{"id":4909,"date":"2022-09-10T09:28:11","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T09:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ukgamblingsites.com\/?page_id=4909"},"modified":"2023-07-10T19:08:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T19:08:31","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-amateur-jockeys","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ukgamblingsites.com\/sports-betting\/horse-racing\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amateur-jockeys\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Amateur Jockeys"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmateurWhen watching the vast majority of sports, be it football, rugby, golf, tennis etc, spectators are unlikely to witness an amateur competitor locking horns with the professionals. It happens occasionally in golf, perhaps in football during the FA Cup, and from time to time in other sports and events but on the whole, the main action is pro doing battle against fellow professional.<\/p>\n

However, horse racing is a little different. Tune in to the racing on any given day and you may well see the name of an amateur rider listed right alongside the best professional jockeys in the game. It is certainly not at all uncommon, even in the very<\/em> biggest races of them all.<\/p>\n

A particularly normal sight in National Hunt (Jumps) racing, these amateur jockeys are no strangers to success, and from time to time even bely their non-professional status to claim the most prestigious prizes the sport has to offer. But what exactly is an amateur jockey? And what races can they enter? Here we explain everything you need to know.<\/p>\n

What is an Amateur Jockey?<\/h2>\n
\"Towcester
Credit: Howard Stanbury Flickr<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In horse racing, there are three types of jockey. First, we have the professionals who receive a fee for each of their rides, are generally the best in the business, and follow the pursuit as a full-time career. Next comes the batch of up-and-coming jockeys, known as conditional riders in jumps racing and apprentice jockeys on the flat.<\/p>\n

Most often falling into the younger age bracket, these riders are also paid for their rides. As a means of compensating for their relative inexperience, conditional\/apprentice jockeys receive a weight allowance which enables them to take a specified amount of weight off a horse\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

The third and final category is then that of the amateur jockey.<\/p>\n

As the word amateur implies, these riders do not receive a fee for riding. Motivations behind competing as an amateur will vary from individual to individual. For some, the inspiration may be no more than a love of the game and the urge to compete. Many amateur riders have a successful career outside of racing and treat the sport as a hobby, or a way to scratch their competitive itch. Others however do have the ultimate ambition of becoming a professional jockey and opt to initially follow the amateur route, as opposed to first becoming a conditional or apprentice jockey.<\/p>\n

Can Anyone Be an Amateur Jockey?<\/h2>\n

\"National<\/p>\n

Whilst all amateur riders fit the first definition of the word, i.e., competing in the sport on an unpaid basis, it is important that they do not also meet the second definition of amateur, i.e., an individual who is incompetent or inept at a particular task. Of course, just as with professional jockeys, ability levels will vary from rider to rider, but all amateurs must at least be able to demonstrate an ability to ride and control a racehorse at a high level. The sport does after all have a responsibility towards the safety of the horses, the amateur riders themselves, and the professional and apprentice\/conditional riders against whom they may be competing.<\/p>\n

As such, in order to be eligible to compete, aspiring amateur riders must first obtain an amateur rider\u2019s permit. As you would expect, all applicants must meet a stringent set of criteria if they are to be granted such a permit. Anyone wishing to become an amateur jockey must first attend a two-day assessment course at either the National Horseracing College or British Racing School. Over the course of the two days, the hopefuls must pass a demanding fitness test, and display competence in all key areas of race riding, including taking hurdles and fences at speed, correct body position, control of the horse, and bouncing a horse out of the starting stalls. Only if satisfying the assessors will the rider be granted a permit.<\/p>\n

The permits themselves then come in two forms. A Category A permit will allow the rider to compete only against other amateur riders. In order to line up against the professionals though, an amateur must have a Category B permit. This second type of permit will only be granted should the rider pass all of the assessment centre criteria, and possess a certain level of experience – defined as having ridden in 15 races under rules, finished in the first three in a Point-to-Point race on at least 20 occasions, or some combination of the two.<\/p>\n

How to Spot an Amateur Jockey on a Racecard<\/h3>\n

\"Amateur<\/p>\n

Identifying an amateur jockey on a racecard is thankfully a straightforward task.<\/p>\n

All professional riders will be noted using only their name e.g. Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore, Jamie Spencer etc.<\/p>\n

However, all amateur riders will have their title listed alongside their name e.g. Mr S Waley Cohen, Ms Lisa O\u2019Neill, Captain Archie Smith-Maxwell and so on.<\/p>\n

Which Races Can Amateur Jockeys Enter?<\/h3>\n

\"Approved\"On the flat, amateur riders may compete ONLY in races restricted to amateur riders.<\/p>\n

However, things are a little different in the National Hunt sphere. Category A permit holders are only eligible for amateur-only events \u2013 of which there are many scattered throughout the season \u2013 but those in possession of a Category B permit may ride in ANY jumps contest, with the only exception being races restricted specifically to conditional jockeys.<\/p>\n

As such it is far from unusual to see an amateur rider competing in the biggest jumps races of the season, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National.<\/p>\n

Amateur Jockey Weight Allowances<\/h3>\n

\"WeightWhen examining the list of riders in a contest restricted to amateur jockeys, you may notice that certain riders have a bracketed number following their name, e.g. Mr Ben Bromley (5). This number represents the weight allowance of the rider. The (5) signifies that Mr Bromley will be permitted to take a total of 5lbs off the weight allocated to be carried by the horse.<\/p>\n

So, for example, if the horse in question was due to carry 10st10lb, it would be required to carry only 10st5lb should Mr Bromley be in the saddle.<\/p>\n

The amount of weight an amateur rider may remove from a horse\u2019s back \u2013 known in racing parlance as an \u201callowance\u201d \u2013 is related to the total number of previous wins recorded by the rider and operates on the following scale.<\/p>\n