The word jockey, when used as a verb, simply means the pursuit of certain actions designed to hopefully produce a given end. In a Gambling Proposition (GP) involving horses and humans, the word is commonly used as a noun to describe a person who rides a horse. It goes without saying, of course, that the outcome is supposed to be mutually contested by all of the participants - riding horses free from any drugs that would alter performance.
Getting Down recently conducted a survey involving 612 trainer/jockey/horse gambling fans (veteran players) in Southern California and New York. Of this total number, 468 had grown "disillusioned" and turned to other forms of gambling, while the remaining 144 individuals played an average of 2-3 times per month. Fully 98 percent of the combined total were convinced that "some jockeys did not try all of the time." What a surprising number of those interviewed failed to consider, however, is that if just one horse in a given field is not ridden to win, or was not ridden to win in its most recent outings, or just one horse is under the influence of performance-altering drugs, or was under the influence of performance-altering drugs in its most recent outings, it is impossible for a race to take place. It is a FRAUD.
The game's High Priests of Propaganda are painfully aware of the conditions that must be met before a race can occur. Predictably, this harsh reality is overlooked in their daily propaganda. Not only do these purveyors have no way of knowing if a race has even been conducted, or will be conducted, particularly with respect to the use of performance-altering drugs, they apparently don't care - which is not to rule out the possibility that some may know far more than we suspect.
In spite of this most disturbing fact, they insist on using the word race at every opportunity, prominently displaying it in all of their propaganda. Even the lowly track announcer - fully aware of his obligation - uses the word race as often as possible in every sentence. Of perhaps greater interest to gambling fans, these purveyors offer no guaranty that racing is indeed the true state of affairs. And who could blame them.
In an environment where the manipulation of horses - in order to build odds - can be accomplished with the "greatest of ease," any fledgling rider starting out with the noble notion that he or she is going to "attempt to win" every time, and that every horse has sufficient ability and/or conditioning to realistically compete, is quickly tuned in to the true nature of matters.
When one considers that the gambling game of so-called (SC) horse racing is much greater than the participation of any one individual, until such time as a good degree of success has been achieved the refusal to participate can seriously retard a rider's career. Getting Down likens it to a "well-oiled machine," thus guaranteeing a degree of indebtedness by all those jockeys positioned at some point along the ladder of success. An individual who follows instructions, displays good riding skills, and who passionately conforms to the principles set down in the Unwritten Code of Integrity, has a good chance of eventually becoming a licensed jockey.
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All jockeys are honest. We know this to be a fact because the High Priests of Propaganda "publicly" treat them with such reverence that, at any moment, they may well utter additional revelations from Moses' stone tablets. If you have any doubts regarding the honesty of those members who make up the run-slow-run-fast gang, just ask them. And since you already know the answer - therein the truth.
Rather than assume the great majority of jockeys lie all of the time, or they always tell the truth, which is an absurd approach, it makes profoundly better sense to carefully examine a great source of evidence - past performances. You don't have to take their word on anything. In effect, you build your own data base by "correctly interpreting certain conduct." The more data gathered, the greater consistency realized in terms of predicting behavior.
Getting Down's data base, for example, was compiled over a 20-year period and uses a "floating formula" for determining the degree of current and/or projected significance that should be attached to any and all jockey/trainer involvement, irrespective of conditions or environment.
Because trainers are indeed the dominant factor in the trainer/jockey equation, the control over how the game is played stays in their corner. Even though such factors as the number and type of jockeys may vary from Gambling Track (GT) to GT, along with the jockey-to-trainer ratio, the actual participation in any one type of PTG (play-the-game) activity depends on trainers, as jockeys, for the most part, are only following instructions. For example, lets assume you were playing at a GT where only one PHT trainer and four PHT jockeys were active. Though the PHT trainer may like all four PHT jockeys, he uses the services of only one most of the time. Thus the established Getting Down PTG factor - approximately 18 percent - for PHT trainers would would hold true, while the individual PTG percentages of each PHT jockey would vary considerably.
But jockey and trainer conduct is about far more than mere percentages and classifications - it is about an arrogant, out-of-touch industry that has developed extreme callousness toward gambling fans, extreme callousness in terms of what it would have gambling fans believe constitutes realistic horse racing.
