Educational Archives - Page 33 of 34

February 16, 2015February 22, 2015

President’s Day

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No sight of any grass in the Bluegrass today. I spent my day snowed in, thus I did not make it to the field trip I had in mind. A shoveling neighbor declared we had 10 inches of the nasty white stuff as we dug deep. Well then, Happy President’s Day! So, what do our nation’s leaders have to do with horses? More than I would have thought. 12 United States Presidents owned horses and 10 more rode.

Our very first American President, George Washington, was considered the best horseman of his era. He owned horses and was involved with breeding. He attended races in Virginia regularly. The first White House stable was built in 1800. Another was built in 1806 and then burnt in 1814. John Adams had a horse too. Thomas Jefferson was a breeder and attended most races at the National Race Course in Washington, D.C., located just 2 miles from the White House. James Madison, James Monroe and John Quincy Adams enjoyed riding horses. In 1834 Andrew Jackson, who owned many horses, had another White House stable built. Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison enjoyed horse back riding. John Tyler, James Knox Polk and Zachary Taylor owned their own horses. Franklin Pierce was a rider. James Buchanan was a fan of racing. Abraham Lincoln had several horses die at a White House stable fire in 1864. That stable was replaced in 1871 by Ulysses S Grant. He had many horses and may be the greatest Equestrian in U.S. History. He replaced the White House stables. His favorite horse was Cincinnati, of sire Lexington. Lexington was named for Lexington. Kentucky. He set a record for the fastest in four mile Thoroughbred racing and many records as a lead sire fathering winners of the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. This horse was dedicated after his death to the Smithsonian Institution and his bones travel to many museums, including time spent from 2010 to 2013 in Lexington, Kentucky for the World Equestrian Games. He was in the first group of horses inducted to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and is the image used on top the trophy vase for the Preakness. His son, Cincinnati, was also memorialized artistically in many ways, including a large bronze figure at the Ulysses S Grant memorial in D.C. Rutherford B Hayes, James Garfield and Ben Harrison owned horses as well. Harrison added on to the White House stable in 1891. Theodore Roosevelt owned horses too. When he was President, he was offered a car, but declined saying, “the Roosevelts are horse people.” Unfortunately, his predecessor, William Howard Taft, had a poor history with horses and he had the stables torn down in 1911 for an automobile garage. John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson owned hoses too. Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were known to be horse riders.

I think, for the 2016 Presidential election, we need a candidate who wants to bring back the horses and the stable. After all, Reagan put it best when he noted, “I’ve often said there is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.”

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February 11, 2015February 11, 2015

Winter Wonderland

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As expected, my maiden voyage to Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky Winter Mixed in Lexington, KY was amazing! I headed out to the auction house property early Sunday afternoon to walk among the stables and see all that I could take in. Fortunately, it was relatively warm for February. With 3 cameras and a smart phone in hand I snapped up some pretty pictures. Then I took a seat, right in the middle of the bar and restaurant area, so that I could watch the horses make their final showing, in the paddock area, before entering the auction floor. Large televisions everywhere and the nice speaker system let me view and hear the auction room. I did go over, for a bit, and peer through the glass, but I don’t dare to enter, because I’m afraid my wiggle may indicate an offer.

When I arrived, I made a bee line to the stables looking for Polar Foxx, the very rare white Thoroughbred. She was as beautiful as I had hoped. I spoke to her owner’s son for a while while I checked her out up close. I inquired if she would make a race horse or a movie star? He said she could run. She is a 2 year old filly that was sold day two at this auction for just $25,000 from Sundance Thoroughbreds of Indiana to Calumet Farm of Lexington, KY. Her dam, Snow Drift, is white as is her only other foal, whom is older. Her sire is Silver Mountain, who has won several races. I wonder what Calumet has planned for her? I would like to see more white Thoroughbreds but I would love to watch her race first! Such a pretty girl.

