What is Weighed In? Weighed In Explained in 2 minutes
Jesse M. Cox Last Verified
31/03/2021
A horse must be weighed in before the result of a race is verified. Some bookmakers will not begin to pay out winning bets until the weighed in announcement has been made.
The public are informed that the winning jockey has weighed in over the public address system. The stewards can announce an enquiry, or an objection can be made before the jockey has weighed in. Bookmakers will not pay out winning bets while a steward’s enquiry or objection is taking place.
The procedure is brief, as any delays to the result being confirmed has implications for bookmakers and officials at the course. Each horse in a race has to carry a specified amount of weight in line with race conditions and the handicap. The jockey must carry the same weight before and after a race to ensure the horse ran at its correct weight. The jockey is weighed in immediately after a race so the result can be declared.
How is Weighed In used in Sports Betting?
The weighing out and weighing in procedure is an important part of horse racing and betting. Before a race a jockey is weighed with all their kit. If a jockey is lighter than the weight his mount has been allocated the difference is made up of thin lead weights which are placed in the saddle.
If a jockey does not carry the correct declared weight the horse can be disqualified which has implications for betting. Backers of the first past the post are expecting winners, and if the final result is changed due to a weight infringement there will be anger on the course.
Every jockey must weigh out and weight in but any discrepancy will be critical for the winning horse and those that make the payout places for betting purposes. Jockeys strive to be close to the allocated weight but sometimes they are declared as overweight, which is allowed as long as the public are aware of the difference as that could affect their betting.
