Included among the eclectic cast that makes up the ITV Racing team is a talented collection of jockeys-turned-pundits. To those with only a passing interest in the sport, the name Jason Weaver may not be as instantly recognisable as a Ruby Walsh or AP McCoy. However, for a period in the early 90s, Weaver was one of the biggest names in the riding game.
Plying his trade on the Flat rather than over jumps, Weaver has a Classic win on his CV and has achieved a feat matched by only seven other riders in the history of the sport. Equally talented in front of the camera as he was in the saddle, the likeable pundit brilliantly combines a deep knowledge of the sport with humour and relatability. Much loved by punters for his double act with Luke Harvey, Weaver is often worth listening to when he has a fancy for a big race.
The Price of a Pony: £32 and a Fridge Freezer
Jason Weaver is the latest line in a sporting family. His father, Eric Weaver, enjoyed a career as a professional footballer, lining up for a series of clubs including Swindon Town, Notts County, and Northampton Town. Born in Nottingham on 9 February 1972, towards the tail end of his father’s career, Jason Weaver was brought up in South Wales, with the family moving to Portskewett while their new arrival was still in nappies.
Citing rugby as his first love, Jason enjoyed success as a scrum-half at schoolboy level but changed tack as the rival players became increasingly large. Brought up in a rural area, he was used to the company of horses. However, his sister, Samantha, was the first to be given a pony, while Jason got around on his bike. Putting that right, an intrepid Weaver purchased his own four-legged steed, paying the price of £32 and the family fridge freezer (unbeknownst to mum and dad), for a pony going by the name of Volvo.
Dedication to the Cause: A Diet of Boiled Rice and Apples
Gaining confidence aboard Volvo, Weaver set his sights on a career as a jockey. However, as would be the case throughout his career, his weight was a problem. Naturally weighing 8st7lb to 8st10lb, a teenage Jason needed to lose several pounds to meet the British Racing School’s maximum weight stipulation of 8st. Following a strict diet of boiled rice and apples served up by his mother, Jason made weight, and the path of his career was set.
Picking up valuable experience while working at the yard of Milton Bradley as a schoolboy, Jason was soon ready to make the move to Newmarket.
Champion Apprentice and Guineas Glory
Having completed his time at the British Racing School, Jason was taken on as an apprentice jockey by Luca Cumani, working alongside an Italian rider by the name of Frankie Dettori – you might have heard of him? Starting slowly, Weaver failed to bag a winner from five rides in his debut season. His first success, aboard True Dividend at Brighton on 30 May 1990, opened the floodgates. Riding 15 winners in 1991 and 43 in 1992, his 1993 tally of 60 was enough to claim the British Champion Apprentice title.
Having ridden out his claim, Weaver enjoyed a spectacular first season in the professional ranks in 1994. His first landmark moment came when breaking his Group 1 duck aboard the Mark Johnston-trained Mister Baileys in the 2,000 Guineas, with Dettori and Grand Lodge a short head back in second. Further top-level success followed in the Haydock Sprint Cup and Moyglare Stud Stakes, as Jason ended the season with 200 wins. That was only good for second place in the Champion Jockey standings, behind a certain Frankie Dettori. No title, but, as of 2025, Jason Weaver is one of only eight flat jockeys to ride 200 or more winners in a single season.
Weighed Down by the Scales
In terms of numbers, that 1994 season marked the pinnacle of Weaver’s career in the saddle. Earning the job as stable jockey at Mark Johnston’s Middleham yard, he enjoyed 100-plus win years in 1995, 1996, and 1997, with highlights including Group 1 wins in the 1995 editions of the Ascot Gold Cup and Prix de L’Abbaye, the 1996 St James’s Palace Stakes, and the Phoenix Stakes and Gran Criterium in 1997.
From 1998 onwards, Weaver’s battle with the scales began to take a toll on his winners’ column and mental wellbeing. Having opened 2002 with one low-level winner from 13 rides, it was time for something new.
A Natural in Front of the Camera
Calling time on a 14-year riding career which featured over 900 wins, including eight Group 1 triumphs, Jason was better placed than most to pursue a second career as a racing presenter. His opportunity arrived almost as soon as he hung up his saddle.
Earlier in his career, Jason had ridden for racehorse owner and TV Producer Jim Ramsey. Hearing news of his retirement, Jim offered Jason a trial on the Racing Channel (now known as Racing TV).
Having impressed with his work on the Racing Channel, Jason moved to At The Races in the early 2000s and has become a mainstay of the channel now known as Sky Sports Racing. Acting as a lead presenter and pundit for the live racing coverage, he also co-hosts the popular “Get In” show with Luke Harvey.
Already established as one of the most popular racing presenters, Jason was announced as a member of the ITV Racing line-up when the sport returned to the channel in 2017. A permanent fixture of the team since its inception, Jason continues to provide analysis of the form book, race tactics, and jockeyship, adding real insight and depth to the coverage. Jason’s talents were recognised in 2018 when he was crowned the Horse Writers’ and Photographers’ Association Broadcaster of the Year.
From the Racecourse to the Golf Course
Away from the racetrack, Jason can often be found spending time with his wife, Fiona, and two sons, Max and Tyler. Much of this time is spent on the golf course, where Jason works on his own handicap, or admires the considerably greater talents of his sons.
The older of the two boys, Max, represented the England Under-18 boys’ team and won the Welsh Amateur Championship in 2023. Tyler, meanwhile, is a rising star of the amateur ranks, who hit the headlines when he qualified for the US Open in 2025. With the US Open falling between the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot, a frantic summer ensued for Jason, who jetted between presenting duties and cheering his son on in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.