The process used to determine the correct classification for both trainers and jockeys is actually rather simple, but the gathering and evaluation of all the proper data can be somewhat daunting.
SQUARE SHOOTER (SS)
Indeed a rare breed; so rare that, in all probability, you may not have one at your nearest GT. But you may have several. True, some of them aren't blessed with an abundance of intelligence, but a few display higher levels than many of the people who gamble on their conduct. The common denominator that links this rare breed is subtly manifested in an unmistakable combination of qualities that, when taken on the whole, suggest a dominant level of innate integrity. They ride to win, frequently sit atop the best horses, and will not blow a horse's brains out - do possible damage - merely to finish up close. Some of them provide great interviews because of both the intelligent and fundamental grasp displayed in evaluating matters at hand. These jockeys are the "best thing" that ever happened to the game, and their mere presence, along with SS trainers, in the opinion of Getting Down, is largely responsible for keeping the whole mess from slipping into a garbage can.
HIGH TRUST (HT)
Members of this group run pretty much to form. One of the game's big drawing cards, they are regularly interviewed for their stock opinions, in spite of their predictability, and flaunted by the Propaganda Bureau as the final word in all matters. Oftentimes being loved and hated in the same breath, they are nevertheless worshipped by many gambling fans. As further evidence of their SC "uncompromising integrity and impeccable character," riding titles for every occasion can be quickly displayed, served up by parrot-face clones mouthing programmed testimonials of praise.
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They are most always financially secure and normally present an image of stability and considered thought. Since most of their mounts are provided by established, reliable clients, the bulk of their suspicious behavior occurs when riding for "friends of the old line," and occasionally recent connections who come highly recommended. There exists an unmistakable bond of comradeship between upper-bracket trainers and HT jockeys; they can trust each other when they need to, a union of understanding rarely, if ever, breached. Though HT trainers have an average PTG factor of seven percent, individual HT jockey participation will vary based in part on those conditions previously discussed.
PHONY HIGH TRUST (PHT)
Riders belonging to this country club also hold their share of riding titles, many of which have been awarded by astute gambling fans. A person doesn't have to hang around the game long to form a pretty good idea as to their identity. In addition to knowing about every melody the "boys in the band" have ever played, just like PHT trainers, PHT jockeys have a dance for every tune, and music for every occasion - but never has one stepped forward to blow the horn.
George "tough in the lane" Hunter, a professional gambler who has been classifying trainer/jockey production for some 30 years, provided Getting Down with a few candid observations regarding PHT jockeys: "Some of the more common moves include going out of their way to put a horse in a bad position, or killing a horse on the front end (taking a horse out too early when it's unnecessary). But the stiff (the criminal act of not trying to win) that seems quite popular nowadays is the gate-check, where the horse, under a tight hold in the (starting) gate, is held back momentarily by the jockey when the gate opens. A lot of times the horses will rear slightly and shake their heads in order to get the bit pressure off their mouths. When you see this kind of stuff happening, you can pretty much throw your tickets on the ground. These horses are usually dropped slowly back, though once in a while one will be urged forward in a late rush with all the flare and vigor of an anteater ambling along to avoid the lumbering wheels of an oxen-drawn cart. A stiff by one of these jockeys almost always guarantees a big boost in odds the next time. They're really bad for the game because this game is all about trust. The public has gotta be able to trust somebody. When the public gets slapped in the face (taken down) by one of these phony guys, it scares players away."
They're always trying to win, of course, for to suggest otherwise would insult their SC integrity.
Jockeys of this ilk have long since lost any inhibitions they may have once had regarding the manner in which the game is played. Rarely confronted with anything more than an angry comment coming from somewhere in a crowd of sheepish gambling fans, they calmly go about business as usual with a certain arrogance. They are noted for displaying an almost ho-hum attitude as they stride back to their dressing rooms after scoring with a horse that - based on the integrity of the information provided by the Raging Rag - had little or no chance.
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Even jockeys of much lower station can occasionally be observed expressing guarded chagrin in response to some of this group's activities. PHT jockeys are the high profile pacesetters of the game, along with their trainer counterparts, whose uninhibited acceptance of the Unwritten Code of Integrity insures the perpetuation of the machine.
