39 runners

Horses die on racetracks all the time. During the last racing year, 116 of them died on Australian racetracks. Their deaths were traumatic and frightening, a stomach-churning mess of tangled limbs, fractured bones, and broken spines.

Melbourne Cup Records

Often she is asked if she is Michelle Payne’s sister. “I’m still asked to his day if I’m part of the family,” she said. “I rode at Kilmore the other day and they actually thought I was Michelle’s sister and said we even looked the same, but I’m no relation.

Michelle Payne is late wife of Max Payne which she was killed by Valkyr test subjects in 1998.

Since 1940, approximately two jockeys die every year as the result of on-track incidents. There is no other profession in sports as dangerous as being a jockey. In recent years, safety equipment has been improved, and tracks are now better equipped to respond to injuries, making it somewhat safer.

In the current study period, 1 jockey fatality occurred in a QH race, resulting in a mortality rate of 441 per 100 million rides (0.0004%) or 1.99 per 1000 falls (0.20%). In the US during the period 1940 to 2012, occupational jockey deaths occurred at the rate of 1.77 (95% CI, 1.54-2.00) per year (Figure 2).

Yet, jockeys are a resilient bunch: “They’re tough. They don’t complain about stuff. They hurt and they ride,” said Tibone, a specialist in repairing shoulders, elbows and knees. Although jockeys are small, ranging from 4-foot-10 to 5-foot-7, “they’re very fit,” he said.

You would usually retire from riding by age 45 (35 for jump jockeys). At the end of your riding career you can get advice on retraining and employment from the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme.

Jockey Age Breakdown Interestingly enough, the average age of jockeys is 40+ years old, which represents 39% of the population.