Defying the odds: horseplayers and female jockeys

Binder, Alexander D.; Grimes, Paul W.

doi:10.1080/13504851.2021.1947469

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Analysis of betting behaviour on races in the UK and Ireland [ 30 ], or USA [ 31 ], was studied as an indirect proxy for public confidence in the ability of male or female jockeys to win races. In the UK and Ireland, a slight underestimation of the ability of female jockeys to win was found between the years 2003–2013 (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…female jockeys won +0.3% more races than estimated from the subjective assessment of the quality of the racehorse) [ 30 ]. In the USA, the opposite was found for better quality ‘stakes’ races (-2.0% [ 31 ]. Any successful jockey must possess a combination of strength endurance, balance, fast reaction time and flexibility to be successful [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does sex of the jockey influence racehorse physiology and performance

Schrurs

Dubois²,

Erck-Westergren³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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The racing industry is supported by a predominance of female stablehands and work riders, but few become professional jockeys. Female jockeys have recently had notable race success. No study has assessed whether the sex of the rider may subtly influence racehorse physiology to affect performance. Here, using a validated exercise tracking system (the ‘Equimetre’™) that records many physiological parameters simultaneously, this study characterised racehorse cardiovascular (heart rate, heart rate recovery) and biomechanical (stride length and frequency) parameters at various exercise intensities (slow canter to hard gallop) to address the question whether any parameter varied according to sex of the rider. A total of 530 Thoroughbreds, varying in age (2–7 years old) and sex (including geldings), from one racing yard in Australia, completed a total of 3,568 exercise sessions, monitored by a single trainer, on varying track surfaces (sand, turf, or fibre). Different work riders,103 in total (male, n = 66; female, n = 37) of which n = 43 were current or past registered professional jockeys, participated in the study. Data were analysed using analysis of variation (ANOVA) or mixed-effect models, as appropriate. Sex of the rider did not influence (P > 0.05) racehorse speed nor stride length at any training intensity. Racehorse heart rate and peak heart rate increased with training intensity (P < .001), with no difference according to sex of rider (P > 0.05). Racehorse heart rate recovery was influenced by sex of the rider, but only at the extremes of the reversed, usual training intensity on each surface (e.g. heart rate after galloping on sand was significantly lower with male riders, P = 0.03). Finally, analysis of 52,464 race results indicated a similar chance of a top-three placing for male and female jockeys. In conclusion, this study, using objectively obtained data, demonstrates for the first time no overt effect of the rider’s sex on racehorse physiology in training and performance in racing. Such data could encourage greater female participation in racing and improve access of female jockeys to better quality mounts in racing events.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does sex of the jockey influence racehorse physiology and performance

Schrurs

Dubois²,

Erck-Westergren³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…female jockeys won +0.3% more races than estimated from the subjective assessment of the quality of the racehorse) [14]. In the USA, the opposite was found for better quality 'stakes' races (-2.0% [15]). On race day, jockeys must control both their own riding performance as well as that of the horse, running at top speeds exceeding 60 km/h [16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Analysis of betting behaviour on races in the UK and Ireland [14], or USA [15], was studied as an indirect proxy for public con dence in the ability of male or female jockeys to win races. In the UK and Ireland, a slight underestimation of the ability of female jockeys to win was found between the years 2003-2013 (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does sex of the jockey influence racehorse physiology and performance.

Schrurs

-Westergren²,

Gardner

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background Studies assessing the effect of the rider’s sex on racehorse performance and physiology during training have not been reported, mostly due to the paucity of available data for female participants within the sport. Here, using a validated system (the ‘Equimetre’™) that records all parameters simultaneously, we objectively report the effect of rider’s sex on racehorse cardiovascular (heart rate, heart rate recovery) and biomechanical parameters (stride length and frequency) at various exercise intensities (slow canter to hard gallop). Methods 530 Thoroughbreds, varying in age (2-7 years old) and sex (including geldings), from one racing yard in Australia, completed a total of 3,568 exercise sessions, monitored by a single trainer, on varying track surfaces (sand, turf, or fibre). 103 different work riders (male, n=66; female, n=37) of which n=43 were current or past registered professional jockeys, were used. Data were analysed using analysis of variation (ANOVA) or mixed-effect models, as appropriate. Results Sex of the rider did not influence racehorse speed (P=0.06) nor stride length (P=0.42) at any training intensity. Heart rate and peak heart rate increased with training intensity (P<.001), with no difference according to sex of rider (P=0.73). Heart rate recovery after exercise appeared influenced by rider sex, but only when the usual training intensity on each surface was reversed, suggesting an interaction between racehorse anticipation of exercise and rider sex. Male jockeys had slightly higher strike rate in races in Australia, but not the UK. Conclusions This study demonstrates no overt effect of rider sex on racehorse performance and physiology.

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