Sitting with one of my favorite horseman, we watched the sale of Gamay Noir. Born in Kentucky, in 2010, she sold for just $15,000 at Keeneland in 2013, but he knew her story and that she was worth so much more. Gamay Noir brought the highest price of the day at $375,000 selling from Taylor Made of Nicholasville, KY to agent Justin Casse of Florida. She is sired by Harlan’s Holiday, now deceased, who had multiple grade 1 stakes wins and ran in all legs of the triple crown. Her dam was Uncork, sired by Unbridled, also deceased. He won the Kentucky Derby and ran all three races of the triple crown as well. Gamay Noir may still race or be used as a broodmare.

As hip 165 finished I had to call it a night. Sunday night ended at hip 200. Monday started early at 10 am. They sold all the way up to hip 616 to finish. Hips numbered 535 to 616 were late entries, placed in the supplemental catalogue. Last but not least rang true for this sale. The highest bid of the race went to Rose to Gold number 614. She is a 5 year old that sold to WinStar Farm of Versailles, KY for $450,000. She has a great pedigree including Tabasco Cat and Storm Cat. I love cat and kitten named horses! Seattle Slew and Mr. Prospector are in her lineage too. I could write a whole blog on just her family. Rose to Gold had a nice winning history herself. Now retired, she will be bred to Tiznow.

I had a great time on my last field trip. I can not wait to go to another sale. Maybe, I can learn to sit still and get in the ring? Until then, I am enjoying the freedom of making new friends, and learning more about the great Thoroughbred race horses.

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February 7, 2015February 8, 2015

Sunday Funday!

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I am making my first trip to Fasig-Tipton, at its Lexington location, for the Kentucky Winter Mixed sale tomorrow. This two day sale will offer over 600 horses. I am very excited, and I look forward to sharing my experience with all of you.

Fasig-Tipton is the first North American Thoroughbred auction company. It was started in Madison Square Garden in New York City by William B. Fasig and Edward A. Tipton in 1898. The original auction included road and carriage horses, Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds. In 1917 the Saratoga yearling sales began, and the following year Man O’ War was sold there. That particular sales pavilion is named for auctioneer Humphrey S. Finney. He got his start there in 1937. His son, John, ran the company as well. John Finney and Fasig-Tipton are featured in the book I am currently reading, Rascals and Racehorses: A Sporting Man’s Life by W. Cothran Campbell. I am really enjoying the short stories in this book. Fasig-Tipton now has additional auction houses in Kentucky, Maryland, Texas, and Florida. In 2008 the company was bought by Synergy Investments Ltd. from Dubai.

The Kentucky location became permanent in 1972 and is located on Newtown Pike in Lexington. The first Fasig-Tipton sale in KY took place in a tent on Keeneland’s race track property in 1943. World War II made it too hard to fly horses from everywhere to New York so the action house came to the horses. This current location has sold many winners worldwide. In 2008 they sold Better Than Honour for 14 million dollars. That is the world record price for a broodmare.

This Kentucky Winter Mixed sales will offer a little bit of everything. It takes place Sunday and Monday February 8th and 9th. The sale starts at 3pm tomorrow and 10 am the next day. Monday will have the extremely rare white Thoroughbred available. She is hip number 293, Polar Foxx.

I can not wait to tell you all about my next field trip! It is sure to be a great time.

http://www.fasigtipton.com/…/…/Kentucky-Winter-Mixed-new.asp ‪#‎FTFeb‬

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February 3, 2015February 3, 2015

Book Babe

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Today’s field trip was to the famed Keeneland Library in Lexington, KY. The current building was built on the same property as the race track in the summer of 2002. It is gorgeous and made to look like it has always been there. The library was founded in 1939. The collections inside date back to the 1800s. It is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, open Saturdays during lived racing and sales, but closed on Federal holidays. Nothing may be checked out but there is wireless internet and plenty of space to enjoy your selection while you are there.

