Why are jockeys expected to be so small?

Question

I'm doing an article on how to become a jockey, and learned that they can only weigh 113 pounds!

Answer 1

If a jockey weights more than 113 pounds, they might force a horse to carry more than its alloted handicapped weight. Also, the more weight ar horse carries, the harder it has to work to run as fast as it can. The faster it runs, the more it wins. The more it wins, the more money it gets. The more money, the happier the owner!

Imagine if you were trying to run with 130 pound on your back compared to if you were carrying 15. It would be alot harder to run!

An example of the impact weight can have on a horse:

Man O' War, on of the greatest racehorses of all times was almost forced in retirement by the heigh weights he carried in an attempt to make the races he ran in fair. After less than ten races, he was carring more weight than a three year old had ever carried, up to 130 pounds.

Answer 2

It's not so much the height, it's the weight. My dad was a professional jump jockey and he was nearly 6 foot tall, he's just skinny with it.

Answer 3

because the smaller the jockey, the less wieght on the horse.

and the less weight on the horse, the faster it goes.

and the faster it goes, the more races it wins.

and the more races it wins, the more famous it becomes

and the more famous it becomes, the more money the owner gets.............. geez

Answer 4

For every race there is a minimum weight the horses must carry. It is often around 120-126 pounds. The weight a horse carries includes the jockey, his pants, boots, and the saddle. A jockey needs to weigh under 115 in order to not go over the weight. The horse could carry more than the minimum but no one wants their horse to give an advantage to the other horses in a race (horses tire faster and run slower under heavier weight). So, a jockey who can't make the weights won't get any work.

Answer 5

The lighter the better

Answer 6

the less a jockey weighs the faster the horse will run

Answer 7

Because the less weight the horse has to carry the faster they go...and that means they can win the race easier.

Answer 8

Horse's are alloted a certain weight to carry in each race, so the jockey has to be able to "do" the weight.  If a horse is carrying 9 stone (126lbs) in a race that weight is made up of the jockey and the saddle.  If the jockey is particularly light they will add strips of lead into the saddle cloth in order to make the correct weight.

Most flat jockeys weigh about 112lb and most National Hunt (jump) jockeys about 140lbs.