Driver

In the trot, the jockey is called "guidatore" or "driver". The driver does not ride on horseback, but sits on a light two-wheeled carriage called a sulky, resting his feet on special stirrups. The sulky has an aerodynamic shape, is made of carbon fiber or other very light alloys and is adjustable in height and width to adapt to the size of the driver and horse. The horse therefore does not bear the weight of the jockey on its back, but pulls the sulky. This is why, unlike gallop jockeys, there are no weight limits for the driver. There are also mounted trot races, which take place mainly in France, in which there is no driver and sulky, but the rider who mounts the horse at a trotting pace. The drivers of trotting horses are almost always their trainers. The owners entrust these professionals with the training of their horses and the guidance during the race. Drivers who do not hold the dual role of driver/coach are defined as "catch drivers". When the trotter finishes in one of the top four positions, his trainer-driver also takes a percentage of the prize due to the stable. As in the case of gallop jockeys, student drivers of trotting horses who intend to become professionals must win a certain number of races or participate in the number of competitions indicated by the regulations. Then there are the "gentlemen drivers" who drive horses but only out of passion in the races reserved for them. The driver must follow the regulations during the races. He must line up in time for the start and must avoid getting in the way of his opponents during the race. The sanctions foreseen for non-compliance with these provisions range from pecuniary ones to the dismissal of the driver, i.e. the ban on the driver from racing the horses for a certain period of time. For drivers there is a ranking of merit, divided into categories, which takes into account the races won in a year. The driver who wins this ranking is rewarded with the "golden whip".  Every year the championship between the best professional drivers in Italy takes place at the Montegiorgio racecourse in the province of Ascoli Piceno with preliminaries, semi-finals and finals. The winner is elected Italian trotting driving champion.