The unsung jockeys at Assiniboia Downs
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — With the live horse racing season starting in May, I would like to spotlight jockeys, the underrated athletes. When we think of athletes, jockeys, usually don鈥檛 come to most people鈥檚 mind, but they very much top athletes.
Jockeys are probably one of the most disciplined and fittest athletes. With their strenuous training routine and strict diets, they must be in constant control of their fitness and weight so that they can perform their job at the top of their sport. You can often see them start their regime in the wee hours of the morning. It takes a lot of endurance and stamina to meet the requirements of balance, coordination and reflex while riding a racehorse galloping at over 40 mph. And most of us also don鈥檛 know that jockeys must furthermore pass fitness tests before they are allowed to compete or even get a racing licence
If you get a chance over these next few months, go cheer on these unsung athletes at Assiniboia Downs (ASD). You can see for yourself just how much of an athlete a jockey is as the horses go thundering by.
Veteran jockey Jorge Carreno is one of these underrated athletes. Carreno won top jockey at ASD for 2021. Carreno, a Mexico City native, had primarily rode in the Southwest circuit of the United States until coming to ASD last year.
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