So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

  • Bob Brogan
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So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682433
So, how much does a jockey really earn?
BY STUART RILEY7:38PM 27 JUL 2017
Racing revealed: The facts behind the sport's unanswered questions

Jockeys, they must be loaded right?

Frankie Dettori rides in races worth hundreds of thousands of pounds every week. Ryan Moore jets around the world contesting the globe's biggest contests. Ruby Walsh wins Grade 1s for fun.

And, yes, at the very highest level there is an excellent living to be made - but it's a different story for most riders.

To put it in context, in Britain in 2016 just three Flat jockeys made as much in riding fees and prize-money as the 200th highest-earning golfer on the PGA Tour (£215,000).

But what does the average jockey earn? The short answer is this: not a huge amount. As for the long answer? Well, it's complicated . . .

Let's break it down

Unlike footballers, cricketers or rugby players, jockeys are almost all self-employed (although a few top riders have contracts to ride for individual trainers or owners) which means that rather than being paid a fixed salary, they charge for each job they take.

The bread and butter of jockeys' earnings are riding fees. These are set at £164.74 per ride over jumps and £120.66 on the Flat. That means a rider with a full book of rides can expect to make the best part of £1,000 per day.

But from that figure a host of deductions must be made. Ten per cent goes to the jockey's agent and three per cent to the Professional Jockeys Association (the riders' union).

Their valet, who handles equipment, gets ten per cent of the first riding fee each day, then 7.5 per cent of the second and five per cent of the third.

Further deductions are made for insurance, on-course physiotherapists and the racing bank Weatherbys, which handles the riding fees - and even imposes a 50p levy for every line of a jockey's statement (imagine if your bank tried doing the same!).

In other words, a jockey has already said goodbye to around a quarter of their riding fees immediately.

The average jump jockey takes 215 rides a year. If they receive three-quarters of each riding fee, that puts the average gross annual income from riding fees at £26,500.

The average Flat jockey, meanwhile, has 300 rides a year. That puts their gross annual income at £27,150.

Prize-money and sponsorship

Riders also get performance-related pay in the shape of a percentage of any prize-money their mounts earn.

This ranges from 8.5 to nine per cent of winning prize-money over jumps, depending on the race. It is 6.9 per cent on the Flat. Under both codes they take home three and a half per cent of placed prize-money. The only deduction is a ten per cent cut to their agent.

Prize-money is higher on the Flat than over jumps, but in both codes earnings from prize-money are wildly variable, especially for riders outside the handful of stars who make up the sport's top echelon.

Dane O'Neill, for example, won over £1 million in 2015, when he partnered Muhaarar to Commonwealth Cup victory. The following year, when he spent some of the summer out injured, his prize-money haul more than halved.

Riders can also earn money via sponsorship. Stobart, the logistics group, sponsors all riders in arguably the most visible spot - their posteriors. In return, Stobart funds jockeys' career ending insurance.

Many riders have additional sponsors. For example, Ryan Moore is sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld, a horse feed company from Dubai, while Luke Morris is signed with online bookie 32Red.

Naturally, what each rider is paid is dependent on their public profile, sporting success and agent's negotiating chops.

Expenses and tax

A jockeys' major expenditure is travel, with a typical rider covering 40,000 to 60,000 miles a year, a cost of upwards of £6,000 in fuel. Riding out for trainers in the morning will increase that further, while vehicle maintenance can become another big cost.

There's also tax to consider, which means paying accountants or long hours pouring over tax returns. On the upside, fuel, equipment and vehicle costs can all be discounted against tax owed, meaning many jockeys will avoid giving the taxman too much of their hard-earned cash.

So, what do they actually earn?

Let's take four example jockeys, whose real identities and precise statistics we will mask just in case the aforementioned taxman is taking an unhealthy interest in this article. The totals below don't include sponsorship or retainers, which are not in the public domain, or compensation paid for non-runners (riders get 40 per cent of the riding fee if horses are withdrawn after 9am). It also doesn't include any earnings achieved outside of Great Britain.

Jockey A is a top Flat rider with a host of big-race wins to his name. He rode 1,000 horses in 2016, earning £90,000 before expenses and tax. His share of almost £2 million in prize-money was almost £100,000.

Bottom line: £190,000 before tax and expenses

Jockey B is a top 20 jump jockey riding about 500 mounts in 2016-17. He banked over £65,000 in riding fees and around £70,000 in prize-money.

Bottom line: £135,000 before tax and expenses

Jockey C is a well-known journeyman jump jockey whose fortunes have waxed and waned over the years. He rode under 200 horses last season, translating to £22,000 in riding fees supplemented by £20,000 in prize-money.