This building is equal parts library and museum. Inside there are many paintings, art, sculptures, antiques, blown glass, labeled horseshoes from the greatest of horses, metal and glass trophies and gifts, photos, scrapbooks, etc. Then there are precious collections of books, journals, newspaper clippings, cassettes, videos, and film negatives. The building is open, well lit, with tall ceilings and windows, and plenty of quiet spaces to sit and experience something wonderful.

The Keeneland library is the world’s best source for Thoroughbred breeding and racing information. I will definitely be visiting again. Until then, I collected a load of photos which I can not wait to share with you, and expand upon the relevance of each item, in the near future.

On a side note, Book Babe is a 20 year old mare who was sired by Alydeed (whose dam was Bialy, whose sire was Alydar). Alydar ran second place in every leg of the Triple Crown to Affirmed. Alydar lost by a length in the Kentucky Derby, a head in the Preakness Stakes, and just a nose in the Belmont Stakes. This is the only time a horse has ran second in all three races. Alydar is buried on Calumet Farm in Lexington, KY.

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February 2, 2015June 22, 2015

Like Super Bowl For Thoroughbreds

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Super Bowl 2015 is now just a fading memory. All of those weeks spent cheering on the best teams in professional football came to an end last night. It was the most-watched American television program of all time, with 114.4 million viewers. Thank goodness, our four legged 3 year old athletes are hard at it now, preparing for what we can only hope for, a Triple Crown victory.

Currently, we are 16 races in on determining who will compete in the Kentucky Derby. The Triple Crown is comprised of the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes. The “Test of the Champion” race will take place on June 6, 2015. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. There were 10 other prior winners, the first horse won in 1919. 22 other horses have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and 29 horse have won 2 of the 3 races. Secretariat won all 3 races in 1973. He holds the world record for the fastest 1 and 1/2 mile dirt race at 2 minutes and 24 seconds, which he earned while winning the Triple Crown. The highest TV rating for The Belmont Stakes was 21.9 million viewers in 2004.

The Kentucky Derby will be run on May 2, 2015. It is a dirt race of 10 furlongs (1 and 1/4 mile). The “Run for the Roses” began in 1875. The winning horse is blanketed in red roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Only 20 horses will qualify to run this race. These horses are three year olds that earned the highest point value in the 35 preceding qualified races. The first of theses races was held September 6, 2014. It was the Iroquois Stakes, a Grade 3, race on dirt and 1 and 1/16 miles. That race originated in 1976 and is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. LuckyPlayer won the race. He is a colt trained by Steven M. Asmussen, riden by Ricardo Santa Jr. and owned by Jerry Durant. His sire was Lookin at Lucky and his dam was Janetstickettocats by Stormcat. My tip: when all else doesn’t work, pick a horse with cat or kitten in its name or the name of its parents. The 19 races of the prep season end on February 16, 2015. That is the Southwest race atOakland Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Then on February 21st the first of the 16 championship series races begin with the Fountain of Youth race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida and end with the Lexington race in Lexington, Kentucky on April 18th, at Keeneland. The prep races give a score of 10 to the winner, 4 to the horse placing, 2 to the showing horse, and 1 to fourth place. The championship races score’s range from 100 points down to one point depending on the race.

Horses that earned purse money in the Kentucky Derby or otherwise qualify may run in the Preakness Stakes. This is a Grade 1 race, on dirt at 9.5 furlongs (1 and 3/16 miles). This race, for 3 year olds, is at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” began in 1873. Black-Eyed Susans are the state’s flower. The winning horse’s blanket is made of yellow flowers that are altered to appear as Maryland’s flower. Just 2 weeks after Derby, on May 16, 2015, fourteen horses will compete in this race. Kentucky Derby purse money winners and horses with the highest lifetime earnings in graded stakes will make up the first 7 entries. The next 4 horses have the highest earnings in all non-restricted stakes. The final 5, which included the also-eligibles, have the highest lifetime earnings in all races. If there are too many qualifying horse then determination is made by lot. If a horse is scratched before the deadline the next most eligible horse takes its place.

