The history of silks

Silks (or colors) are the colorful jackets worn by a jockey during a race. The origin of the modern jockey silks comes from England. At Newmarket in 1762, the English Jockey Club requested that the owners submit specific colors for their riders to wear to distinguish them among a field of horses or to settle disputes that might arise.

The Duke of Devonshire chose "straw," which is still registered for the family and is the oldest continuously used color in racing.

In ancient Rome, chariot drivers may have been the first to sport "racing colors." They wore capes and headbands in bright colors to identify themselves.

Take Down Purse

In the early days of horseracing, a silk purse was used to hold the prize money. The purse was strung up near the finish line. When the horse won, the purse was taken down. First called the "take down purse," it was eventually shortened to "purse" a term still in use today. So today's horseracing purse was originally an actual purse!

Patterns

Every owner registers his or her colors with the Jockey Club. In New York State, there are specific requirements for silks patterns.

The Jockey Club states that, "By registering stable names and silks with The Jockey Club, an owner is guaranteed exclusive use of the stable name and silks design when racing Thoroughbreds in New York State. However, owners who race horses in other states are welcome to, and often do, register their stable name and silks with The Jockey Club as well."

For more information on silks registration, please visit the Jockey Club Website, www.jockeyclub.com