Horse racing is one of the most lucrative industries in the world, and it is constantly giving back with new positions opening up for those looking to work within the sport.
Of course, action on the track takes up the vast majority of the limelight, but there is incredibly work done behind the scenes to ensure that jockeys, horses, and trainers stand the best chance of gaining winning results throughout the season.
Training horses is one of the most lucrative positions available to those involved, but it takes a great deal of understanding about the animal to reach the very top.
If you are aware of the best online horse betting promotions by TwinSpires, you might be aware that there are a growing number of professionals going down the route of coaching top jockeys in this modern day. This could be as important to the eventual outcome on the track as anything else.
Overview of A Racing Coach
While there is undeniable importance when it comes to the care and training given to horses involved in racing, it is always worth remembering that jockeys shoulder a lot of the pressure when it comes to getting the equine stars to perform for the biggest races.
Therefore, many of the leading jockeys now employ coaches to shoulder much of the burden that they would usually need to carry. The responsibilities of a jockey coach can vary depending on the needs of the athlete, meaning it could be as small as preparing a diet plan to as big as overseeing everything in the life of the athlete, such as a personal assistant.
But, what are some of the key roles and responsibilities of a coach looking after one of the leading jockeys in the world of racing?
Preparing Diet Plan
Weight is one of the biggest stresses that any jockey may have, as they will need to maintain this to ensure that they can ride in some of the biggest races across the world. Jockeys will need to be careful of what they eat, and the times in which they are eating.
Missing weight could have dire consequences for a jockey, as they could be faced with the prospect of a huge fine or possible disqualification from the race that they are looking to compete in.
A trainer or coach will be tasked with ensuring that jockeys have the best possible diet plan for their needs, taking into account the weight that they need to maintain, while also ensuring that they are given the energy required to perform at the very highest level throughout the season.
Training Plan
As well as eating right, jockeys will also need to ensure that they are training throughout the season to make sure that they are always at the highest level of performance. All jockeys will spend time in the gym at some point on the morning of a big race, with workouts likely consisting of training the core and legs to ensure that they can stay on board their rides.
It is also important that they have the strength required to make decisions on board the horse throughout the race that they are competing in. Therefore, a detailed training plan can often be the difference between winning a race and not for jockeys.
Communicate With Trainers
The life of a jockey can often be very busy, with hours spent on the road getting to different tracks and locations for training. Therefore, coaches often take some of the pressure off the athletes by becoming the middle man between the jockey and the trainers that are looking to make a booking for a potential ride.
Coaches will have all the information required to act on behalf of the jockey, meaning that they can communicate directly with trainers and pass over information that the rider needs before taking to the track on one of their horses in training.
This is often a preferred choice for many of the world’s leading jockeys, as it will ease the stress and pressure of being stretched too thin while trying to prepare for the biggest races on the calendar.
Assess Performances
One of the most important responsibilities for a coach following competition on the track is to break down the performance of their jockey in the race. Coaches will typically sit down with their clients after a day at the racing, and go through each race in which they were involved.
Here, they will breakdown the pros and cons of each ride, and assess what the jockey could do better in the future to stand a better chance of winning a race.
Trainers will also use these videos to assess any potential weaknesses in strength performance of the jockey, which could lead to a slight tweak in the training plans at the gym moving forward. But, one of the biggest strengths for any jockey coach is adapting at the last minute.