Thoroughbreds that earned purse money in the Derby or Preakness as well as other qualified horses will compete in the “Run for the Carnations”. The winning horse will receive a blanket made of white carnations. This is the oldest of the three races beginning in June 1867. This race takes place 5 weeks after the Derby on June 6, 2015. 3 year olds will run on the 12 furlong (1 and 1/2 mile) dirt track. 16 horses will start. The first 8 will be chosen from Derby and Preakness purse money earners and the horses with the highest earnings in graded sweepstakes of a mile or longer in length. The next 5 horses will come from those with the highest earnings in all non-restricted sweepstakes. The final 3 horses are those with the highest earnings in all races. Ties will be settled by lot.

It is time to start following the qualifying horses now. 429 horses have already been selected as early nominations for the Triple Crown. Early nominees were due January 17th for a $600 fee. Waiting until March 23rd will cost $6,000. If the horse is not nominated until the Derby, Preakness or Belmont it costs $200,00 or $150,000 or $75,000 respectively. I hope we see a Triple Crown winner in 2015!

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January 29, 2015January 29, 2015

Pony Pub

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Yes, another field trip! Following my morning workout today I visited the Coffee Pub, with a friend, for a smoothie. The smoothie was delicious but I was so much more surprised by the history of this place, and the dedication the owner has towards honoring the building’s equestrian past.

Not to far from my favorite racetrack in Lexington, KY sits this breakfast and lunch restaurant. It is located in South Elkhorn Village, named for a nearby creek. The old stone building became The Coffee Pub in 2005. The stone house was constructed in the late 1800s. The former occupant used this building as a tack shop business. The shop carried all the various gear needed for horses from 1985 until the early 2000s.

The restaurant is best noted for its breakfast menu. I was excited by the sandwiches. They are called Thorough-Breads. Most are named for famous race horses. They offer the Seattle Slew-Rueben, the Sea Biscuit, the Ruffian, the Secretariat, the Funnycide, the Big Brown, the Mr. Prospector, and the Easy Goer. The interior is very shabby chic with a lot of horse decorations. My curiosity was peaked and I had to dig deeper.

The South Elkhorn Village was a community that started in 1783 around the end of the Revolutionary War. At the time, it was part of Virginia. The city became Lexington in 1775. The name, Lexington, came following The Battle of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. In 1792, this area was no longer part of Virginia when it became the state of Kentucky. Shortly after that, this stone building was erected here.

It is so nice to see a place rich in heritage find modern purpose and still remember and share its place in Thoroughbred history.

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January 28, 2015January 29, 2015

Horse Health 101

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Just like people, Thoroughbreds have to be maintained in tip top shape to be the superior athletes that they are. Horses are cared for by their owners, trainers, handlers, licensed veterinarians, and rules established by many organizations. The United States Department of Agriculture, state regulations, federal and state veterinary offices, sales auctions, and racetracks all have a responsibility for caring for the horses, and they have varied rules for achieving adequate care.

To become an equine veterinarian in the Unites States, generally a person must first obtain a bachelor’s degree that includes a good scientific background. After that, they may sit for the Graduate Record Examination or the Veterinary or Medical College Administration Test. Once admitted to an approved school they will study about 4 years to receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. At this point they will take the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam, and upon passing they will likely do a year of internship.

