Essay Ideas - “How is a jockey’s performance affected by their methods of weight loss, and is the pressure to ride at low weights affecting them negatively?”

ref: C Haycock

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ref: Erin Kelly

Introduction and Planning

This research project will investigate how a jockey’s performance is affected by their methods of weight loss, and if the pressure to ride at low weights is affecting them negatively, (either mentally or physically). I have chosen this topic because I work in racing for a trainer, and I am aware of what the jockeys put themselves through physically. Therefore, I thought it would be interesting to see how their lifestyle affects their performance. As this is a small-scale study, I will focus on whether a jockey can/cannot perform to their full capabilities due to their methods of weight loss.

In doing this project, I aim to further my knowledge in a topic of great interest to me. Much of my research will involve the anatomy and physiology aspects of how the jockeys are affected, therefore backing up this section of my course. I will also examine the socio-cultural aspects that are influential on why jockeys are expected to starve themselves.

My project will be conducted over a three month period, from February through to the end of April 2001. I have included a time-plan, which will help me to meet the deadlines.

Time-plan

PART OF PROJECT
CONTENT
DEADLINE

Introduction and Planning
Plan and introduce the project to the reader.
24th March 2001

Literature Review
Research all relevant material from a variety of sources. Bibliography and appendix.
31st March 2001

Discussion/Conclusions
Discuss/interpret arguments and info raised by lit review. Present data, inc. relevant graphs/tables etc.
7th April 2001

Appraisal of the Study
Analyse/evaluate study. Implications? Future research suggestions.
14th April 2001

Final Completion
Put project together. Contents and title pages and any final changes.
1st May 2001

To allow me to conduct the project thoroughly and effectively I have included the following table showing how information will be gathered, from which sources, and by when. This will mean my research is structured, allowing it to be more efficient, and carried out in time for the deadlines I have set myself.

Research

SOURCE
METHOD
DEADLINE

Websites
Use internet at home or at school during lunchtimes/free lessons
1st March

Magazine/newspaper articles
Read/take notes from biology magazines and sports section of newspapers.
1st March

Textbooks/Specific subject books
School/public library/own books – make notes/photocopy/scan.
1st March

Questionnaire
E-mail/letter questionnaire to jockeys or their agents.
11th February (allowing time for reply).

Autobiographies (jockeys)
Make notes – own books, or from public library.
1st March

Literature Review

Information has been gathered from various sources including books, the internet, magazines, and through contact with three jockeys, Gary Hind, Steve Drowne and David Howard.

Jockeys are affected by their lifestyle, and the fact that to ride in races, they sometimes have to be up to two stone or more below their natural weights. This can put strain on them both physically and mentally. Many jockeys will use a sauna to sweat off the extra pounds, but the resultant dehydration can result in impairment of performance and health, (see appendix 2). Scientific research from several sources shows that with increasing percentage losses of fluid from total body weight, exercise capacity is reduced, “Exercise performance is impaired when dehydration causes as little as 2% loss of body mass, and losses in excess of 5% of body mass can decrease the capacity for work by about 30%. This decrease seems to be related primarily to the reduction in the blood volume in the skin,” (Biological Sciences Review). Other research also suggests that, “Strength athletes are likely to show impairment of performance if weight loss is accomplished by fluid restriction,” (Robert P. Walton, www.rice.edu/). This is influential on jockeys, as it takes a great amount of strength and muscular stamina to ride in races, and particularly in a finish.

Other methods of dehydration and therefore weight loss are explained by jockey Frankie Dettori, “I used to play squash wearing quite a heavy sweatsuit, and another old-fashioned and drastic method was to travel to the races in midsummer wearing warm clothes, keeping the windows shut, with the heater full-on. When you got to the track, you felt you’d had half a dozen rides already and it was hardly ideal preparation for a race,” (A year in the life of Frankie Dettori). Although jockeys will use various ways of dehydrating themselves to shed the final few pounds, they also follow very strict diets almost every day of the year, restricting themselves to as little as one small meal and one cup of tea a day, normally with energy intakes below 1500kcal per day, which is very little for a professional sports person, (www.ausport.gov.au/).

