About Jockey

Jockeys are normally self employed,nominated by horse trainers to ride their horses in races for a fee which is paid regardless of the prize money the horse earns for a race.

If you participate in the race of a horse race in Japan, and controls a racehorse, you need a "Jockey License". Generally, license is not given unless you graduate from 'jockey school'.　Since there is defined weight, jockey have to carry out severe weight restrictions. Jockey's weight is about about 50 kg.

Dress in the race

Jockey wears various dress in a race. The dress varies with a horse owner.

 


 

Dress in the race

About prize money

 If jockey participate in the race of a horse race, they get money as riding allowance, in addition, get 5% of the amount of a prize of the race.

 The more it becomes the race of  big prize money, the more a lot of money can be got. For example, in "Japan Cup" which is highest prize money(the 1st place: 250 million yen) race in Japan,  if a jockey get the first place at the race, he gets 12.5 million yen as prize money. This easily exceeds a salaried worker's annual income.

In japan,  Jocley's Average annual salary is about 50 million yen.

life as jockey

Comparing to other sports, since the required element of jockey's physical capability is low, even if a jockey older, he is continued for a long time as jockey.(there are jockeys over 50 years old.)