Woodbine Increases Scale of Weights for Riders

Woodbine, in consultation with the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario, announced July 25 that it will raise the minimum weight for jockeys to 118 pounds, effective Aug. 6.

Top-end weights will go to 125 pounds where applicable, other than handicap races or stakes races where assigned weights will remain at the discretion of the racing secretary. 

"The health and welfare of our jockeys was the driving factor for this decision," Woodbine said in a news release.

The new base weight aligns with racing jurisdictions in Kentucky, Florida, and New York.

This change will be reflected in Woodbine's fourth condition book.

The Jockeys' Guild has long campaigned for an elevated scale of weights across much of North America, a move meant to limit unhealthy dieting, extended periods in a sauna as a weight-reduction practice, and other extreme measures that can cause health issues. Terry Meyocks, president and CEO of the Guild, applauded the progress.

"The game is changing and in North America, individuals are bigger overall, including jocks," he said. "The right thing to do is, you want whoever is out there to be as strong as possible; you don't want them to be dehydrated or compromised from trying to make weight."

"It's for the health and the welfare of the jockeys, especially in these times, when pretty much all the jurisdictions have closed their saunas and gyms," said Irwin Driedger, executive director of the Jockeys' Benefit Association of Canada. "Probably 80% of jocks have to reduce in one way or the other, so it's definitely a move in the right direction."