Bottom line: £42,000 before tax and expenses

Jockey D is an experienced freelance Flat jockey who often spends his winter abroad. Last year he had fewer than 200 rides in Britain, generating £16,000 in riding fees and £4,000 in prize-money.

Bottom line: £20,000 before tax and expenses

Conclusion

At the top end, riders can earn hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. In fact, when retainers for top owners and foreign prize-money are included the elite will almost certainly hit seven figure earnings.

Outside that elite few earnings rapidly drop off, with the average jockey earning around £30,000 after tax and expenses are factored in.

Finally, an apprentice or conditional jockey, who are subject to a whole set of special rules that would take another article to explain, is likely to earn less than £15,000.

Putting a precise figure on what jockeys earn is difficult, but what can be said with certainty is that in sporting terms it is nowhere near the level of reimbursement that footballers, cricketers, golfers or tennis players enjoy.

Don't get us wrong, most riders aren't struggling - but neither are they rich.

And when you consider the long hours, gruelling travel and physical danger they endure, we think it's fair to say every pound and euro is money very well earned.

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  • Debbie
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682434
This makes for interesting reading.

You may recently have seen that Joao Moreira was fined a record HKD255 000 for a careless riding infringement. This was done as he is of more value to them riding than being on suspension and particularly on the last day of the season.

How did they reach this figure? It was based on his average earnings per race day - a nice tidy sum of USD 32 000!!!

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  • Titch
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682444
Debbie wrote: This makes for interesting reading.

You may recently have seen that Joao Moreira was fined a record HKD255 000 for a careless riding infringement. This was done as he is of more value to them riding than being on suspension and particularly on the last day of the season.

How did they reach this figure? It was based on his average earnings per race day - a nice tidy sum of USD 32 000!!!
Debbie where in the world do you get your "Facts"?? #Mind boggling
Give everything but up!

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  • Debbie
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682454
m.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/2101258/...-any-favourswith-his

Michael Cox who also works for the SCMP is writing a book on Joao and was in Singapore recently and related the story to us. When you look at the prize money they race for and the number of rides and winners he has, it is not inconceivable. You only have to look at his stats.

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  • Titch
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682550
He probably earns more than your estimate, but to insinuate that the penalty for any indiscretion is meted out in proportion to one's earnings is ludicrous....
Give everything but up!

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  • Lionel
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682552
Titch wrote: He probably earns more than your estimate, but to insinuate that the penalty for any indiscretion is meted out in proportion to one's earnings is ludicrous....

...more than USD 32K/day.....damn...now I wish I weren't such a hunk :lol:

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  • Titch
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682557
Lionel wrote:
...more than USD 32K/day.....damn...now I wish I weren't such a hunk :lol:
:evil: :whistle: :evil: :whistle: :woohoo:
Give everything but up!

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  • Titch
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682560
I see according to this survey Doug Whyte doesn't crack the top 10??
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  • oscar
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682589
Titch you sure this video is correct?

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  • easy
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682605
I don't think the video is anywhere near accurate.

It might be talking about stakes earned but never what the jock earned.

Here is the Forbes list of top sport mans in 2017

1. Cristiano Ronaldo, $93 million (Soccer, Portugal)

2. LeBron James, $86.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)

3. Lionel Messi, $80 million (Soccer, Argentina)

4. Roger Federer, $64 million (Tennis, Switzerland)

5. Kevin Durant, $60.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)

6. Andrew Luck, $50 million (Football, U.S.)

6. Rory McIlroy, $50 million (Golf, U.K.)

8. Stephen Curry, $47.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)

9. James Harden, $46.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)

10. Lewis Hamilton, $46 million (Racing, U.K.)

11. Drew Brees, $45.3 million (Football, U.S.)

12. Phil Mickelson, $43.5 million (Golf, U.S.)

13. Russell Westbrook, $38.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)

14. Sebastian Vettel, $38.5 million (Racing, Germany)

15. Damian Lillard, $38.4 million (Basketball, U.S.)

16. Novak Djokovic, $37.6 million (Tennis, Serbia)

17. Tiger Woods, $37.1 million (Golf, U.S.)

18. Neymar, $37 million (Soccer, Brazil)

19. Dwyane Wade, $36.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)

20. Fernando Alonso, $36 million (Racing, Spain)

21. Jordan Spieth, $34.5 million (Golf, U.S.)

22. Derrick Rose, $34.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)

23. Usain Bolt, $34.2 million (Track, Jamaica)

24. Conor McGregor, $34 million (MMA, Ireland)

24. Gareth Bale, $34 million (Soccer, U.K.)

26. Kei Nishikori, $33.9 million (Tennis, Japan)

27. Fletcher Cox, $33.4 million (Football, U.S.)

28. Clayton Kershaw, $33.3 million (Baseball, U.S.)

29. Carmelo Anthony, $32.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)

30. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, $32 million (Soccer, Sweden)

