Your opinions on jockeys...

dominobrown

dominobrown

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I have read a lot of whip rule posts in here and in latest news as well as other posts about racing and I think I see a pattern of people opions of jockeys.

So what is your opinions of jockeys? Can they ride? Why do they do it? Are the knowledgeable horsemen/women?

What do you think about jockeys?
Just interested thats all :)
 
No course they can't ride. Only hurtle round over 4ft 6 fences at 30 mph sitting on little more than a hankerchief.

They are unsung talented sportsmen who put up with far more injury wise than you precious premier footballer with only a fraction of the rewards.

Yes they are determined and ride hard but they'd soon be out of a job if they didn't.

AP could ride my horse any day.
 
I not only admire them for their true dedication to the sport - I mean how many sports people practically starve themselves to please almost everybody else, public included? They have great balance and feel for the horses. They know their sport inside and out and back again. Sometimes they come across as harsh, but if they weren't they wouldn't be the elite.
We have a lot to learn from them imho.
 
I don't like 'em, make me feel fat :D

Sure, v skilled riders, even the rubbish ones I don't doubt, and they are welcome to all the TBs
 
Crazy people with a very high pain threshold basically, especially the jump boys. It takes a lot of skill and strength to ride a race, they make it look easy. :)

Sure, some can be arrogant little oiks, but then I know riders who can't tell their a*** from their elbow who are just as arrogant.

I used to ride work with the work rider of Shergar, what a fantastic chap he was, people always forget the unsung heroes in the background of racing, all the work riders, the lads etc, etc, the jockeys are riding the product of their work.
 
Holly Hocks said:
Some are great, some are good, and some are not so good. Same as SJs and eventers. Whatever discipline, there are good and bad in all of them.
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/\/\ This! There are some I wouldn't want to see near a horse of mine, and some I'd pay extra to book. Same as any discipline.

But whatever I think of their riding, I have huge respect for their bravery, especially the jump jockeys.
 
well apart from the nasty habit they seem to have of telling me how fat my ass is, I am full of admiration. They work really hard to stay in shape and the strength and skill required to ride a race is something I'll never have!
 
Amazing riders - most of them. Eddie Ahern would never be allowed near my horse after seeing some images that were too graphic to print in the paper after he cracked a horse a millions times with his whip.
But the other end of the scale is Dettori, William Buick, AP, and the P2P riders - fantastic. So determined, focused and brave! Very talented.
AP rode for 6 weeks with a broken back once without realising (stupidity?) Lol but you wouldn't see that in football, they get a hair out of place and cry for hours!
Jockeys in my opinion are the most incredible sportsmen on the planet.
 
Enfys said:
Crazy people with a very high pain threshold basically, especially the jump boys. It takes a lot of skill and strength to ride a race, they make it look easy. :)

Sure, some can be arrogant little oiks, but then I know riders who can't tell their a*** from their elbow who are just as arrogant.

I used to ride work with the work rider of Shergar, what a fantastic chap he was, people always forget the unsung heroes in the background of racing, all the work riders, the lads etc, etc, the jockeys are riding the product of their work.
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Agree with this
 
I think they should put on underwear when they're warned a girl is going to be walking past their open changing rooms, or atleast turn around. SCARRED. FOR. LIFE!!!!

All joking aside, I have a lot of respect for them! Not my favourite disciplined, but I don't hate it either. I like to catch the occasional race on Channel 4.
1000X braver than me!
 
Again, can't quite remember who it was but it was the Festival the other year the jockeys were informed to cover up as the live tv cameras were following Ruby Walsh intot he changing rooms after he won the Gold Cup - yeah one jockey didn't and stood bold as brassh in front of the camera, walked up to Ruby, hugged him then walked away. Really wish I could remember who it was!
 
leah_x said:
Amazing riders - most of them. Eddie Ahern would never be allowed near my horse after seeing some images that were too graphic to print in the paper after he cracked a horse a millions times with his whip. QUOTE]

I have to disagree.....

Eddie is a very good horseman - old school, has amazing hands and is very brave. I'd like to know where the said incident occured!
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Enfys said:
Crazy people with a very high pain threshold basically, especially the jump boys. It takes a lot of skill and strength to ride a race, they make it look easy. :)

Sure, some can be arrogant little oiks, but then I know riders who can't tell their a*** from their elbow who are just as arrogant.

I used to ride work with the work rider of Shergar, what a fantastic chap he was, people always forget the unsung heroes in the background of racing, all the work riders, the lads etc, etc, the jockeys are riding the product of their work.
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This, except the Shergar bit, I didn't!

I've done a bit of work riding freelance locally, lovely bunch of lads, brave, good with the horses but tough and firm. We lost one (stable accident, not racing/ridden) and the compassion was genuine. Like all sports people or those involved with animals there will be good and bad. IME the good outweight the bad.
 
Thanks for opinions guys. Those who have posted here tend to have a more balanced view of racing, though some who are very 'anti' racing havent posted here.
It was their opinions I was interested to hear about, as to them jockeys are heartless idiots who are only in it for the money which is obviously not true. I am sick of reading condesending snide posts about jockeys from people who have been on the odd hack on a friends horses are something.
To be a jockey you must have a love of horses and be a good horseman/women. :)
 
Don't really have an opinion, never really thought about it, there just doing their job what they have been trained and being to do I guess, don't know any personally so I can comment.

Something I would of really liked to have done however, too old now, I'd of been too big as well I think.
 
Aces_high, can't remember where the incident was, it was a long time ago, but it was on a horse of Mick Quinlan's, just one of those things I've never forgotten.
 
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