MEET racing’s most envied jockey – the man who can eat whatever he wants and never put on weight.
David ‘Rocket’ Probert is lucky enough to have a metabolism even faster than the winners he rides.
That he gobbled down a turkey with loads of veg and potatoes on Christmas Day and still weighed just 8st 7lbs for racing the next day is proof enough.
Probert, 32, can eat what he likes, when he likes, and with no thought of saunas, hot baths, diets, or calories.
Incredibly, he weighed just 6st 10lbs for his first racecourse ride.
That came on the aptly named Tiny Tim at Lingfield in December 2006.
Back then, Probert was so light his main worry was not the race itself, but being able to the carry the saddle back afterwards with its 23lbs of lead.
He told SunSport: “I knew the horse had 8st 5lb to carry, so I lifted a few weights before the race to strengthen my arms.
“I managed to get through but only just.
“I can eat what I like when I like. It makes no difference. Just count me lucky, I suppose.”
Most jockeys accept they have to live a lifetime of frugality.
You know how boxers cut to make weight? It’s like that every week for riders, a constant battle.
For some it gets too much.
Top Scottish jockey Ryan Mania retired at 24 due to an ongoing battle with his weight before returning to the sport.
But fighting the scales has never been an issue for Probert, from Bargoed in south Wales.
And he has proved himself a heavyweight of the flats with a stunning start to the year.
Probert rides another winner aboard Berlin Tango at Kempton last year
That came after ending 2020 in style with a 1,490-1 four-timer.
In fact, the only negative is the 75,000 miles a year he clocks up in his Mercedes driving to tracks all over Britain.
He said: “Last year was great for me on the track, and I thank my boss, Andrew Balding, and all the other trainers and owners who stuck by me.
“But there’s no time to relax. I’m either riding, driving, sleeping or eating.
“Most days I leave home by six in the morning to ride work at stables before going on to the races.
“It’s often well past midnight when I get back.”
Just in time for a snack then…
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