Why dont you ever see jockeys with a beard or moustach?

Question

Why dont you ever see jockeys with a beard or moustach?

Answer 1

Many can't grow one -- low testosterone levels.

Answer 2

Have you seen the mud and/or dirt clods flying during a race? That would be hellacious to clean out of a beard or mustache. I think it's basic common sense.

Answer 3

Because they are all under 8 years old (its a fib that they are midgets)

Answer 4

Wow I never noticed that, good point.

I hate to see men with facial hair because it means they cant tell you a bare faced lie ! lol.

Good Luck

Answer 5

Whats with the thumbs down to that newmarket guy a few up^??? His answer is spot on, you ask a question, surely you want a decent/correct answer? Many years back, I worked as a stable lad for a couple of well-known trainers and even though nobody really seen me apart from the nags most days, I was expected to keep a smart appearance so I guess this carrys on all the way to the top of the sport, alot of jockeys don't have a full book of rides day after day like Frankie etc.. so meeting new trainers/owners on your first ride for them is going to be a bit like a job interview so you are going to want to make a favourable inpression. Sport of Kings? Doesn't sound like jockeys, trainers  should be runnin around with goatie beards or pierced faces etc..

Answer 6

Ok, this question has been asked a hundred times, so I am going to give the same answer as I have done so before:

There are no rules to state that a jockey cannot have any kind of facial hair.  There is also no way that a beard or moustache could affect either the weight of a jockey or the aerodynamics to a signifcant measure.

I believe that it simply comes down to being smart and presentable.  Up until very recently trainers were insistant that anyone riding their horses was turned out smartly - some, like Sir Mark Prescott still insist on this.  If you watch Channel 4 when they do a special piece on a good horse and they send John Francombe to ride the horse, more often than not he turns up in a shirt and tie - this used to be standard practise.

If you want to make a good impression on a trainer so that you can ride his horses you made an effort when arriving at the yard.  This is also why many jockeys turn up to the races wearing a suit.

I've met many "old boys" who still work in racing in one capacity or another even though they are in their 70s and 80s - Snowey Outen at Barry Hills' is one such example.  They still turn themselves out imaculately when turning up for work.

What I'm trying to say is that part of being well turned out is being clean-shaven.  I'm sure you'll find that any jockey turning up to a yard 30 or so years ago with stubble and stinking of bear (like so many stable lads these days), the trainer would have thrown him out of the yard.

UPDATE - ooer, I've upset someone haven't I?!  5 thumbs down eh, a personal best methinks!  Seriously guys, by all means give me a thumbs down if you think I am wrong, but don't do it just for the fun of it.  We're all adults here aren't we?  So lets behave like it.

Answer 7

It's all a concern of aerodynamics and comfort, but once in a while, you will see a jockey with some facial hair.  The only thing I can find in a very quick search is a mustache on Edwin Molinari at Suffolk Downs.  I'm sure there could be more there, but facial hair is rare in horse racing.

Answer 8

It is probably just because it is not practical. Jockeys get a lot of mud and clods of dirt and dust thrown at them during a race unless they are lucky enough to be in front the whole way. Can you imagine cleaning mud and dust out of your mustache and beard every day?

Answer 9

Well most of them have to keep their weight down and don`t want too much wind drag during a race .

Answer 10

this question been asked many times there is nothing in rules to stop them growing one  seen one american jock with moustash last year

Answer 11

edgar prado often sports a moustach.

however most jockeys dont, they tend to be very cleancut, neat and smartly dressed. it would be too hard to maintain a beard if you ride 7 or 8 races a day, all the kick back would have to be washed out of the hair after every race so that would be very annoying.

Answer 12

adds too much weight

Answer 13

i think its to do with preventing ungentlemanly conduct, beard pulling ect.  thats why you'll never see ZZ Top in the grand national, although their drummer frank beard doesnt have a beard but he does have a moustache so that rules him out as well.