Glen
25th September 2002, 03:41.13 PM
MAKING WEIGHT
The diminutive stature of thoroughbred jockeys is only one of the elements that allows for success on the track. In a sport where first place can be decided by mere inches, and a few extra pounds can be the difference between winning and losing, a jockey's weight is extremely important. The vast majority of riders go to great extremes to reduce their weight - taking laxatives and diuretics, dehydrating themselves, and, in many cases, resorting to bulimia. There is no off-season in horse racing, and the health risks from these practices for riders are enormous. In the case of Randy Romero, a successful jockey who retired in 1999 and now suffers from liver and kidney failure, the complications could prove fatal. A recent movement is pushing to raise the minimum weight, but surprisingly, not everyone in the sport supports a change.
Correspondent: Bernard Goldberg.
The diminutive stature of thoroughbred jockeys is only one of the elements that allows for success on the track. In a sport where first place can be decided by mere inches, and a few extra pounds can be the difference between winning and losing, a jockey's weight is extremely important. The vast majority of riders go to great extremes to reduce their weight - taking laxatives and diuretics, dehydrating themselves, and, in many cases, resorting to bulimia. There is no off-season in horse racing, and the health risks from these practices for riders are enormous. In the case of Randy Romero, a successful jockey who retired in 1999 and now suffers from liver and kidney failure, the complications could prove fatal. A recent movement is pushing to raise the minimum weight, but surprisingly, not everyone in the sport supports a change.
Correspondent: Bernard Goldberg.