All of this could have serious implications for jockeys, and makes me wonder, how many races have been lost in a close finish by a weak jockey being unable to push the horse effectively? David Howard backs this up (appendix 3), “Other jockeys at Martin Pipe’s (they) do say they don’t feel as strong when they have to do light.” This also has further reaching involvements, as the betting public may also lose out.

Not only does dehydration impair performance, but it can also have serious health consequences, such as hypokalemia and heat stroke, (appendix 2). Both of these are potentially fatal conditions. The use of laxatives and diuretics, (banned since 1999) (appendix 1), are popular among jockeys as another means of weight loss, but from accounts of some jockeys, this appears to have even worse physical effects. “I took one Lasix tablet and within one hour I’d lost four pounds. But then came the side effects: after one ride my calves cramped up, my eyes felt as though they were in the back of my head. I felt terrible,” (Frankie Dettori, A year in the life of Frankie Dettori). Another opinion also on Lasix, “That takes five to six pounds off, but it also takes all the fluids, electrolytes and minerals out of your body. . . All of a sudden your body cramps up and you’re not the jockey you’re supposed to be. You come down the stretch and think a hot poker is going through your hips,” (McCauley, www.cornelis-associates.com/).

Not only are jockeys physically abusing themselves, many are also suffering from or are at risk of suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. “Bulimia is the only way left for jockeys now that Dr Michael Turner (chief medical adviser to the Jockey Club) has taken most of the medication off the shelf,” (jockey Kieran Fallon, www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/). Ex-Champion jump-jockey Richard Dunwoody admits to his own problems, “I hated what anorexia had done to me and hated feeling so helpless. Basically, I had starved myself to be a jockey but in doing so had lost the strength necessary to ride horses,” (www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/). Research suggests that participants in some sports are more at risk of developing eating disorders than others, “Sports considered most ‘at risk’ for men include weight category sports, such as wrestling and boxing; aesthetic sports, such as bodybuilding; and those where weight affects performance, such as jockeying or long distance running,” (The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition). Also there is belief that different people are more prone than others, stating that there are, “Certain personality characteristics in individuals at risk of developing an eating disorder. These include obsession, competitiveness, perfectionism, compulsiveness and a high degree of self motivation – characteristics required for top level sports performance,” (The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition).

Since 1950, there has been a 14% increase in the average weight of people. Flat weights for jockeys have increased by 3% since then, while National Hunt weights remain unchanged.

All three of the jockeys who replied to my e-mail questionnaire are not in the target weight range for their height, (http://houston.webpoint.com/), and all have Body Mass Indexes of 21 and below, which is at the bottom end of the acceptable range, or not in the acceptable range. They can each lose between 2.6% and nearly 8% of their body mass through sweating. This means that none of them would be able to give 100% of their total strength in the finish of a race. Even the 2.6% loss in mass may mean that the jockey’s exercise capacity is reduced by nearly 15%. Although the information I have received about the three jockeys is mainly subjective, and the sample is not big enough to be a good representative of the total population, it provides me with a greater understanding of the experience of those people involved.

Discussion/Conclusions

In this section, I will discuss and interpret the arguments and information raised by the review of literature.

All of the sources I have used in my research seem to agree with the suggestion that dehydration impairs performance and therefore strength and endurance, two very important factors when riding races. Consequently, by dehydrating themselves to lose the excess pounds, many jockeys are affecting their performance negatively; their ability to give the horse a good ride is lessened by their diminished strength and endurance. This is not fair to themselves, the owners, the trainers and the betting public, as horses that should win may not necessarily do so.

Most of the research I did was to do with the physiological effects of dehydration on jockeys (appendix 2), and not the effect their lifestyle has on them mentally. I have identified that many jockeys do suffer from eating disorders, and that their personalities and the sport itself may be contributory factors to this. Of the three jockeys who replied to my e-mail questionnaire, two of the three either suffered, or knew of other jockeys who suffered from an eating disorder. Obviously I have no way of being able to say how many jockeys do have eating disorders, but have found that both bulimia and anorexia are a problem among jockeys, both in the UK and in the United States.

