The tall jockeys who beat the scales in British racing
Most people picture a jockey as small and light, and with good reason. Weight is the one thing a rider cannot hide, and every pound counts when a horse is carrying a set burden.
Yet some of the most successful names in the sport's racing results have been unusually tall for the job.
Their careers show how much discipline it takes to keep riding when your body is working against you.
Horse racing news: Harry Skelton’s 10 horses to follow for the 2026/27 Jumps season
Star Sports ambassador Harry Skelton gives his 10 horses to follow for the 2026/27 Jumps season, discussing their plans and likely long-term targets.
Timeform 10 To Follow: Willie Mullins reveals who’s “top of the pile” in novice division
Ratings experts Timeform have announced their 10 horses to follow for the 2026/27 jumps season, with interesting prospects featuring from the yards of Willie Mullins, Dan Skelton, Nicky Henderson and Jamie Snowden among others.
The list includes Mullins’ unbeaten Even Tho who was so impressive when winning two bumpers last season, including a Grade 3 at Punchestown by 16 lengths, which saw her record a Timeform rating of 112p.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Doncaster, Chester and Leopardstown on Saturday, September 12
Sports News Blitz’s racing expert Jeff Mexico has escaped from a Siberian gulag and is back to fork out some more great tips for this Saturday afternoon’s action.
It’s St Leger Day at Doncaster and we have a packed ITV card to get through which includes five contests from Town Moor, two from Chester, and a sneaky Group 1 over in Leopardstown.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket on Saturday, August 8
There was finally a bit of wet weather about this week, proving that Sports News Blitz racing tipster Jeff Mexico’s naked high street rain dances are finally working.
It started in May, and Jeff has gradually removed his clothing with every little jig.
This week he reached his undergarments, a red one-piece union suit with a drop seat, beloved by 19th century gold prospectors.
After a rather clumsy version of the running man at the Green Lanes Shopping Centre in Barnstaple, his arse popped out of the drop seat, the heavens opened and rain finally fell.
Frankel’s dominance over Bow Echo in mile ratings “worth reiterating”
Ratings experts Timeform have stressed Frankel’s dominance on ratings among milers this century, with comparisons between the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt and Bow Echo being drawn.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Newmarket, Goodwood and Thirsk on Saturday, August 1
It’s the final day of the Goodwood Festival and Sports News Blitz’s racing expert Jeff Mexico has completed his gallon-a-day Pimms challenge and is ready to vomit up some more cracking tips.
ITV have five races from the West Sussex course, including the feature cavalry charge that’s the Stewards’ Cup. They’ve also snuck in the Summer Handicap from Goodwood and Summer Cup from Thirsk, so the northerners don’t miss out.
Horse racing news: Which ‘Glorious’ Goodwood races are ITV showing this week?
The Goodwood Festival, or Glorious Goodwood to those in the know, is one of the highlights of the UK’s Flat-racing calendar. It begins on Tuesday, July 28 and ends on Saturday, August 1.
The ITV Racing team are at Goodwood in force during the week and on air between 13:30 and 16:30. Here, Sports News Blitz looks at the races ITV are showing.
Run Fast Racing is modernizing the thoroughbred ownership experience
Run Fast Racing, the celebrity-backed thoroughbred ownership group founded by entrepreneur and entertainment executive Adam Kluger alongside partners Lil Wayne, Rauw Alejandro and Lil Yachty, has launched Direct Pay.
Direct Pay is a feature designed to simplify and modernize the horse-ownership experience by allowing owners to receive cash payouts directly to their bank account when any horse in the stable wins.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Newbury, Market Rasen and Ripon on Saturday, July 18
Sports News Blitz racing tipster Jeff Mexico has graciously stepped aside to let Andy Burnham become the next Prime Minister. However, he is still planning on standing at the Clacton by-election in August if he can scoop up enough winnings from the next few weeks of his ITV betting tips.
His quest begins at Newbury, Market Rasen, and Ripon this Saturday afternoon.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Sandown and Newmarket on Saturday, July 4
Sports News Blitz’s racing tipster Jeff Mexico has turned down his invitation to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s ‘royal wedding’ to focus on this Saturday’s racing.
Four races from Sandown, including the Coral Eclipse, and three from Newmarket are on offer on ITV this weekend, which is much more fun than watching two pretend they like each other.
