Do Jockeys Matter in Horse Races?
May 13th, 09 Calvin Borel, the jockey who rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby, will switch to a filly, Rachel Alexandra, for the running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Another jockey, Mike Smith, will ride Mine That Bird. Does it matter which jockey is riding which horse? Yes, but only a little. Horse-racing enthusiasts like to say that the jockey accounts for 10 percent of a horse’s performance on any given day. While that’s hardly scientific, it gets to the nut of a jockey’s role: He can’t do much with a lousy horse, but he can help a great horse win. The best jockeys know an animal’s strengths and weaknesses. Some horses prefer to hang back and break at the last minute, while others, known as speed horses, like to be out front the whole time. Some horses are comfortable running in close quarters and can pass along the rail on the left, while others need more space and pass on the right. A jockey takes these factors into account and adjusts his strategy accordi
