The 5% Solution for Jockeys

Here’s the question jockeys: Do you REALLY need an agent?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. A little of one. A lot of the other. I think you know which holds the most weight. If you’re happy with your agent, stop reading this post. Keep your agent. I’m probably not speaking your language and that’s ok. Who am I to get mixed up in your business. I won’t be doing that – guaranteed. I sincerely wish you both the best.

However, what if:

> You don’t have – OR – can’t get an agent?

> You’re unhappy with agents you’ve had in the past for any number of reasons?

> You are sick of giving big chunks of your money to someone you don’t think is earning it?

> The entire dynamic just makes no sense to you?

> There was a management company set up specifically to manage business for jockeys?

> That management company was called Jockey Central?  Click here: jockeycentral.com

I think we would all agree – YOU – are the best salesmen of your services and riding skills. Nobody sells “you” like you do. You ride the horses, not your agent. Do you really have better mounts on today’s racing card because of your agent? Do you ride more races tomorrow or this weekend because of your agent? Are you riding better quality horses because of your agent? Or are you having whatever degree of success today, tomorrow, the rest of this year in spite of your agent?

Does your agent piss off more people than he makes happy? Which of course costs you business (money). Does your agent truly handle your business in your best interest? Or does he place his best interest in front of yours? Ever been dumped for the new rider in town because your agent perceives them as bigger name who can ride for the leading trainer? This is the same agent who won’t even pick up the phone and ask the leading trainer if they can find a horse for YOU to ride.

Gone are the days..no..let me re-phrase…LONG GONE are the days when agents made a jockey. When trainers rode a jockey based on “who” had his book. This is total B.S. and also ancient history.

In today’s horse racing world I don’t think your agent makes one bit of difference. You are going to ride for the trainers who like you, the trainers who can count on you to show up in the mornings. You’re going to ride for the trainers you’ve ridden winners for in the past. For trainers you get along with and have the best working relationships. Is your agent taking a whopping cut from that part of your business a given? What’s wrong with this picture?!

Ok, there are a scant few agents who actually do have a role in a handful of riders making more money and riding more and/or better horses. If you find yourself to be one of those jockeys with one of these agents – and you’re happy, GREAT! Good for you. I support and respect you and your agent. My idea is probably not for you, no hard feelings.

But is that extra money you’re making – actually worth what your paying for it? I mean 25% or even 30% of what you earn? Seriously? Jesse James used a gun…but most of these guys are just running a bluff. It’s mostly a con. You could walk away from your agent and I don’t think much would change except your business, your life and your finances might get a lot better.

What About Paying Jockey Central 5% To “Manage” The Business You Have?

No agent walking the barn area is going to convince a trainer who doesn’t want to ride you, to suddenly be your biggest supporter. This is a complete fallacy. What a working jockey needs in today’s horse racing environment is purely someone to organize their business. You don’t need a traditional agent. You just need a manager who will simply and professionally handle the daily business you have. If you can win races, you’ll have more business and be in greater demand. I’m quite certain you can all ride them as fast as they can run.

You need someone you can discuss your business with. A manager you can call or text and without fail reach them or get your message returned promptly. Someone who can organize your calls. Let you know where you need to be in the mornings. What time, what barn number. Which horse you need to breeze for a particular trainer. Someone to flat-out organize your business day from A.M to P.M. Remember, your agent or in this case your manager WORKS FOR YOU. Your agent or manager is paid by you – the jockey.

Would You Pay Jockey Central 5% Instead Of The Customary 25% Or 30%?

**Jockey Central Is Proposing 5%**

You should obviously work together – jockey and manager – but a jockey should make clear to his or her manager the following (AND the manager should listen!)

• What is the ideal number of races you’d like to ride per race day
• Who would you prefer to ride for
• Who would you like to ride for – that you are currently not doing business with
• Who do you NOT want to ride for
• Which horse(s) would you prefer to ride
• Which horse(s) you’d rather not ride (and not be judged negatively by an agent regardless the reason. It’s your life out there)
• What is the maximum number of horses you like to get on in the mornings
• What morning of the week would you like to take off to avoid burnout. This is totally legitimate!

• We CAN NOT hustle your book in the old traditional, cliche’ sense – walking around from barn to barn. Besides, this is wildly over-rated. You already know everybody and most business is already done over the phone
• We CAN organize the business you currently have
• We CAN on your behalf, contact any trainer at your request and seek to do business with them locally or nationally
• We CAN promote you and encourage trainers to give you an opportunity
• Our fee is 5% of your weekly earnings and on endorsement or promotional agreements
• Text us a photo of your weekly check and statement
• Pay us via PayPal, debit card or the old fashion way – with a check. We even accept Visa, MasterCard or Amazon Gift Cards!
• Simple verbal agreement. If you’re unhappy – you can terminate our arrangement at any time
• Jockey Central can also recommend accounting or legal advice should the need ever arise

There will be certain things Jockey Central can not do for you. There will be trade-offs. We can discuss issues when and if they develop. But you need to measure the cost of these old relationship cliches. Then measure the savings to you – the money you’re going to keep versus the cost of out-dated traditional thinking.

Jockey Central works remotely from a central office beginning at 7am until the draw. Jockey Central can handle many riders around the country at different race tracks with zero conflict. We can watch every race on TVG, HRTV or online. We have the ability to access condition books, extras, entries, past performances, results and charts from Equibase.com for any track. We can be in communication with every racing office prior to the draw at any track to make sure all of your calls are expressly 100% clear – no conflicts. This will be accomplished via email, phone or fax, whatever form of communication a particular racing offices prefers or requires.

It’s time to get off the sinking ship of old out-dated thinking. Every jockey should be putting as much money in his or her own pocket as possible. The game is hard enough, why give a big chunk of money to someone who is just taking a cut from the business you already have? It makes no sense!

Any jockey, trainer or racing official can visit jockeycentral.com. I encourage you. Call me. Email me. Text me. Message me on Facebook. I’m happy to share more details and answer questions on how I am certain this can work. This will save jockeys money. Save trainers time and aggravation. Create efficiency for racing offices and racing officials everywhere.

*  Call/text: (747) 300-JOCK (5625)  *  Email: clint@jockeycentral.com  *  Message me on Facebook  *  Click: jockeycentral.com

Photo by Caren Goodrich