Royal Ascot ITV horse racing tips and best bets on Saturday, June 20
As is the current fashion, Sports News Blitz tipster Jeff Mexico has taken to his kitchen to write out his racing tips on a chalk board. He has also donned a blonde wig, sparkling top, some high-waisted trousers, and put on a grating London accent to complete the look.
Jeff is convinced this new approach will help him trawl the final day of Royal Ascot for some big winners. Failing that, he has also got his eye on managing the USA women’s national team.
How Fast Can a Racing Horse Run and What Affects Its Speed?
If you’ve ever stood trackside when the gates open, you know the sound hits you before the speed does. Hooves pounding, dirt flying, and suddenly a pack of thoroughbreds explodes past like living rockets.
It always leaves people asking the same thing: how fast can a racing horse run? And maybe more importantly, what actually makes them that fast?
Royal Ascot 2026 guide: When is it, times, big races, trainers, jockeys and more
Royal Ascot is the biggest Flat race meeting in the world, attracting the best horses, runners, and of course royalty.
A huge five-day festival of racing starting on Tuesday, June 16 and ending on Saturday June 20, it crams in eight Group 1 races across the week, and there's hardly time to take a breath.
Here, Sports News Blitz has all you need to know about the famous event.
Royal Ascot 2026 news: What are the most valuable races at Ascot Racecourse this week?
Royal Ascot is one of the most prestigious Flat-racing festivals on the British horse racing calendar. Raced over five days, from Tuesday June 16 to Saturday June 20, this meeting stands out from the crowd as boasting the biggest prize purses in UK Flat racing.
The festival is broadcast worldwide in almost 200 nations and this year it has a record prize pot of £10.65 million. Indeed, several of the Group 1 races at Royal Ascot are among the richest Flat races in horse racing. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Scott Allen explores the most valuable races to look out for on your racecards.
Royal Ascot 2026: Irish horses favourites to lift Gold Cup
The centrepiece of the flat racing season is here, with Royal Ascot ready to welcome some of the world’s premier horses to Berkshire.
Starting on 16th June and offering five days of early summer racing, the meeting is one of the major landmarks of the British social calendar.
For the trainers, owners and jockeys, however, Royal Ascot offers the chance to collect some of the most prestigious trophies in British racing.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for York, Sandown and Chester on Saturday, June 13
Royal Ascot is just around the corner and Sports News Blitz racing tipster Jeff Mexico has spent all week looking for a new frock and hat. Luckily, Farm Foods does an amazing range of clothing (it’s somewhere near the back by the spoon meats), and Jeff is now all kitted out for a busy week in Royal Berkshire.
He’s hoping to get an invite to the Royal Procession or even better be interviewed by Raceday TV about his stunning outfit – his black bin bag ensemble and potato sack fascinator will go down a storm no doubt.
Epsom Derby Day ITV horse racing tips and best bets on Saturday, June 6
This week, Sports News Blitz tipster Jeff Mexico has been measuring the height of buildings for Donald Trump. Jeff discovered that Carnon Downs Garden Centre in Truro, the Ship Inn in Exeter, and Oh, For Goodness Cake! in Shrewsbury are not as tall as the Lincoln Memorial, which seemed to please the US commander-in-chief … even though he was asleep at the time.
Away from measuring the size of phallic constructions, it’s Derby Day and Jeff has six tips to dig up for ITV’s coverage this Saturday afternoon from Epsom.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Carlisle, Beverley and Chester on Saturday, May 30
Sports News Blitz’s racing tipster Jeff Mexico has an unusual way of keeping cool in the current heatwave. He fills his wheelie bin with cold water, positions it outside his nearest bossman shop, strips naked, and climbs inside. Jeff will spend all day in there, collecting ice creams and cool drinks from generous passing locals, which he then goes and sells down the dogtrack in the evening.
He’d make even more money if he removed the rubbish from the bin before he filled it with water. Anyway, Jeff has nine races from the north of England to select from this Saturday afternoon as the ITV cameras head to Carlisle, Beverley, and Chester.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Haydock, Goodwood, York and the Curragh on Saturday, May 23
Sports News Blitz horse racing expert Jeff Mexico has returned from a week away helping paint the bottom of a big pool in Washington DC. Unfortunately, Jeff is a little colour blind, so he muddled up the Mexican green and American blue flag paint. Ah well, it’s unlikely anyone will notice.
Let’s get back to a busy day of racing on ITV this Saturday afternoon. It includes nine races from Haydock, Goodwood, and York as well as the Irish 2000 Guineas over the Irish Sea at the Curragh.