| In UK horse racing all jockeys have to be licenced by | | | | expect to find themselves doing is riding horses out |
| The British Horse Racing Board. Most would be flat | | | | on the gallops, mucking out and leading horses out at |
| race jockeys join a racing stable when they are in | | | | race meetings. |
| their mid teems. At one time nearly all apprentice | | | | It can be a hard but exciting life for any youngster |
| jockeys were boys but in recent years an increasing | | | | but unfortunately many apprentices do not make it |
| number of girls have also have become apprentice | | | | to the ranks of being a senior jockey. There are |
| jockeys. It is also fair to say that the girls are also | | | | many reasons for this, sadly some do not have the |
| having considerable success in what was once a male | | | | aptitude or ability for the job, and others simply |
| dominated sport. | | | | become disenchanted with the life. The long hours, |
| To make up for their lack of experience an | | | | early cold mornings, poor wages and lack of progress |
| apprentice jockey can, up to the age of 25, claim a | | | | lead many to seek alternative employment. |
| weight allowance in most races dependent upon the | | | | Another problem for any would be jockey is that of |
| number of winners they have ridden in races against | | | | weight. Jockeys have to be able to keep their weight |
| senior jockeys. This works out at 7lbs if the jockey | | | | down to around 110lb to 120lb. As they grow some |
| has ridden 20 or less winners, 5lbs for 50 or less and | | | | teenagers just do not have the physical build to be |
| 3lbs until they have ridden 95 winners. In certain | | | | able to keep their weight down to that level. When |
| races a jockey with less than 20 winners who is | | | | this happens they really have three options, they can |
| riding a horse from his own trainers stable can claim | | | | move on to National Hunt jump racing where they |
| 10lb. Races purely for apprentice jockeys do not | | | | jockeys can weigh anything between 140lb and |
| count towards their total of winners and the | | | | 147lbs, look for another job inside of racing or leave |
| allowances in these races are calculated differently to | | | | the industry all together. |
| those that also include senior jockeys. | | | | Only a few apprentices each year will make the |
| There have been considerable advances made in | | | | grade and become an established senior flat race |
| jockey training in recent years not least with the | | | | jockey. Those that do can look forward to a |
| establishment of Jockey Schools in the major training | | | | lucrative and exciting life travelling the world riding |
| centres. Even so most young jockeys gain much of | | | | some of the best race horses and for them all of the |
| their early experience working in training yards. | | | | struggles will have been worthwhile. |
| Among the many tasks an apprentice jockey can | | | | |