World Arabian Horse Racing Conference continues jockey project success
The international sport science partnership for jockeys’ health team, a partnership between Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, recently presented on the physical and psychological effects of the intervention to a worldwide audience at the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference. The multi-disciplinary team of experts presented findings of a ground-breaking six-week dietary intervention with professional jockeys which had been undertaken at LJMU. The event was hosted by former Channel 4 racing commentator Derek Thompson, and the session was moderated by Gary Capewell of Racing UK, and broadcast live.
Within the 90-minute presentation the group of experts demonstrated the unique nature of weight-making for professional jockeys in weight-limited sports and the effects of the methods employed by jockeys to make-weight, notably dehydration and food deprivation, on jockey’s health, well-being and performance. Following the intervention, the group demonstrated how jockeys were able to eat five meals a day and yet still reduce body fat without reducing muscle mass.
Dr George Wilson, Exercise Physiologist & Post-Doctoral Researcher leading the study at LJMU, commented:
“The key to the success of the study was the individually-tailored nutritional plans and structured aerobic exercise, based upon individual measurement of body fat, resting metabolic rate and current aerobic fitness capacity. Subsequently, from the exercise prescription there was a significant reduction of body fat and both aerobic capacity and strength throughout the jockey group had significantly increased, as additionally had metabolic rate from the regular intake of healthy nutrition.
“Several jockeys also demonstrated improved eating attitudes, mental health and emotional well-being. The research group summarised their presentation by showing how other sports had been revolutionised in recent years by embracing sports science and sports medicine in such a way and as a result had greatly improved both athlete performance and athlete welfare.”
Jump Jockey Tom Scudamore has also taken part in the intervention and recently visited LJMU:
“This is a fantastic initiative. I feel stronger, more alert and feel that I finally have my weight-management on the right track.”
Tony McCoy has also pledged his support for the project through Dr Philip Pritchard and visited LJMU recently to look at a diet and exercise plan option devised by Dr Wilson. He said :
"Anything the doctor does has got to be good for racing under any code as he has been most helpful to me throughout my career as well as many, many others. It's a fantastic boost for us all that he has gained the support of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which will help with the fitness and general health of all jockeys whether it be over jumps or on the flat."
The LJMU team are made up of Dr Graeme Close (nutrition), Dr George Wilson (exercise physiology), and Dr James Morton (metabolism). In addition, the multi-disciplinary group included research collaborations from Dr Philip Pritchard, an experienced racecourse doctor, and Dr Costas Papageorgiou (clinical psychologist), who had overseen the psychometric assessment part of the study. Additionally, the group included Franny Norton, a senior professional flat jockey who had acted as a conduit between the researchers and recruitment of jockey subjects.
The next stage for the LJMU team and research collaborators is to conclude writing up this study for intended publication in the scientific literature. Following on, the LJMU team then plan to conduct a 12-week vitamin D supplementation and weight-bearing exercise study to investigate what effects a dual intervention of this nature will have on the bone health of jockeys who display poor bone mineral density and low vitamin D.
Further information about this new international sport science partnership for jockeys’ health, a partnership between LJMU and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is available here
