Jockeys can become future champions without leaving the stables – thanks to a new robot racehorse.
The simulator can be found at the National Horse Racing Museum at Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk. It mimics the movement of riding a thoroughbred, from a gentle trot to near-40mph gallop.
Wannabes enrolled at the nearby British Racing School are queuing up to hone their skills on the machine without the risk of coming a cropper by falling off a real nag. And the Daily Star could not wait to climb into the saddle.
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The life-sized bot is designed to show how different riding styles affect the effort required by the galloping horse though weight distribution, rhythm and aerodynamics’, according to the museum’s webpage.
It can be set to travel at a wide range of speeds with the rider monitoring their progress against rival mares on a giant video screen.
(Image: Tim Merry/Mirror Express)
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Simulator supervisor Jane Andrews, 67, a former amateur jockey, expertly coached us on how to switch from just sitting on a horse’ to the martini glass crouch’ favoured by the sport’s champions. But that did not stop our racing rookie falling at the first when Jane notched up the speed to a gentle canter.
“If you started this year’s Derby at that speed you may just finish in time for next year’s race,” she joked as she helped our heavily-sweating joke jockey from the stirrups.