The Science & Significance of Colours in Horse Racing

Every race day, the colours of the horse are the main part that people focus on; the weight cloth colours and the jockey’s outfit are the main things the audience sees when they don’t know the names of horses and their riders. This isn’t the only reason why the colours have significance, however.  

Tradition

The jockey silk designs have great significance dating back centuries. The colours were originally used just to show the difference between racers, so it was not confusing in the middle of the race. However, over time, the practical nature of it has turned into a tradition, and silks now show symbols of families and heritage. Each pattern has significance for each rider, showing the importance of family for jockeys and the family history that a lot of jockeys come from. 

Psychological advantages 

Looking past the historical meaning of the colours takes you to the mental aspects of the colours. It is believed that certain colours used by the jockey and the horses are better psychologically than others. Brighter colours like oranges and reds are said to energise and motivate the racers, which is believed to help them psychologically. Whereas a colour like blue is calmer and more relaxing, this is also shown in green, as these two colours allegedly help the horse calm its nerves and temperament. This information could be very helpful for racing bettors when placing horse racing bets with popular bookmakers such as Boylesports as even the smallest advantages could sway the odds in your favour. Although scientists debate the effects of the colours, it is still a horse racing tradition that is very fascinating to look into.

Marketing effects

The colours of every horse and jockey do not just help with the psychological impacts; they also help with the marketing side of horse racing as well as merchandising. Stables with a lot of success—racing legends or jockeys who do well—will have more marketability as they are distinct from other people. A passionate fanbase will want to support the racers that they like and the stables they are a part of. More marketability means that horse racing can make more money, and the extra revenue from racing will be a massive advantage for the sport and its fans. The community wearing the colours of the stables they like is not only good for the racers but for the fans as well, with the sport being able to improve with extra money. 

The future of colour in horse racing

As horse racing changes over time, so does the importance of colours and how they are used. With technology changing, the improvement of horse’s weight cloths could be affected by this, as printing and materials are getting better and better. The silk designs for these racers will improve as they can be intricate with the designs of each racer. More things can be added, like colours and specific designs, which could appeal to the fans of racers. The better they look while riding their horses, the more people want to support and buy the jackets, and this again helps the revenue of the sport as a whole.

Conclusion

The colours of the racers have a very specific history in racing, and this is a surprise for a lot of people. The history and effects the colours have are deeply rooted in the traditions of horse racing and have a big impact on the sport as a whole. As racing grows and technology grows with it, the way the racers look could have a big snowball effect on how racing grows. With some colours having more luck than others, we wonder what the future of colour in horse racing looks like.