There are plenty of myths around how much jockeys earn, the average jockey salary and riding fees in the industry - and quite often the information banded around by the horse racing odds community is entirely inaccurate.
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With some kind assistance from Dale Gibson, the Executive Director Of Racing at the PJA, I will hopefully dispel some of the misinformation that one often finds online when it comes to jockeys’ wages in the United Kingdom.
The PJA is essentially the jockeys’ union and the organisation that helps make sure they are dealt with fairly and correctly, in all aspects of their working lives and beyond.
How Much Do Jockeys Earn?
Negotiations with all the racing authorities and other trade bodies have helped improve the jockeys’ standing in this modern era of race riding. They provide help and guidance with any problems which may arise, all of which is private and confidential.
The PJA’s mission statement is to promote, protect and represent the interests of professional jockeys both on and off the racecourse.
Overall the best horse racing jockeys find the PJA an invaluable ally to have on their side as being a freelancer, which most of them are, comes with plenty of pitfalls when it comes to managing your own finances.
Riding Fees And Prize Money
All riding fees and prize money are transferred directly into jockeys’ Weatherbys accounts.
How much prize money jockeys win is decided by a very complicated Rule of Racing and varies from race type to race type and is dependent on how many places are being paid.
However, as a general rule of thumb Flat jockeys receive around 8.5% of the advertised win prize and 2.61% of the advertised place prize. Jump Jockeys receive around 11.03% of the win prize and 3.44% of the place prize.
The riding fee is negotiated annually between the PJA and the ROA (Race Owners Organisation). The current riding fees as of season 2024/25 are: Flat – £162.79 and Jump – £221.28. A breakdown of income and expenses is available to Members in their Members Handbook.
Jockey Booking Fee
Jockeys receive 50% of their riding fee for any non-runner after jockey declarations.
The current booking fees are: Flat – £81.40 and Jump – £110.64. The only deduction that will be taken out is any agent’s fee and the trainer’s share if the jockey is not on full fees.
Sponsorships
Sponsored Jockeys provide sponsors with extensive exposure through branding on the following:
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Jockeys clothing
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Breeches
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Neck roll
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Coccyx
Plus additional items including:
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Baseball caps (winners enclosure)
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Jackets, beanies, etc
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Sponsored vehicles (Jockeys average annual mileage is c. 40,000 miles a year ensuring massive exposure throughout the UK)
Jockey Sponsorships With Bookmakers
The Rules preventing a jockey associating with betting organisation representatives on a racecourse remain in place and non-riding commercial agreements with betting organisations to promote and advertise their goods or services and provide their views or information for general publication (such as weekly blogs/columns) must be registered separately with the BHA under Rule (D)79.
Before entering into an agreement with a betting organisation, a jockey must inform the PJA’s office of the details of the agreement.
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*Credit for the photo in this article belongs to Alamy*