31. Antonio Brown, $31.9 million (Football, U.S.)

32. DeMar DeRozan, $31.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)

33. Rafael Nadal, $31.5 million (Tennis, Spain)

34. Eric Berry, $31.1 million (Football, U.S.)

35. Chris Paul, $30.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)

36. David Price, $30.6 million (Baseball, U.S.)

37. Miguel Cabrera, $30.3 million (Baseball, Venezuela)

38. Kyrie Irving, $29.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)

39. Stephon Gilmore, $29.3 million (Football, U.S.)

40. Justin Verlander, $28.8 million (Baseball, U.S.)

40. Andy Murray, $28.8 million (Tennis, U.K.)

42. Mike Conley, $28.6 million (Basketball, U.S.)

43. Canelo Alvarez, $28.5 million (Boxing, Mexico)

44. Blake Griffin, $28.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)

44. Anthony Davis, $28.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)

44. Al Horford, $28.1 million (Basketball, Dominican Republic)

44. Von Miller, $28.1 million (Football, U.S.)

48. Dustin Johnson, $27.6 million (Golf, U.S.)

49. Albert Pujols, $27.3 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)

50. Dwight Howard, $27.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)

51. Ryan Howard, $27 million (Baseball, U.S.)

51. Serena Williams, $27 million (Tennis, U.S.)

53. Robinson Cano, $26.6 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)

54. Kevin Love, $26.4 million (Basketball, U.S.)

55. Chris Bosh, $26.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)

56. Dirk Nowitzki, $26 million (Basketball, Germany)

56. Cam Newton, $26 million (Football, U.S.)

58. Felix Hernandez, $25.8 million (Baseball, Venezuela)

58. Paul George, $25.8 million (Basketball, U.S.)

60. Jason Pierre-Paul, $25.7 million (Football, U.S.)

61. CC Sabathia, $25.6 million (Baseball, U.S.)

62. David DeCastro, $25.1 million (Football, U.S.)

63. Eli Manning, $25 million (Football, U.S.)

64. Buster Posey, $24.6 million (Baseball, U.S.)

65. Prince Fielder, $24.2 million (Baseball, U.S.)

66. Josh Hamilton, $24.1 million (Baseball, U.S.)

67. Zack Greinke, $24.1 million (Baseball, U.S.)

68. Harrison Barnes, $23.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)

69. Joe Mauer, $23.8 million (Baseball, U.S.)

70. Wayne Rooney, $23.6 million (Soccer, U.K.)

71. Bradley Beal, $23.3 million (Basketball, U.S.)

71. Luis Suarez, $23.3 million (Soccer, Uruguay)

73. Matt Kalil, $23.2 million (Football, U.S.)

74. Andre Drummond, $23.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)

75. Masahiro Tanaka, $23 million (Baseball, Japan)

76. Chandler Parsons, $22.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)

76. Chandler Jones, $22.9 million (Football, U.S.)

78. Cole Hamels, $22.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)

78. Hassan Whiteside, $22.7 million (Basketball, U.S.)

80. Sergio Aguero, $22.6 million (Soccer, Argentina)

81. Muhammad Wilkerson, $22.4 million (Football, U.S.)

82. Hanley Ramirez, $22.3 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)

82. Justin Upton, $22.3 million (Baseball, U.S.)

82. Nick Perry, $22.3 million (Football, U.S.)

85. DeAndre Jordan, $22.2 million (Basketball, U.S.)

85. Marc Gasol, $22.2 million (Basketball, Spain)

87. José Reyes, $22.1 million (Baseball, Dominican Republic)

87. LaMarcus Aldridge, $22.1 million (Basketball, U.S.)

89. Anthony Joshua, $22 million (Boxing, U.K.)

89. Virat Kohli, $22 million (Cricket, India)

91. Klay Thompson, $21.9 million (Basketball, U.S.)

91. James Rodriguez, $21.9 million (Soccer, Colombia)

93. Jimmie Johnson, $21.8 million (Racing, U.S.)

94. Jacoby Ellsbury, $21.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)

94. Matt Kemp, $21.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)

94. Adrian Gonzalez, $21.7 million (Baseball, U.S.)

94. Brook Lopez, $21.7 million (Basketball, U.S.)

98. Nicolas Batum, $21.5 million (Basketball, France)

98. Wladimir Klitschko, $21.5 million (Boxing, Ukraine)

100. Dale Earnhardt Jr., $21.4 million (Racing, U.S.)

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  • easy
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682606

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  • Chris van Buuren
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Re: So how much does a Jockey earn - good article

7 years 10 months ago
#682607
Pretty sad that. Floyd will overtake each and every one of these okes with just a few minutes in the ring......

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