Issue 5 - Spring Racing Carnival
Nutrition E-Bites Edition 5 September 2008
It's often known more for the glamour and champagne, but The Melbourne Cup horse race, and the entire Spring Racing Carnival, is no walk in the park (or on the track!) for the dedicated jockeys and their horses. Jockeys are required to have strength, cardiovascular fitness and specific handling skills because of the need to manage such a strong animal. They are required to spend numerous hours honing their skills and preparing horses for racing, with their days typically starting around 4am up to seven days weekly. The issue of horse racing that most concerns sports dietitians is the pressure jockeys are put under to maintain a low body weight. Minimum riding weights in Australia are 53 kg for jockeys riding in the city and 54 kg for country tracks. This riding weight includes the saddle and associated riding equipment (excluding the whip and skull cap). Although riding weights range from the minimum up to approximately 61kg, many jockeys strive to be the minimum weight as this maximises their opportunity of taking any ride at a given race meeting. Ideally, jockeys will consult with a sports dietitian to ensure that with their limited kilojoule budget (to keep their weight low) they are optimising their nutrition intake. The best idea is to consume filling foods that are rich in many health and sport- enhancing nutrients. Low glycaemic index carbohydrate-rich foods are helpful as they are more slowly absorbed therefore have better filling value, as well as foods containing protein including lean meat, chicken, fish, low fat dairy products and eggs. There is almost no room in the diet for low nutrient density foods like lollies, chocolates, chips, cakes etc. Jockeys should aim to have three small meals and two small snacks daily. These strict restrictions lead many jockeys to developing disordered eating patterns, suboptimal nutrition intake, and purging behaviours to rid unwanted weight. Common behaviours include severe dieting, laxatives, appetite suppressants, the use of saunas, hot baths and diuretics to assist weight (fluid) loss. Many of these techniques have been banned in the sport, in an attempt to prevent serious illness or even death. See the fact sheets on Jockeys and Making Weight on the SDA website for more information, including other useful tips for weight restricted sports. SDA hope you find this a useful e-resource. If you have any suggestions of content or sports nutrition information you would like to know about, we will happily take ideas on board. Please email info@sportsdietitians.com.au Yours in sports nutrition, Sports Dietitians Australia **If you would like these e-newsletters sent directly to you please email info@sportsdietitians.com.auSPRING RACING CARNIVAL - AND THE RACE THAT STOPS A NATION!