Horses take all kinds of medicine for many problems, just like we humans do. Some of the medicines are purely therapeutic, but some are utilized with a bit of controversy, because they may be performance enhancing drugs. The medications you will likely see or hear about on race day are Lasix and Bute. In the racing program, and over the intercom system, there is usually some announcement referring to the use of these medications in particular horses. Lasix is the brand name for furosemide. This drug is administered to a horse generally to prevent exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage. In stage four of this problem bleeding is visible thru the horse’s nose. The horses bleed because when they race they might have a four times increase in blood pressure that may cause the small capillaries in the lungs to burst. Giving the horse Lasix may decrease the blood pressure and the blood pH and will cause the horse to urinate a good percentage of body weight. Most other countries have banned the use of this drug on race day. Many American tracks have also banned this medications use, but at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, KY a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved veterinarian may administer the drug. You can see if the drug is in use by the letter l (L) right next to the horses name in the program. Bute is an abbreviation for phenylbutazone. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. This drug is a good pain killer. It is also subject to controversy since some think this may help a horse push through it’s pain when it really needs rest.

Thoroughbreds receive vaccinations as well. Most races and sales will have a horse take a Coggins test annually. This test looks for equine infectious anemia (swamp fever). There is a vaccination to assist with prevention. Horses also suffer from strangles. This is the term for an infectious and contagious abscess of the lymphoid tissue in the upper respiratory tract. It is streptococcal in nature and only found in donkeys, mules and horses. This too has an available vaccine. In order to race at Keeneland a horse must be approved by the Kentucky State Veterinary office and found to have a current negative Coggins test, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection performed by a licensed vet within the last 72 hours, and a record of vaccination against Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 within the period of the former 14 to 120 days. The horse must have a rectal temperature log maintained during its stay. Any reading over 102 degrees fahrenheit is to be reported immediately. If a horse is to be sold at Keeneland, it must pass a Certified Veterinary Inspection showing all tests and vaccines. Also, it must meet the USDA requirement of a negative equine infectious anemia test (AGID) and there may be no infectious, contagious, or communicable diseases present or a history of exposure. A Federal Veterinarian is kept present throughout the sales meet.

Horses need proper health care and fortunately there is a lot of discussion, legislation and rules that guide the correct and ethical treatment for these animals. Be on the lookout for updates to theses current standards.

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January 24, 2015January 24, 2015

Wondering about Wagering

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Next weekend is Superbowl XLIX. I watch the game for the commercials and a good time with my friends, but it is generally a day I can make a little dough too. Sporting events lead to some fun betting for sure. Sometimes, I like to gamble at the races.

I absolutely love to go to the track for live racing. I can not get enough of the people, the horses, and the food. I like to check out everyone’s fashion, meet new folks, catch up with old friends. The horses are simply amazing to take in, I am in awe with their strength and beauty. They are true athletes. The edibles are delicious and irresistible. Then, there is the gift shop. Oh my, I want just about everything in there. One way to limit my spending, at the track stores, is to try to win the money I use there. It is pretty cool to fund a new piece of equestrian jewelry with the reward of placing the right bet. How does one make a good bet? Well, there is no easy answer for that, bummer. The good news is you do not have to spend a lot or be an expert to take a chance. There are many strategies and superstitions to choosing the winner.

First off, pick a track. In the United States there are Thoroughbred racetracks in 29 states. In Kentucky alone we have 5 tracks. It seems no two organizations agree on the number of tracks currently being utilized. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association reports 55. I enjoy live meets best but off-site betting is hugely popular as well. You can go to the track or drive-thru site or casino, use your smart phone or tablet and other computer devices, befriend a bookie, get an account with Television Games Network or a similar site, or all of the above to get your wagers in.

Next, pick the race number. Simply put, you are just choosing the particular race you wish to wager on. Superstition plays heavily here. You may have a tip to bet $5 on the #5 horse in the 5th race., 5 on the 5 in the 5, etc. Other factors that need looking at are: the purse for that race, the length of the race, how many horses are running that race, is it the feature race, does that race have a special wager type, what surface are the horses running on, what is the condition of the track, etc.

