What is the average weight of a jockey?

The average jockey weighs approximately 110 pounds, and apprentices getting started in the trade usually weigh around 105 pounds. The average adult in the United States weighs a little over 180 pounds.

In addition to being much lighter than the average person, jockeys are also generally much shorter. The average jockey is between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall. Many races place weight limits on jockeys. For example, jockeys who are slated to race in the Kentucky Derby must weigh less than 126 pounds, while wearing all their equipment, at the time of weigh-in. These limits are ostensibly set to protect the health of the horse carrying the jockey.