The Scale of Weights

[karlskorner]

http://www.drf2000.com/news/article/40810.html

[Figman]

Here is an interesting article on the "scale of weights" from that excellent Albany Law School site.
http://www.als.edu/glc/wagering/scaleofweights.html

[karlskorner]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/sports/other_sports/4222917.htm

[BigDumbBob]

One thing you never hear about is the effect the scale of wgts has on bettors.
I agree a new limit would not stop the flipping. As even heavier riders would now try to make the new scale.
As a bettor I would welcome a shift to higher wieghts simply for the effect it would have on increasing the pool of potential jockeys.

[karlskorner]

The fact that a Jockey is 1 to 5 lbs over the scale doesn't really bother me. What my concern is, what did he do this morning to try and shed the extra weight. Did he eat anything, did he eat yesterday ? How long did he spend in the sauna, I know if I spend an hour in a sauna, I come out limp. How far did he run this AM trying to shed the extra weight ? I have watched some of the 'overwights" leave the Jockey room, they just sort of "stroll" to the paddock. They sometimes need an extra boost from the Trainer to mount. They will ride to the backstretch with their feet out of the stirrups, some wait until they enter the gate before they put their feet in the stirrups. Do their legs hurt that much from running ? Some Jocks will push their bodies to the extreme to loose the extra weight. I know one thing for sure, damn few of them win.

Karl