Kiely, Michael (2020) An investigation of the physiological demands and physical preparation strategies of jockeys and the development of a standardised sport specific physical fitness assessment protocol for the horse racing industry. Doctoral thesis, SETU Waterford.
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Final PhD Thesis Document Michael Kiely.pdf Download (5MB) |
Abstract
Despite the international popularity of horse racing, limited information exists on the relative physical demands of flat national hunt (NH) racing or the typical physical preparation strategies used by jockey’s in preparation for horse racing. The thesis aimed to investigate race demands and preparation strategies of professional jockeys whilst also developing a standardised physical fitness testing battery for the horse racing industry. Chapter Three reviews physiological monitoring tools for individual sport athletes. Chapter Four explored the physical preparation strategies for racing in 85 professional jockeys using a specifically designed questionnaire. A physiological inventory was designed for Chapter Five to monitor the absolute and relative responses of 20 jockeys over short and long race distances for flat (short: 1,247.2 ± 184.7 m; long: 2,313.4 ± 142.2 m) and NH (short: 3,480.2 ± 355.3 m; long: 4,546.4 ± 194.3 m) racing while Chapter Six sought to explore the design and test-retest reliability of the Jockey-Fit Testing Battery in a cohort of 20 trainee jockeys. The results of Chapter Three revealed the monitoring of heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentration to be valid and reliable parameters to assess the physiological demands of individual athlete sports. The findings of Chapter Four revealed that jockeys work a large number of hours (34 ± 14) in addition to completing multiple races per week (6.9 ± 6.4). There are low participation rates in strength and conditioning (S&C) (42%) and only 33% of jockeys surveyed utilise high intensity training. Chapter Five discovered that horse racing is a physically demanding sport with peak blood lactate concentration reported as maximal (≥8 mmol.l-1) across 3 race types (long NH race, short flat race and long flat race). Mean HR in the long flat race (151 ± 19 b.min-1) was significantly lower than the mean HR reported in the short flat race (short: 171 ± 15 b.min-1) and NH races (short: 181 ± 8 b.min-1; long: 182 ± 9 b.min-1) (p=0.000, ES=0.469). Chapter Six provided a valid and reliable fitness testing battery for jockeys. This thesis is the first to present and analyse the physical preparation strategies of Irish jockeys. The present thesis reinforces and extends previous research which suggests that horse racing is a physiologically demanding sport while providing novel data over multiple distances in both flat and NH racing. While jockeys do not appear to meet the high intensity nature of competitive racing while riding out, the Jockey- Fit Testing Battery represents a feasible and scientifically rigorous platform to monitor jockey fitness, assess fitness interventions, and provide normative performance data for the horse racing industry. Further research is needed to assess the implementation of S&C strategies using the Jockey-Fit Testing Battery on performance and injury.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Jockeys, horse racing, physical fitness |
| Departments or Groups: | *NONE OF THESE* |
| Divisions: | School of Health Sciences > Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Studies |
| Depositing User: | Derek Langford |
| Date Deposited: | 31 May 2023 10:45 |
| Last Modified: | 31 May 2023 10:45 |
| URI: | https://repository.wit.ie/id/eprint/7708 |
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