| One of the most confusing parts of handicapping | | | | They may also do it because one trainer has decided |
| horse races is figuring out why a jockey got off one | | | | that his or her horse would do better with a different |
| horse to get on another. The better jockeys all have | | | | rider. Each jockey has his or her own strengths and |
| agents who help them decide which horses to ride. So | | | | weaknesses and sometimes they just don't fit the |
| it is often an agent's decision. Good jockeys often get | | | | horse's style or mentality. |
| their choice of top mounts, so it seems like a jockey | | | | As you keep track of their moves, you may notice |
| getting off one horse to ride another means that he | | | | that certain jockeys have preferences for the kinds of |
| has chosen the horse most likely to win the race. | | | | horses they ride. A jockey who likes horses with early |
| Unfortunately, that is not always the case. | | | | speed may actually get off a plodder who is well |
| The place to start figuring out this jockey mystery is | | | | spotted to win a race to get on another speedier type |
| with your notes. Start keeping track of jockey moves | | | | who actually isn't as talented. It happens. If you keep |
| and note the trainer and owner of the horse that the | | | | notes and notice these patterns you will soon be able |
| jockey gets off and on. While they do usually do it | | | | to tell when a jockey move is a good one, or a poor |
| because they figure the horse they are getting on is | | | | one. |
| better, it isn't always the case. Sometimes they will ride | | | | Once you know whether a horse will improve with the |
| a horse to please an owner or trainer who has a lot of | | | | new jockey, you will be able to spot good bets. You |
| good horses and who will provide a lot of good | | | | will also avoid some bad bets with very good jockeys. |
| mounts in the future. | | | | |