The Little Book On Watching Horseracing
By Harold Washburn

JOCKEY

A horse in any race has an advantage if the rider has previously won with the horse or if the rider has been winning at least 15% of the races in which he rides. You must be warily mindful of the rider of any horse if the rider is the leading rider at the meet. THE LEADING RIDER IS NOT THE ONE WITH THE MOST WINS AS IS POPULARLY CONCEIVED. THE LEADING RIDER IS THE ONE WHO HAS THE HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE OF WINS FOR MOUNTS ACCEPTED. IF HE HAS RIDDEN SEVERAL RACE AT THIS TRACK. You will find, in many cases, riders who have far fewer composite mounts and wins than others, but, there is a reason or reasons why that particular rider has the highest winning percentage. The rider may be very selective about the horses on which mounts are accepted taking mounts only on horses, which have a bona fide chance to win, or, his agent may well be selective for the very same reason. If such a rider is aboard a horse you have deduced to be equal to or better than any other in the field, your wager on that horse can be placed all the more confidently. There may be times when it may appear that rider does not have the best horse in the field at first glance. But remember the rider did not accept the mount just to take a trip around the racetrack!!!!! Always bear this in mind.

That jewel of wisdom aside, it is generally true that fast starting sprinters are prone to benefit from the lighter weight assignments accorded apprentice riders. That is particularly true since sprints leave little room for the employment of any strategy or necessity to judge pace. The reverse is true for distance races wherein the experienced rider has better acumen usually at judging pace and the employment of the incumbent strategy. All else being equal, it is fair to caution one on going to a horsed with an apprentice rider aboard at distances longer than one mile. There has never been a rider born with the ability to score with a horse that is outclassed, unfit, overweighed, at the improper distance or not blessed with enough speed to handle the pace. A bona fide contender, with a leading rider has a clear cut advantage.


 

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