If it was any other group of sportsmen you'd be forgiven for yawning and calling them a pack of over-paid whiners, BUT, there are no braver men and women in any sport and if anyone deserves to have their lives improved and made safer, it's them. I found this to be a truly inspiring video. I'm an Australian race fan so the name Shane Sellers was not familiar to me. It is now. The guys a bloody hero.
R.I.P. Randy Paul Romero (December 27, 1957 - August 29, 2019) One of the most courageous jockeys of all time. He was inducted to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2010 and to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, having won 4,265 races and earned U.S.$ 75 million in purses in a 26 years career. I think Personal Ensing was the best thouroughbred horse he ever rode. God bless him! My condolences to his family and friends from Venezuela.
Great documentary. I had no idea how rough a jockey’s life can be. I also wonder about the horses and how they might suffer. Sure looks glamorous from the outside but looks are deceiving. It’s all about the money.
The top riders and horse owners really need to do a walk out and get the industry in check about caring for the jockey's. There shouldn't be a difference between 20 lbs more on a jockey especially on a 1000 plus lb animal! This is wrong and extremely dangerous for both horse and rider when the rider is weak and can't focus because of his body condition. This is wrong and the industry should have it's own insurance to cover the jockeys with discounts on common medical issues they face when riding. Again it's wrong to put this industry in the spotlight like it is during the derby season but nothing about the problems they face especially to the jockeys and the horses who have no choice but to be born in a special barn. They need to set the industry in a better light.
I do get that, but at least it brings to light the jocks' feelings for one another regarding their health. This is one of the best docs I've ever seen,
Trainers and owners don't care for the well being of jockeys because they know that there are thousands of kids out there waiting to replace the pilots who are no good anymore .The horses,they get killed for being no good and the great pilots get forgotten NEXT!! Who's kid is next to be used for fun?
Very close friends of mine are jockeys. When they came out of the jocks room they were so pale and sickly skinny. When I first started riding I was around 103,naturally. Until about 25 years old. I knew,I could not handle the heaving,so I became an excercise rider. There does need to be a drastic change on the weights.
For every male or female jockey around the world, next race can be the last one. And like Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said once: "If you don´t win, you´re not paid" Greetings from Venezuela.
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You see....the thing is that here in my hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada.... Our bottom weight now is 119 ...... But in other racetracks across the world like in England and Australia....whichever horse is the best in the field, has to ride with the most weight which could go up to 155 i saw was the heaviest... I don't know why Canada and the USA don't do this or something similar to this
I cannot believe how she just cut the interview off right in the middle of what they were trying to say! How fricking rude! They had a very important issue to talk about!
John Francome Former champion jumps jockey - I don't have a problem with the weights going up, but to argue that they need to go up to protect the health of jockeys is nonsense. It doesn't matter what the weight minimums are; there will always be a minority who put their health at risk to make the weight - it will just be larger lads doing the same things that smaller lads do today.
That may be true. However, if you don’t at least TRY the jockeys will continue to suffer long term health consequences while the owners make big bucks. C’mon, let’s at least give it a shot.
I worked at Delaware Park since I was 14 learned to ride at Johnathan Sheppard 's farm , even being an exercise rider was dangerous . But once you are galloping around the track at 5:30 am watching the sunrise feeling the breeze hit your face there is NOTHING like it ! Im 60 yrs old and my dying wish would be to ride just one more time . I won't mention any. Names but there was one jockey who was 5'9 and made weight he looked like a walking skeleton. My BIG problem with the "game" is that back in my day we used to break the 2yr.olds and turn them back out till they were three ! Now you go to auctions and they are forcing 2yr. Olds to do a quarter in 25 ! Their growth plates aren't even together at that age ! Of Course the DU PONT family owned Delaware Park when I was little ,and they respected the horses and cared for them RITE ! I remember when they dropped allowance races to $ 15,000 we were SHOCKED ! unless your at the BIG RICH tracks , Belmont ,Del Mar ,Santa Anita It all a RAT RACE $2,000 claimers in West Virginia and Bowie Md. It used to be the sport of kings now it's how much $$$ can we squeeze out of them !!! GOD BLESS ALL YOU JOCKEYS ! IM PRAYING RANDY MADE IT !!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️🕊🕊🕊🕊
Hey Mary Ellen, I am 65, nearly 66 yrs. old and I'm still riding. Albeit a retired racehorse. If I can do it, you can do it! Good luck with that dying wish.
You know the fact that the trainers are drugging tired semi - lame horses to win, doesnt really make for safe mounts for these Jockeys, is a factor. Plus, if the horse starts to break down and can only win, if it's been drugged, what does that contribute to the racing Thoroughbred and it's resultind breeding business? ...It just makes more horses, that are weak or weaker every generation and not bred to stand up to intensive, long term racing careers because they have to many genetic and physical problems, that were covered up and masked by painkillers and other drugs in their careers. Personally, I think to improve the over all business you must eliminate the drugs and be more willing to let horses rest for a few days, before each races.
You mention regulations that already exist in Europe where all drugs including painkillers lead to disqualification when found in the horses at racing day. There is still cheating going on, though at least it is much much harder for trainers and owners to race unfit horses. There is also huge charities for injured/ill Jockeys, most of all in UK and Ireland and help for alcohol problems and eating disorders. What I don't understand is that the "great USA" don't seem to get it together, why inhumanity thrives in so many fields and why no-one seems to be powerful enough to make a change. Eat or be eaten is the motto. That's capitalism going too far!
You maybe right.... I wont place a bet or public post on a horse, if I'm not convinced the trainer/owner hasn't dopped them in a race. UK, Japan and Ireland cheating scandals, atleast don't affect the long term health of the horse in any means, just their race ratings in fixed races but not their health and longevity. I agree, American horse racrs are very dirty when it comes to drugs... kind of why If it were not for the different training styles and race types, Japan would have beaten the American horses in the triple crown last year with Lani ( though if I had to be honest, Lani was my favorite from the beginning) I was impressed, still am, by his preformances last year in Japan, Dubai and in the US. triple crown, loved watching him run, he was Amazing...
For every male or female jockey around the world, next race can be the last one. And like Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said once: "If you don´t win, you´re not paid" Greetings from Venezuela.
i agree with uping the weight limit but now my wanting to be a jockey is getting to be more "out there" than it already is because i have an abnormally high metabolism and am already fighting to keep from losing weight. it's bad enough that if i only eat two average size meals a day without snacks in between i will starve to death
... and if the Jockey club and owners and Trainers don't step up to the plate... These drugging and electrical devices and horse and Jockey accidents and break downs is very soon to be as big of a scandal as the Tennessee Walker Horse Association cruelty scandal was... its getting very close ...
there should be contracts a legitimate litigation over the jocks... they make them starve as barely keep keep to ride sum 1500 pound animal. .. seems backward to me. I pray for all jocks, didnt kno it was that bad
The only problem with moving the weight limit is you will just get guys who were probably a little too heavy before now throwing up to get to a weight limit that they can now obtain. If they do move the limit they need to start regulating jockeys like they do other athletes.
you know I was 115 in high school but I jumped up to 122 or so late in high school but I have the deepest respect and love for the jockeys for what they do now should the weight limit go up yes but some like to drink from what I understand also they can no longer make the weight now some jockeys depending on where they come from can maintain the weight there needs to be a better solution
The horses will continue breaking Down, even if you raise the weight limit, because of unsound breeding. If they breed less fragile horses, then there wouldn't be all those breakdowns.
