On the heels of the Triple Crown season just concluding comes this compelling 12-episode new television program. Presented on two-discs, Jockeys takes a look at the realities of horse racing as seen from those men and women of small stature but huge hearts and a lot of courage as they try and guide 1200 pounds of muscle around a racetrack at over 40 mph with practically no protection.
Broadcast on Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet, it follows a few of these athletes over the course of a month-long racing season offering an inside look at the cut throat competition and action on and off the track at this tough sport where every day is a gamble for these diminutive powerhouses commanding horse racing’s top thoroughbreds.
Months of preparation go into each one-to-two-minute race, and jockeys ride as many as 10 races a day with an ambulance traveling at high speeds right behind the field of horses. They risk life and limb knowing that virtually every year, an average of two jockeys die while riding races in North America.
Here’s a real and raw look at the superstars whose success depends on knocking out the competition for a chunk of the $35 million in prize money. Big winners, who have won horse racing’s richest purses, competing with talented but less fortunate jockeys who have never won a race and struggle to make next month’s rent.
Yes, jockeys are tremendous athletes that dont get enough credit. I hope this series helps illuminate their athleticism and courage.
Yes Marcello is so right, these diminutive people are great athletes.