around 5’2”.
How tall do you have to be to be a female jockey?
Horse Jockeys: How Big Are They & Their Fight to Make Weight
| Average Male (US) | Average Female Jockey | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5’9″ | 5’2″ |
| Weight | 200 lbs | 107 lbs |
Is there a weight limit for being a jockey?
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.
Do horses prefer female riders?
“Assuming that there is no difference in riding ability, from the horse’s point of view it does not seem to matter whether its human partner is male or female,” concluded the study’s co-author Christine Aurich.
Do horses prefer male or female riders?
A new study indicates that horses apparently don’t care which gender is in the saddle.
Do female jockeys have an advantage?
According to a recent economic study, female jockeys who race modern Thoroughbreds could fare just as well on the racetrack if given the identical chance.
What is the salary of a horse jockey?
$39,730
| Salary by states | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Average salary | Hourly rate |
| Delaware | $39,070 | $18.8 |
| New Hampshire | $39,385 | $18.9 |
| California | $39,730 | $19 |
What is a female horse rider called?
What do you call a female horse rider? The most common terms are equestrian and cowgirl, which are not discipline specific.
How much do jockeys get paid?
Rather than earn a salary, a jockey receives a “mounting fee” (often $50-$110) for each race, riding sometimes eight races per day. 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.
Who is the best female jockey?
The Top Female Jockeys of All Time
- Most racing experts will agree that England’s Hayley Turner is the most successful and famous female jockey of all time.
- Julie Krone is an American horse racer born in 1963 and is known for being the most successful female jockey in US history.
Do jockeys have to be skinny?
Strict weight requirements
This includes about 7 lbs. of gear, so that an adult male must weigh less than 119 lbs. in order to participate in the Kentucky Derby. There is no height requirement, however, jockeys tend to be shorter due to this weight requirement.