Then choose how much to spend and the type of bet. I am a cheap bettor. Most of my bets are $6 or less. Because, too often I go for a horse with good odds I don’t get a lot of return on my money but I don’t lose much either. I am working on becoming a smarter bettor. I still want to minimize the cost of my bet but I need to work on maximizing my potential payoff. This is where you need to decide if you expect the horse to win (be the 1st to finish), place (the 1st or 2nd horse to cross the finish line) or show (the first thru third horse to finish). You can also choose “across the board” which will allow you to collect if your horse shows at the rate for which it finished. Getting fancier, you can choose to exacta which is to pick the 1st and 2nd winner of any race. Choosing trifecta will let you choose the first 3 horses in correct order. If you pick the 1st four, in the right order, it is a superfecta. Any of these options from exacta to superfecta can be boxed because that allows you to pick the correct horses but not the correct order. There are more options like the daily double, pick three, pick four, or pick 5 that allow you to choose the winners of consecutive races. Occasionally, there are special options too like a super high five (and a box option) that will let you pick the first five horses to finish in one particular race. Wheels and keys are options too. Wheels let you pick more horses. Keys let you pick more orders. Watch the math here, you might start with a inexpensive minimum but the number of horses and different winning combinations actually cause the bet to be multiplied to a higher cost. Be sure to check the program for each venues options.

Finally, pick the number of the horse. Are you picking because you like the name, number, the saddle cloth color assigned to the number, the horse, the jockey, the trainer, the breeder, the location the horse was bred? Arghhhh, so many choices! Do you like the name? Does the name give you a gut feeling of being lucky or speaking to you? Numbers and colors may be a feeling of luck. However, it also determines what position the horse gets at the gate. Considering the horse, color can be a big factor. You will often hear people pulling for a grey. You may be interested in looking at the horses behavior in the paddock or before it reaches the gate. Feeling frisky? Pedigree is an important consideration. Does the horse come from a long line of winners? What medications does the horse take and how or why should you care about that? How much weight is the horse carrying? What is the horse’s age and gender? What are all of the former lifetime records? How about the workout record? What is the jockey’s name and what do we know about him or her? What is their weight and what equipment are they carrying? Who trained the horse and do we know anything about their winning history and other biographical information? What about the breeder, and where did the breeding take place? All of these considerations and more come into play. This is why it is important to learn how to read the program. A good program will have a breakdown of a sample entry with explanations of the information and abbreviations used. However, don’t blow off tips and gut feelings. All the handicapping skills you develop still don’t lead to fail proof betting. Long shots can lead to great payouts.

Now, go have some fun! Remember to gamble responsibly if you choose to gamble at all. If it seems like a problem it probably is. Call 1-800-522-4700 for the National Gamblers Helpline if needed. Have a blast at the gift shop rewarding yourself for your skills and/or luck. Or, go straight to the gift shop and get a return on your money dollar per dollar. If you avoid both, you can go have a great time from free to a minimal entry fee. Love the races. Good luck to you all!

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January 19, 2015January 19, 2015

Hamburg Place Horse Cemetery

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Today’s field trip took me to Hamburg Place Horse Cemetery. This is perhaps the final resting place of 18 great horses. I say perhaps, because the horses were buried between 1908 through 1995, but they were moved to the current location in the summer of 2005. These horses belonged to the Madden family. The property where they are now buried stands where the great farm Hamburg Place in Lexington, KY once was, and within view of the former cemetery, where there is now a Wal-Mart.

John Edward Madden was born in 1856. He made his way to Lexington in 1889. By 1896 he had a great Thoroughbred named Hamburg. He sold that horse a year later and with that profit he bought the farm which he named Hamburg Place in 1898. He was a top trainer and breeder from 1901 thru 1928. Madden had many fine horses including Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds. He had 5 Kentucky Derby winners, including 1 Triple Crown Winner, 4 Belmont Stakes winners and many other famous winning horses. Sir Barton was the first ever Triple Crown winner. He created his horse cemetery in a horse shoe shape in 1908. In my opinion the current layout is more beautiful. Madden died in 1929.

