Off Track

OFF TRACK

Jockey Valet

by Jordan Strickler

Like the Michael Jordan of editorials, I am bringing my Off Track out of

retirement (again) to answer the question of "what does a jockey's valet do?"

To answer that I gave Rick Leigh, racing secretary at Turfway Park, a ring to

find out.

Turns out that the jockey valets (pronounced VAL-its) do a lot. It is one of

the most unnoticed and overshadowed jobs in the racing industry. If it weren't

for the valet, the jockeys might run out to the track looking like a tardy child

running to catch the school bus -- hopping up and down on one leg trying to get

his boots on while simultaneously trying to get his silks put on correctly.

Although amusing to watch, it would be a bit embarrassing for the jocks.

Everything runs a lot smoother thanks to these guys.

"They do everything. I mean everything," Leigh told me. "They get their towels,

their toothbrushes, their everything. He's like your owner personal

man-servant."

Just a few of the job duties before the race include obtaining the silks

assigned from the color room, assisting the jockey to dress for the race,

cleaning his goggles, as well as grooming and saddling the horse. Everything has

to be laid out beforehand so by the time the warning bell sounds, the jockey is

dressed, his tack ready and saddle properly weighted. The valet even makes trips

to the supermarket (seriously) to make sure his charge has enough energy bars to

get him through the day.

Subsequent to the race, the valet must unsaddle the horse, clean the saddle,

wash the silks and shine the jockey's boots.

If the jock had a dog, he'd probably have to walk that too.

As Leigh said, pretty much everything.

And the valet has to do it all in about 20 minutes in order to get his jockey

ready for the next race. And with some valets working for more than one jockey,

that's a lot of work (and stress).

One of the more important jobs of the valet is to put the correct weight on

the runner.

"That's a pretty big job. It's a little easier now that they have weight

pads," Leigh said. "It used to be they would have just lead they would put in

pockets on the saddlecloth. Now there are weight pads that evenly distribute the

weight. There's two pounds and four pounds and once they're on, the clerk of

scales weighs them to make sure they're correct."

The valet's work does not necessarily go unrewarded, however. They are paid a

fee for each race as well as a percentage of what the rider makes, usually 2 to

5 percent. If you are talking Breeders' Cup-level horses, you are looking at

some pretty happy jockey valets. In some instances, the valet can rake in as

much as $70,000 a year. Their big screen TVs are probably bigger than mine.

I wouldn't go out to your nearest track and fill out an application to become

a jockey valet, though. These guys are on the job as many as 11 hours a day. Job

security rests in your jockey's performance and health. An injured jockey who

doesn't ride has a jockey valet who doesn't make any money.

Most jockeys rely unconditionally on their valets, trusting he will have the

correct silks, weight and other equipment ready for the upcoming race.

So the next time you see a jockey posing for the winner's circle picture,

just remember who helped him put his shirt on.

If you have any racing-related occupation you've always been curious about,

drop me a note and I'll try and find out for you.