From my study, it is clear to me that when most jockeys sweat to lose an extra few pounds, they are not only likely to impair their performance, but they are also jeopardising their health. It is accepted, and often overlooked by the media or public what the jockeys actually put themselves through. As I stated in the review of literature, the average weight of a person has increased by 14% since 1950, but the weights have only increased by 3% in flat racing and not at all in jump racing. This suggests to me that to require jockeys to be so light is too demanding upon their bodies. I think this could result in more eating disorders, and also a decline in the quality of racing. How can a jockey ride effectively if they only have 70% of their strength? The answer to this is that they can’t. It is impossible. Riding a half-a-ton thoroughbred racehorse at a flat-out gallop takes great skill and strength; without the necessary strength, it is impossible to be fully in control.

The minimum weight is more of a problem in flat racing than it is in jump racing. In flat racing the minimum weight is 7st7lbs, and in jump racing it is 10st. An apprentice jockey can claim up to 7lbs, so to ride minimum weight, they must weigh under 7st. For jump racing, a conditional jockey claiming the full allowance has to weigh about 9st. I think that it is ridiculous to expect grown men to be able to weigh 7st, and yet still take part in such a physical activity. Because of this, I believe the minimum weight should be raised to compensate for the natural increase in the size of people. With Sunday racing in the summer, it means that the jockeys do not get a day off for months, and the day in day out self-starvation cannot be good for them, or the sport. There have been cases where jockeys have been too exhausted to be interviewed after a race; this does not help the public image of the sport.

The use of drugs such as diuretics and laxatives can help jockeys to shed vital pounds, but can be even more dangerous for them in health terms (see appendix 2), than other methods of dehydration. Although diuretics are now banned, jockeys are still testing positive for them. One apprentice, Paul Fiztsimons, claims that many apprentices are ignoring the Jockey Club ban, “Some lads still do it behind the scenes, and they carry on taking them (diuretics) regardless of what it can do to you,” (Fitzsimons, www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/). Richard Hughes, a top flat jockey, also admits to having used diuretics, “I’d say nearly every jockey has been on them at some time or another,” (Hughes, www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/).

Appraisal

This research project has fulfilled my aims in finding out how a jockey’s performance is affected by their methods of weight loss, and if the pressure to ride at low weights is affecting them negatively.

I found that there has been a lot of research conducted into how dehydration affects performance, most of which is applicable to jockeys. As I researched my project, I found that the title was very broad, and that it would be difficult to discuss in detail both the physiological and mental implications of pressure to ride at low weights. Because of this, and the fact that there was more information available on it, I concentrated of the physiological affects of dehydration on performance. As I have just said, I narrowed down my study considerably, which means that the parts I was not able to cover in such depth are ideal for further/future study. I would like to find out more about the incidence of eating disorders among jockeys, and how many actually regularly ride in races while dehydrated, and therefore not at full strength. To conduct a study such as this would involve interviewing many jockeys, and recording fluid intakes, or measuring levels of dehydration. This would mean that the study could be conducted to a much greater depth, with the possibility of obtaining statistical evidence.

The main problem with my study was not a lack of information concerning jockeys and horseracing, but the fact that most of the information I found relating directly to jockeys on the subjects of diuretic use and dehydration and their affects, was mainly subjective, and based on the jockeys’ own opinions. There was no scientific evidence to back-up what they said; however, the other scientific evidence I found can be applied to any sporting situation, so this did not actually matter. If the project was repeated, this problem could be addressed by gathering my own data, which would mean I could gather all the relevant data myself. Another problem was the word limit, as I feel I could have discussed everything in much greater detail. The word limit set however does ensure that the study remains clear and concise.

For me, doing this project has made me question whether the minimum weights for jockeys should remain unchanged. I personally believe now that they should be raised, as I now know more about the health risks associated with dehydration and how dangerous the use of diuretics is.