What about: Bug boy allowance?

[Kimberly]

Hi,

Can someone tell me more about 'bug boys'? I heard that a bug boy is VERY lightweight. That worries me a little. My mom is okay with the fact i wanna be a jockey. But when she heard about the weight of bug boys... she wasn't very happy with that...

[VickiJ153701]

There are several ways you can go about to obtain a jockey license, so I will try to give you a good idea of how to go about it.
This information has been approved by a jockey so I feel that it is very correct, and can pass this information along.
You must be at least sixteen-years-old. Knowing some important aspects of breeding, training and how horses run under certain conditions are always helpful.
Get to know as much about the horse racing industry as much as possible, such as being familiar with different hot walkers, trainers, grooms, etc. and what their jobs entail. You don't have to know every detail, but just get a general idea so that it helps you get familiarized with the industry.
Weight is of monmouth importance. Ideal weight for a jockey is 115 pounds. And you have to maintain weight in order to meet weight requirements. You are always weighed before every race.
Many jockey's start by mucking stalls, and working as hot walkers, grooming and exercising horses long before they ever get their jockey license. They get to know the profession and decide if this is the profession they really want to have.
There are jockey schools you can go to that train you from the ground up such as Frank Garza School in Southern California, or Chris McCarons school in Kentucky. Going to jockey is not required to get your license and if you can already ride and pass the test by the stewards, it is not necessary. You may be lucky enough to be able to learn to ride by working with others already riding as apprentices.
You start by riding schooling races. These are races that help you get familiarized with racing and track facilities and conditions and prepare you to become a jockey. Many times this is required before you can get your jockey license.
And you do have to have a license in order to become a jockey and most other positions affiliated with the racing industry. Most race tracks provide applications and the license is good for any race track within a given area.. Recommendation from a trainer to jockey school is a huge plus. As I previously stated, many jockeys have started out mucking stalls and work their way up.
As I stated, this information has been read by a licensed, trusted jockey, and has his approval. So when the trolls start giving me thumbs down, they are basically telling jockey's that they don't know what they are talking about. Seems that any first hand information given here bugs the trolls to no end. Best of Luck to you.
Source(s):
Lifelong horse racing enthusiast

[kmnmiamisax345]

A "bug boy" is an apprentice jockey, which means a jockey who hasn't reached a certain number of wins yet. As an apprentice jockey, you're not as experienced as the other jockeys that you're riding against... so you're at a little bit of a disadvantage. Also, as an inexperienced rider, it would be hard for you to find people to give you mounts because they'd prefer the more experienced jocks.

So, while your an apprentice jockey or "bug boy," you get a weight allowance. Horses that you ride get to carry 5-10 pounds less than their assigned weight. That gives your horse an advantage to make up for your inexperience. And that also gives owners and trainers an incentive to put you on their horses even though you haven't been riding as long as the other guys.

So, when you're first starting, you'll need to be very light, around 100 pounds... I think the lowest assigned weight that I've seen was 110, so if you get a 10 pound allowance, you'd need to be 100 pounds including all your tack. Then, as you win some races, you'll be able to put on a few more pounds (you get a big allowance for your first few wins, then a little smaller allowance for the rest of your apprenticeship... exact weights vary by state).

Making a 100 pound weight limit is no doubt difficult, but I think you'll be able to do it. Good luck.

[SandraS970]

At age 16, potential jockeys are eligible to begin an apprenticeship. These apprenticeships are the first step toward becoming a "journey man" rider. Here are some interesting facts about this phase of a jockey's career:

An apprentice jockey is also referred to as a "bug boy," because the asterisk that follows his or her name in the race program looks like a bug. When jockeys finish their apprenticeships, it is said that they "lose their bug."

Apprentice jockeys are given an initial 10-pound weight allowance, meaning their horses carry 10 pounds less than the others until the time they win their fifth race, at which point the weight allowance is lowered to a 5-pound allowance from the fifth-race win to a year beyond or 40 races past (whichever comes first). When they win enough races, they lose their bug and receive no additional weight allowance. Exceptions to these rules are only made if an apprentice injures him or herself and is out of action.

After completing an apprenticeship, a jockey becomes a "journey man" rider. Some riders waive their apprenticeship because they can't make weight with the added weight allowance.