Horse racing silks are used to distinguish different riders and horses. The silks are the silk shirts that riders wear in each race and the silk covers that riders place over their helmets. They are often very colorful and very distinctive so owners and fans can pick out the individual horses in each race. Many famous owners have distinctive silks which points out there horses to racing fans.

The use of racing silks actually dates all the way back to ancient Rome when chariot drivers wore distinctive capes of various colors to identify themselves.

The use of modern day racing silks dates back to 17th and early 18th century England. In the very early days of racing very few horses would compete in any given race and colorful silks were not necessary. But in the 1700's racing became much more popular and many more horses were in each race.

As more and more horses raced fans and race judges got more and more confused about the horses competing. In 1762 the English Jockey Club began asking owners to submit specific colors for riders jackets and caps. Later that year the Jockey Club made it a rule that owners must submit the racing silks for their horses to compete.

Today the colorful racing silks designed by owners and artists for some owners add to the beauty and pageantry of horse racing.

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