The 5 Standarbreds on the property are: Nancy Hanks, Silicon, Major Delmar, Hamburg Belle, and Siliko. Nancy Hanks is the horse buried in the center with the large horse moment marking her grave. She was a Harness Racing Hall of Fame horse that ran undefeated and carried a record for speed. Hamburg Belle held several world records herself.

The 13 Thoroughbreds on the grounds are: Ida Pickwick, Ogden, Imp, Plaudit, Star Shoot, Lady Sterling, Sir Martin, Miss Kearney, Princess Mary, Springtime, T.V. Lark, Pink Pigeon, and Bel Sheba. Plaudit was a Kentucky Derby winner. Madden’s grandson bred a Derby winner, Alysheba, using his grandfather’s dam, Bel Sheba. Each of these horses were great.

If you are local to Lexington, or if you are lucky enough to visit, come see the horse cemetery. It is free and quite peaceful. A small park with stone walls, a lighted path, and a bridge over a creek surrounds the graveyard. You will recognize that many of the roads, in the area, are named for the property and the horses. It is nice to have such a sweet little sanctuary in the middle of a shopping center to take us back to where the great bloodlines once grazed.

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January 19, 2015January 19, 2015

The Emperor’s New Clothes

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We all want to be fashionable at the races but, come to think of it, so do the horses and jockeys. So, what is all that stuff they are wearing? There is a pretty specific uniform for both the jockey and the Thoroughbred.

The jockey will wear an outfit that is suitable for safety, sport, identification, and fashion. The basic uniform consists of a helmet, goggles, underclothing, vest, silks, pants, boots, and riding crop. The helmet is required for safety. It must protect the jockey from injury during a fall. It will be fitted with a cover to match the particular silks worn. The jockey may wear multiple layers of goggles, to easily switch out, for a clear view on a muddy track. Underpants are optional and even carry a great deal of superstition for some riders. Ladies stockings may be worn to protect against cooler weather as well. The vest is vented for cooling and padded for safety. It is worn under the silks. The silks are also known as the colours. This article of clothing is a fitted jacket. The horse owner must design and register the appearance of the silks with the National Jockey Club, in the United States. This silk is recognized as belonging to that owner. The registration may be kept for varied time frames. Other countries have their own registration organizations. For over a hundred years the National Jockey Club has been approving, or disapproving if distasteful, the silks for each horse owner. Originally, these jackets were made of silk. Mostly, other lightweight fabrics such as Lycra, nylon, synthetics and polyester are used today. The jockey must be kept comfortable. The pants are white breeches. Riding boots are worn on the jockey’s feet. The jockey may or may not choose to carry a riding crop.

The horse too wears a particular set of gear, more commonly known as tack. Typically, the horse wears various shoes, a blanket or saddle cloth, saddle pad, a saddle, a girth and surcingle, stirrup irons, a bridle with a yoke and fork, a martingale, a numbered saddle cloth and sometimes a tongue strap/tie and blinkers. Each track has rules on the horse shoes. The saddle pad and blanket keep the saddle comfy and in place. The girth and surcingle attach between the yoke and the horses front legs and then all under the saddle to keep it from slipping. The martingale goes over the neck and to the girth. The numbered saddle cloth may be color coded to match the number the horse is racing under. Stirrup irons are where the jockey’s feet go. The bridle fits over the horses head and has a whole range of parts. The bridle is attached to the reins. The bit, and maybe a tongue strap, fit in the horses mouth. These elements help with control of the horse. Blinkers may be worn over the eyes to limit the horses range of vision so it does not get spooked.

So now we know a little more about the emperor’s new clothes. Holy Roman Emperor wore this tack. He is a stallion at Coolmore Stud in Ireland. Born in 2004 he was sired by L’On Vite and his dam was Danehill whose damsire was the great Secretariat. Check out this great beauty on YouTube below.

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