Is race riding a 'sport' in horse racing?

[stueytrader]

I also still can't see any other sport where women are as close to men in performance either.

Some fair examples earlier, but all show bigger difference male to female (I believe).

[Derek27]

There is the sex-difference, but there's also the ability-difference question that gets me.

Seen Richard Johnson get completely outridden sometimes by much lower ranked jockeys. Just seems too random a sport in terms of ability to me. Far less consistency in ability shown by jockeys (IMHO). Is like Djokovic losing to an 18 year old qualifier. Yes, it can happen in other sports, but far less so.

When you're comparing jockeys you have to make a comparison between what they've done with what they're riding. Djokovic doesn't have an animal on court to assist him so the comparison doesn't apply. Richard Johnson getting well beaten by an inexperienced jockey doesn't reflect on his skill and ability unless you think he gave his mount a bum ride.

Actually, that was my point, that I've seen this sort of variation in performance even when they are on a horse that's supposed to run well, e.g. when both are on equally priced horses, or sometimes even getting beaten on favourites - I just think jockeys are not consistent (at least compared to other sports at elite level).
Essentially, yes - plenty 'bum rides' can come to mind, for the so-called elite ones.

I think you'll find it's the horse that's not consistent in most cases. But jockeys will sometimes get the tactics wrong, even the best of them, and sometimes it's the trainer that decides on the tactics.

[Derek27]

I also still can't see any other sport where women are as close to men in performance either.

Some fair examples earlier, but all show bigger difference male to female (I believe).

That's largely because riding horses involves tactics, strategy, thinking, positioning, and most of all, a horse! The physical element is probably smaller than you think.

[stueytrader]

Pretty much agree with a lot of what you said in above two posts Derek.
But, I do come back to my initial question, and I think those are several reasons not to consider being a jockey a true 'sport' in comparison to all the other classes we call sport.
There are simply too many other factors that cause success or failure for Jockeys, which are nothing to do with their own ability.

Brian Hughes is champion elect jumps jock this year. That's got to say it all really too.

[Derek27]

Strictly speaking, being a jockey is an occupation that's part of a sport. You could easily say the same about team sportsmen like footballers, they can impress on the pitch but their ultimate achievement is only as good as the team around them.

[stueytrader]

Strictly speaking, being a jockey is an occupation that's part of a sport. You could easily say the same about team sportsmen like footballers, they can impress on the pitch but their ultimate achievement is only as good as the team around them.

Not the worst definition must admit.
The team sports comparison has some crossover in terms of achievement yes. Not sure that is exactly the same though, as a great player in a poor team will soon be spotted and move upwards, but get the point that they will be partly limited in achievements.

[Derek27]

a great player in a poor team will soon be spotted and move upwards,

A very sharp eye/shrewd judge could spot a good trainer/jockey with poor horses, but it's much much harder with jockeys unless you ride or are quite knowledgable about how horses are ridden.