A casual observer of horse racing might be forgiven for thinking it’s the fleet-footed equines that do most of the work. However, the fitness demands on jockeys go well beyond what you might expect. Incredible core strength and endurance are musts, and the British Racing School’s fitness test is suitably formidable. Feeling apprehensive, Coach headed out to Newmarket to try it.
The BRS Fitness Test
The assessment breaks down into three sections. After a bleep test to check how well your body can use oxygen (your VO2 max), six exercises challenge the whole body. The test also includes a riding simulator, which thankfully Coach was spared due to a complete lack of experience on a horse.
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Each part of the test is scored on four levels. On all the bodyweight exercises a rating of “unsatisfactory” earns one point, “poor” two, “average” three and “good” four. On the bleep test those numbers are doubled.
Jockeys need at least 70% to pass, although they actually need more than 90% if you want to impress the BRS. Those “grades” in full:
- Unsatisfactory: 60%
- Above Average: 60-89%
- Good: 90%+
1. Bleep Test
Cast your minds back to school PE, sprinting between two fixed points trying to get there before the bleep went off, with said bleeps coming closer and closer together as the levels increased. Well, it’s no more fun as an adult.
| Level 8 | 2 points |
| Levels 9-10 | 4 points |
| Levels 11-12 | 6 points |
| Level 13 | 8 points |
Coach’s score: Level 11 (6 points)
2. Exercise Ball Leg Repetition and Hold
Start with 20 wall sits against an exercise ball holding a 5kg weight. Squat down on the last of them and hold the position for as long as possible.
| 30 seconds | 1 point |
| 30-89 seconds | 2 points |
| 90-120 seconds | 3 points |
| 120+ seconds | 4 points |
Coach’s score: 32sec (2pts)
3. Wobble Cushion Squat
Stand on two wobble cushions then adopt the “push” position, which involves squatting down in a manner similar to a jockey.
| 60 seconds | 1 point |
| 60-120 seconds | 2 points |
| 121-240 seconds | 3 points |
| 240+ seconds | 4 points |
Coach’s score: 101sec (2pts)
4. Press-Up Position and Hold
Hold at the bottom of a press-up for as long as possible. Basically a waking nightmare.
| 29 seconds | 1 point |
| 30-59 seconds | 2 points |
| 60-89 seconds | 3 points |
| 89+ seconds | 4 points |
Coach’s score: 40sec (2pts)
5. Leg Raise to Metronome
Lying down, keep your legs straight and raise them up at right angles on the first beat, then down to the floor on the second, with a 50bpm metronome keeping time.
| 59 seconds | 1 point |
| 60-120 seconds | 2 points |
| 121-240 seconds | 3 points |
| 240+ seconds | 4 points |
Coach’s score: 103sec (2pts)
6. Elastic Band Push To Metronome
Sitting on a bench, push a resistance band out in front of you until your arms lock out with every beat of a 50bpm metronome for a minute, 60bpm the second minute and 70bpm for the third.
| 29 seconds | 1 point |
| 30-60 seconds | 2 points |
| 61-120 seconds | 3 points |
| 120+ seconds | 4 points |
Coach’s score: 102sec (3pts)
7. The Plank
A standard plank, held for as long as possible.
| 59 seconds | 1 point |
| 60-120 seconds | 2 points |
| 121-240 seconds | 3 points |
| 240+ seconds | 4 points |
Coach’s score: 218sec (3pts)
Coach’s total score: 20/32 (63%) – above average, just. The Grand National dream dies here.
Watch the real thing on Saturday 9th April live on Channel 4. The big race goes off at 5.15pm.
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