What Is a Conditional Race?

The majority of National Hunt race types are defined by rules concerning what sorts of horses are permitted to enter – juvenile and novice events for example – or factors determining the weights to be carried by the performers i.e. handicap or non-handicap events. However, there is also a further category of race which is defined not by the types of horse allowed to run, but instead by the jockey’s eligible to take their place in the saddle.

A feature on many race cards over the course of the season, including those at the big spring festivals, these Conditional Jockey or Conditional Rider races are a regular part of the racing programme. But what exactly are they?

What Is a Conditional Jockey?

As the race title would suggest, “Conditional Jockey” races are events restricted to conditional jockeys only. The obvious place to start is therefore to explain what a conditional jockey is. Simply put, conditional jockeys are younger, more inexperienced riders who are still learning their trade – the equivalent of an apprentice jockey in the flat racing sphere.

Conditional Jockey Races

The preceding paragraph details what it means to be a conditional jockey and the allowances they can claim. These allowances do, however, only apply when competing against professional riders, and not in races which are open only to conditional jockeys.

A conditional jockeys’ race is therefore defined as a contest that is open only to conditional riders, and a race in which such jockeys are unable to claim their usual riding allowance, due to the fact that they will only be competing against their fellow inexperienced riders. This means that conditional riders with more experience and wins are comparatively better off in these contests than they would be. This is because instead of conceding weight to other conditionals, these races are an entirely level playing field.

Such races may be run under any conditions, be that over hurdles, fences or a National Hunt flat race (Bumper), but are most commonly either handicap hurdles or handicap chases. The most famous such event of the racing year – by some distance – is the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, which traditionally acts as the closing race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Champion Conditional Jockeys

In common with the professional jockeys, the conditional riders also have their own jockeys’ championship, with the title going to the rider who obtains the highest number of winners over the course of the season.

This race to crowned Champion Conditional Jockey can be well worth keeping an eye on, as the winner regularly goes on to achieve big things in the professional ranks, as outlined in the table below.

Champion Conditional Jockeys