HOLLIE’S GOT IT IN THE BAG
Jockey’s ultra lightweight kit
B
arely five feet tall and with a natural weight of less than eight stone, Hollie Doyle does not have to subject herself to the strict dietary regime of many Flat jockeys.
But the 21-year- old, a rising star of the weighing room who, until yesterday, had ridden 114 winners, including 59 from her 516 rides last year, still has a kit bag not much smaller than herself.
Doyle rides at Brighton tomorrow evening before taking the mount on Billesdon Bess, trained by richard Hannon, in the Duke of edinburgh Handicap at royal ascot on Wednesday. like most Flat jockeys, she has to have multiple pieces of kit and equipment, depending on the race weight she is allotted and the weather conditions.
1) KIT BAG
Jockeys travel thousands of miles a year — Jim crowley covered 50,000 in his 2016 championship-winning season — so a good kit bag is essential for travelling round the country’s courses.
2) SADDLES
Most racing saddles these days are made of plastic rather than leather. Many jockeys use saddles imported from australia or Italy. the smallest-sized saddles — with their carbon-fibre stirrups — weigh little more than 6oz.
3) BOOTS
tHe majority of riders have two pairs of boots — one of them lightweight. a standard pair weighs about 1lb.
4) BREECHES
Jockeys have at least two sets of breeches, again varying in weight due to the material used, and usually including a waterproof set for riding in the wet. the ultra-light pair weigh only 3oz. rIDers’ HelMets must conform to european safety standards and be approved by the British Horseracing authority. the skull cap must not have a chin cup, cradle or draw lace. the chin strap must pass under the jaw and be attached to the harness by a quick release buckle. When a jockey weighs out, the helmet weight g isn’t included.
6) LEAD/WEIGHT CLOTH
tHe minimum weight carried by a horse on the Flat is 8st — but Hollie’s stature means she usually has to use a lead cloth into which lead weights are placed to make up her weight.
7) BASE LAYER TOP
Jockeys wear a thin lycra base layer.
8) LEAD WEIGHTS
Put in the lead cloth to increase weight ( supplied by the racecourse).
9) GLOVES
Gloves help with grip on the reins, especially in wet conditions or when a horse is sweating.
10) GOGGLES
rIDers have multiple sets of goggles, including tinted pairs for sunny days. When the ground is heavy and the kick-back is bad, or on all-weather surfaces, jockeys often wear more than one set of goggles, pulling them down mid-race to reveal a clean set when vision becomes difficult. they often cover their goggles in clingfilm for the ride down to the start as another method of keeping them clear before the off.
11) WHIP
tHe whip, used for encouragement and a safety aid, is an aircushioned energy- absorbing design. on the Flat, it must not be more than 27.5in long, a minimum 0.4in in diameter and not weigh more than 5.6oz.
12) BODY PROTECTOR
all riders must wear a body protector, a foam-padded safety vest. this protects against impact in a fall or collision. Jockeys have a 2lb allowance for their safety gear (Flat jockeys riding on the all-weather in winter are allowed 3lb to allow for warmer clothing).
PS
BotH male and female jockey wear tights and go through hundreds of pairs each year. In the winter, they are a near weightless aid to keeping warm. they also prevent chafing to knees and make it easier to get the tight boots on and off.
Hollie Doyle is ambassador for the 2018 season at Goodwood Racecourse, where she will ride at the Qatar Goodwood Festival (July 31 to August 4).