They ride at most levels, rarely express interest in acquiring additional titles, though an occasional halfhearted attempt is made for purposes of public relations, and generally have an established group of veteran trainers with whom they "break bread." PHT trainers engage in SC horse racing some 18 percent of the time, and have no trouble finding eager participants among the ranks of PHT jockeys
AVERAGE TRUST (AT)
With but few exceptions, AT jockeys would love to move up the ladder. Not surprisingly, a fair number can ride as well - or better - than many of the PHT jockeys. In this group we find an interesting number of seasoned veterans, individuals who've been around the game for some time, sandwiched together with a few struggling apprentices, and an interesting array of up-and-coming jockeys looking to hit the "big time." Also known as the sticking point in a jockey's career, perhaps at no other level does there exist so much competition and resentment. Only a few get beyond this point. According to one astute gambling fan, "Because of this many grow sour, thus tending to engage in - developing and/or delivering - the type of Form Reversals that leaves even the publishers of RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT in a state of shock."
At no other level, however, does there exist such a mixed pool of talent - ranging from excellent to poor. Both HT and PHT trainers are aware of this simple fact and have no qualms about occasionally using AT jockeys. Many represent excellent opportunities for getting a horse off at good odds in a stakes or allowance GP. They follow instructions to the letter in hope of moving up the ladder, of getting additional opportunities.
Jockeys of this strain normally ride for AT trainers - who have a PTG factor of 35 percent.
When rumors circulate that an upper-bracket trainer is looking to use an AT jockey, the seasoned individuals feel they should have first choice because of their experience, the up-and-coming jockeys feel only too qualified, and the lowly apprentices, inexperienced and game as they are, just naturally consider the assignment theirs.
Since most rides come from lower-bracket trainers, they generally figure prominently anywhere from middle allowance to the lower claiming ranks, with occasional performances above or below this range. They combine to represent a rather significant number of the total jockey population, generally ride fewer horses than the upper-bracket jockeys, and are rarely interviewed for their opinions.
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LOW TRUST (LT)
All but a few are in the game for anything beyond the gambling window. "Purse money is so incidental that it is rarely considered little more than coffee money," observed one insider. There are no illusions about such foolishness as riding titles here. And some of them can ride quite well. Often coming at you from behind a maze of across-the-track moves sufficient to make even Monty Hall, one-time producer of the popular Let’s Make a Deal television series, seem like a rank amateur, they fully understand how the game of SC horse racing is played, and ride primarily for Club 54 trainers, with an occasional appearance in the ranks of AT trainers. However, because there exists so few quality horses these days, not to mention there's only so much room at the top of the ladder, LT jockeys, generally speaking, must resign themselves to being lowly practitioners of the of SC sport of kings.
Most of their mounts come from trainers of the same ilk, ranging from bottom claiming events up to cheap allowance, with an occasional foray into even higher company, depending on the GT.
BIG BANG (BB)
Practitioners basically fall into two categories: Those who occasionally engage in the practice, found in dwindling numbers as one gets closer to the top of the jockey ladder; and the 19 percent of all jockeys who practice the BB concept as a form of religion, usually found at the very bottom of matters.
While some of the lower-bracket Bangers are pretty fair jockeys, capable of handling a route as long as they have a horse that will propel them past the competition in spite of any problems, most are front-running cowboys, incapable of understanding pace. Members of this group, with but few exceptions, ride full time for LT trainers, having long since accepted their jockey status, most of whom wear the badge with a great deal of pride. They can generally be found in middle to low claiming events, and roughly 65-70 percent of their efforts are devoted to SC racing.
Unlike the religious Bangers, the upper-bracket Bangers rarely come at you from a confusing array of across-the-track moves. Because of the unsophisticated nature of BB activity, much of which serves to alert even the most unsuspecting gambling fan, upper-bracket Bangers, as a rule, prefer to restrict their activity to those situations where the victims are inclined to think they were busted because they failed to thoroughly evaluate the representations in the Raging Rag.
The dynamics of this gambling game, those factors that realistically must be considered before participating, differ dramatically from what the purveyors would have you believe - a bitter reality that many of you have probably already concluded. The identification and subsequent classification of jockey activity is a critical ingredient. You will learn how to construct integrity/ability charts and identify across-the-track pattern plays in Understanding Positive Negatives, and thus be able to conduct your own in-depth investigation.
