Firstly, I would like to thank Darren for giving me the opportunity of contributing to this blog.
I would like to discuss an athlete that many would probably not consider representing – A jockey.
In Australia, Horse Racing is big business, with over $300 million distributed in prize money each year. A jockey receives 5% of prize money on top of a base fee of around $150 per ride.
So what exactly is the role of a Jockey agent? The role is to find the jockey the best rides possible to maximize their prize money. Therefore, a sound knowledge of horse racing is vital.
To put things in perspective, Australia’s richest race was run last tuesday, with the winning horse receiving $3 million. The winning jockey would therefore receive $150,000 for about 3 minutes of work- not a bad pay rate!
From my research, an agent’s fee is generally 25% (Source), but it requires much more day-to-day work in securing contracts and there’s no guarantee of a return.
So if you have a keen interest in thoroughbred racing then representing jockeys may be the right profession for you.
– Chris Lesley