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Horse racing silks date back to ca 1750 and were first introduced in England. In th beginning they were quite simple and different riders would just wear different colored silk jacket.

But little by little this habit got more popular and was later required rule. Every horse owner must register his or her colors and patterns and get accepted by The Jockey Club before horses are allowed to race under his or her ownership in United States.

Racing silks were the way for judges to recognize the different jockeys on the track before programs and saddle clothes were introduced. There was no video cameras so judges had to make their rulings by the naked eye.

These jackets or colors are called silks mainly because they use to be made of silk fabric. Today nearly all of them are other material, mainly some type of nylon. These silks include a helmet cover too.

Some very old registered silks are still actively used in today and new combinations are registered all the time for new owners. Owners silks are required to be used by every jockey unless judge gives a permission to use other silks,most often because silks were not available or got damaged.

2005 after a lawsuit The Jockey Club was ruled to allow small logos and advertisements in the jockey pants which prior were always white.

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