When a horse wins a race, how much of the achievement is down to the horse and how much to the Jockey?

Question

When a horse wins a race, how much of the achievement is down to the horse and how much to the Jockey?

Answer 1

Mostly the horse. A good jockey can keep his horse out of traffic problems and work out some strategies to maximize his horse's chance of winning. Bottom line, though, if the jockey doesn't have a fast horse it's over.

Answer 2

Mostly the horse.  A jockey's job is to take the horse and guide him through the race, giving the horse the best possible trip for that horse's talents.  A jockey can only do so much for a horse...  a horse can have the best possible trip and still not run fast enough to win the race.  often times you'll see a horse enter the stretch and the jockey is urging the horse forward, but the horse just doesn't bring enough to win.  At the same time, even a Man O War, Secretariat, or Ruffian would lose the race if the jockey did a poor job... like if he let the horse get bottled up and didn't find a hole for the horse to get through or if he was constantly pulling the horse back or making it run quarters in 15 seconds.  Ultimately it's down to what the horse can do.

Answer 3

I don't have anything to add to the previous responses (I think kmnmiamisax's answer is right on point).  I just wanted to emphasize something I'm sure you know already but wasn't a part of your question.  The horse and the jockey both play roles in winning a race, but don't forget the importance of the trainer's contribution.  This becomes extremely clear when you see a horse who has not done well in the past, but who starts winning after switching trainers.

Answer 4

95% horse ,5% jockey.

Answer 5

what about the trainer???

do they get any credit..

the horses has the ability but someone has to get the horse right on the day. Someone has to present the horse at the races on the day fit, healthy, happy ect..

i say it's a equal 3 way combination horse trainer jockey..

say partnership.. but it helps to have a good horse that can gallop.

A trainer can get the horse as good as it can be, but the jockey can't pick it up and carry it across the line if it's just simply slow....

Answer 6

I'd give a little more credit to the jockey and say it is 90% horse, 10% jockey.

Answer 7

99% horse 1% jockey if a horse dont want to win it wont. the  jocky cant do much to get it moving . bit of info about 2 yo's if a 2yo horse shows promise first time out and next time out  its less than 2/1 dont back it.!!

Answer 8

mostly the horse i would say and a little bit the jockey .an apprentice claiming 7lbs can beat a top jockey if they have the better horse.