What do you know about Apprentice and Conditional jockeys?
If you’re new to my content here at Betting.co.uk, I’m RacingGav and I’m the resident horse racing expert here. Although I mostly focus on providing
free horse racing tips, I also enjoy helping punters make the most of their racing and betting experience, hence my series of educational guides which I’m consistently building on.
While my guides are suitable for those new to horse racing, there’s always a case for teaching an old dog new tricks. So even if you think you already know everything about Apprentice and Conditional jockeys, you’ll still find plenty of useful information here.
Everyone is welcome to take a look at my previous guides. I recommend reading my article about
National Hunt racing
first, then continuing with the
UK Handicap system
which is relevant too.
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Apprentice and Conditional jockeys explained
In this article, I’ll explain the differences between Apprentice and Conditional jockeys, and what those statuses mean. I’ll also cover how their weight claim allowances work, and the impact it can have on the races they ride in. By the time you finish reading, you should have a good understanding of the topic.
What is an Apprentice or Conditional jockey?
You can’t just decide to become a professional jockey. There are certain paths you must follow. First of all, you must be employed full time by a licensed horse racing trainer. You will also need to apply for a licence as an Apprentice if you are going down the Flat racing route, or as a Conditional for Jumps racing. In addition you will need to pass a medical exam, prove you are a competent rider, and complete a two-week course at either the National Horseracing College or the British Racing School.
Upon taking out their licence, Apprentices are given a 7lb allowance when racing against the full professionals. The same 7lb typically applies to Conditionals too, but there is one exception. A Conditional jockey may get a 10lb allowance until they have won five races, but this only applies when they are riding for the trainer who employs them. These allowances are implemented to level the playing field. In other words, to reflect the difference in ability and experience between Apprentices/Conditionals and professionals. In turn, weight allowances also provide an incentive for trainers and owners to book these less experienced jockeys to ride their horses.
You will also come across races that are limited to Apprentice or Conditional jockeys only. These races are found at all levels of horse racing, including some of the most prestigious meetings. For example, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is a race for Conditional jockeys only, as the name suggests!
How much weight can Apprentice and Conditional jockeys claim?
The amount of weight Apprentice or Conditional jockeys are able to claim depends on the number of winners they have ridden. As mentioned, Apprentices start with a 7lb allowance, as do the majority of Conditionals. However, a Conditional can claim an additional 3lb when riding for their employing trainer, if they have ridden less than five winners, which takes their allowance up to 10lb.
For Flat racing, Apprentice jockeys have their allowance cut from 7lb to 5lb when they have won 20 races. After riding 60 winners, the allowance reduces to 3lb. Once they have notched up 95 winners, Apprentices are said to have ‘ridden out their claim’ and from that point they compete on a level basis against professional jockeys.
For Jumps racing, Conditional jockeys have the same 20 winner milestone to drop from 7lb to 5lb. However, they can only ride 50 winners before their allowance is cut to 3lb, rather than the 60 that Apprentices enjoy. In addition, a Conditional jockey can only ride 75 winners before losing their claim.
How do you know if the jockey is an Apprentice or Conditional?
The first thing to do is check the racecard. If a race is exclusively for Apprentice or Conditional jockeys, the name of the race itself is often a giveaway e.g. the ‘Betway Apprentices Handicap’ held at Southwell.
I will also point out that Apprentice and Conditional jockeys are not the same as Amateur jockeys, a topic I’ve covered in another guide:
Professional vs Amateur Jockeys in UK horse racing. Where Apprentices and Conditionals are fully intent on becoming professional jockeys, Amateurs rarely make the switch.
In a race where Apprentice or Conditional jockeys line up against professionals, you will still be able to spot them in the racecard. Beside an Apprentice's name you will see (7), (5) or (3). For Conditionals, you will see (10), (7), (5) or (3). The number in brackets signifies the weight allowance the jockey has in that race.
Should you back horses ridden by Apprentices or Conditionals?
As with many things in life, there is no simple yes or no answer, it depends on a number of different things. If you’re not familiar with a jockey it’s probably wise to tread carefully when it comes to backing a horse that they are riding. However, that statement comes with a caveat.
I mentioned earlier on in this guide that Apprentices and Conditionals are required to follow a certain path, but many of them were already accomplished riders before embarking on race riding as their career. For that reason, there are some excellent jockeys rising through the ranks, and some of them are perfectly capable of outriding some professionals. Not forgetting that their weight allowance is a huge advantage in a race.
Further to that last point, the weight a horse is designated to carry is a big factor. For example, a horse rated 100, who is at the top of a 0-100 Jumps Handicap will carry 12st, which is quite a big burden. However, with a 7lb Conditional in the saddle, that weight would come down to a much more manageable 11st 7lb.
To summarise, it’s always best to judge on a case-by-case basis. You may think their lack of experience makes an Apprentice or Conditional jockey a poor choice, but it has been proven many times that their weight allowance was the deciding factor at the finishing line.
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