TY - JOUR
T1 - Physiological demands of flat horse racing jockeys
AU - Cullen, Sarah Jane
AU - O'Loughlin, Gillian
AU - Mcgoldrick, Adrian
AU - Smyth, Barry
AU - May, Gregory
AU - Warrington, Giles D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 National Strength and Conditioning Association.
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - The physiological demands of jockeys during competition remain largely unknown, thereby creating challenges when attempting to prescribe sport-specific nutrition and training guidelines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological demands and energy requirements of jockeys during flat racing. Oxygen uptake (Vo 2) and heart rate (HR) were assessed in 18 male trainee jockeys during a race simulation trial on a mechanical horse racing simulator for the typical time duration to cover a common flat race distance of 1,400 m. In addition, 8 male apprentice jockeys participated in a competitive race, over distances ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 m, during which HR and respiratory rate (RR) were assessed. All participants performed a maximal incremental cycle ergometer test. During the simulated race, peak Vo 2 was 42.74 ± 5.6 ml·kg -1 ·min -1 (75 ± 11% of Vo 2 peak) and below the mean ventilatory threshold (81 ± 5% of Vo 2 peak) reported in the maximal incremental cycle test. Peak HR was 161 ± 16 b·min -1 (86 ± 7% of HRpeak). Energy expenditure was estimated as 92.5 ± 18.8 kJ with an associated value of 9.4 metabolic equivalents. During the competitive race trial, peak HR reached 189 ± 5 b·min -1 (103 ± 4% of HRpeak) and peak RR was 50 ± 7 breaths per minute. Results suggest that horse racing is a physically demanding sport, requiring jockeys to perform close to their physiological limit to be successful. These findings may provide a useful insight when developing sport-specific nutrition and training strategies to optimally equip and prepare jockeys physically for the physiological demands of horse racing.
AB - The physiological demands of jockeys during competition remain largely unknown, thereby creating challenges when attempting to prescribe sport-specific nutrition and training guidelines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological demands and energy requirements of jockeys during flat racing. Oxygen uptake (Vo 2) and heart rate (HR) were assessed in 18 male trainee jockeys during a race simulation trial on a mechanical horse racing simulator for the typical time duration to cover a common flat race distance of 1,400 m. In addition, 8 male apprentice jockeys participated in a competitive race, over distances ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 m, during which HR and respiratory rate (RR) were assessed. All participants performed a maximal incremental cycle ergometer test. During the simulated race, peak Vo 2 was 42.74 ± 5.6 ml·kg -1 ·min -1 (75 ± 11% of Vo 2 peak) and below the mean ventilatory threshold (81 ± 5% of Vo 2 peak) reported in the maximal incremental cycle test. Peak HR was 161 ± 16 b·min -1 (86 ± 7% of HRpeak). Energy expenditure was estimated as 92.5 ± 18.8 kJ with an associated value of 9.4 metabolic equivalents. During the competitive race trial, peak HR reached 189 ± 5 b·min -1 (103 ± 4% of HRpeak) and peak RR was 50 ± 7 breaths per minute. Results suggest that horse racing is a physically demanding sport, requiring jockeys to perform close to their physiological limit to be successful. These findings may provide a useful insight when developing sport-specific nutrition and training strategies to optimally equip and prepare jockeys physically for the physiological demands of horse racing.
KW - energy expenditure
KW - Equivital
KW - physical requirements
KW - training
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84946213189&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000977
DO - 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000977
M3 - Article
C2 - 25932980
AN - SCOPUS:84946213189
SN - 1064-8011
VL - 29
SP - 3060
EP - 3066
JO - Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
JF - Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
IS - 11
ER -