GB Apprentice Jockeys Do Not Have the Body Composition to Make Current Minimum Race Weights: Is It Time to Change the Weights or Change the Jockeys?

• DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0288
• Publication Date: 2020-02-08T08:24:42Z
• Authors: George Wilson; Jerry Hill; Daniel Martin; James P. Morton; Graeme L. Close
• Keywords: Allowance (engineering); Weight change

Flat jockeys in Great Britain (GB) are classified as apprentices if they aged less than 26 years and/or have ridden 95 winners. To gain experience, allocated a weight allowance of up to 7 lb (3.2 kg). Given that there is no off-season GB flat horseracing, required maintain their racing all year round. In light recent work determining current considerably heavier previous generations and smaller increases been made the minimum weight, aim this study was assess achievable. make (50.8 kg) with maximal requires body mass ∼46.6 kg while maintaining fat >2.5 (the lowest previously reported weight-restricted males). Thirty-two male apprentice were assessed for composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The mean (SD) total 56 (2.9) 7.2 (1.8) kg, respectively. theoretical group 51.2 (2.3) only one 32 deemed feasible achieve kg. Furthermore, urine osmolality 780 (260) mOsmol/L seen, 22 (out 32) classed dehydrated (>700 mOsmols/L), indicating would be higher when euhydrated. Additionally, we observed within new licensed during (N = 41), jockey able weight. facilitate goal achieving race minimal disruptions well-being, authors' data suggest should raised.