The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-08
OUTFITS OF JOCKEYS.
Riders of Race Horses Carry Heavy
Burdens.

From the New York Telegram.
Who buys the racing colors which
the Jockeys wear on their mounts?
Naturally the owners of the through
breds, who have selected the Goa
bination of gay silk and stain aTtd
registered them with the jockey club,
Each 'set" of colors, as they are call
ed, consists of a jacket and cap. The
rest of the riders outfit is purchased
by the jockey himself.
A dealer in turf goods on the boul-
evard just back of the Gravesend
course supplies many of the stables
with horse articles and equips the
jockeys from head to toe. He has been
engaged in the trade for years. Speak
ing of the business recently, he said:
"All an owner has to do is to give us
his order for the colors and we sup
ply the rest. A set of colors any
where from $12, the cheapest grade,
up to $40. The $12 grade is necessarily
Of low-class material. Then, again
the cost is increased by the number
of colors employed in the making. A
set of the Carr colors, for instance,
brings $40. All the stuff is of the
highst grade silk and satin and must
be strongly made, necessarily. General
ly at the beginning of the season a
stable will take three sets of colorss
comprizing different sizes. One par
ticular stable stakes six sets always
in the spring at a cost of 500 set. OF
course, the number depends chiefly on
the size of the stable.
In Rainy weather.
"Rainy weather is the hardest on
the colors and the older ones are used
on these occasions. Eight or ten sets
of colors may be used from April to
October. The sets average, / should
say, about 500. The selection depends
on the individual choice of the owner
of the racers, taking into considera-
ton the fact that he must not en-
cToach on any already registered.
AS a matter of fact, there are per-
sons who make a speciality of design
ing racing colors and keeping track
of the ones already registered, for
which services they are well paid. An
owner can register his colors with the
Jockey club by the year, or for life,
by the payment of certain prescribed
fees. This is equivalent to copy
right.
I'm the matter of riding trousers"
said the dealer, "the jockey buys them
himself. They cost IS and $40 and
are fine imported goods. Muddy,
rainy weather is very hard on them
and if jockey has much riding to
do he will wear out a number of pairs
in a season. Most of the boys like to
appear spick and span as possible and
their EMPLOYERS likewise encourage
this.
''The jockeys supply their own rid
ing boots. These cost from s8 to SIS
finest Wei kid Then there are the
ra cling saddles which the boys fur
nish themselves. A boy like Tommy
Burns or Odom is very particular in
this respect. He must have it mt.
The heavier a boy is the lighter he
wants all of his equipment and we
sell saddles from one pound in weight
including stirrups and the rest of the y
rigging UP to five, six and seven
pounds. The heavier ones are used
more for exercising the thoroughbreds.
They cost $35, and there is a lot of
work in them. Strength must be the
REQUISITE, even above lightness. If
ANYTHING breaks, stirrup leather, for
instance, it may mean the loss OF a
race worth thousands of dollars.
Carrying weight.
"The rigging, outside of the saddle
proper, of a one-pound saddle is about
eight ounces only, including the STIR
rups Here is a pair of the latter
which weigh but three ounces. Iney
are of the finest hand-forged steel and
can stand a very heavy strain. They
have to do so.
Here is a lead pad which is used
by the jockey in making weight You
see. that is of the finest leather and
felt. which holds the two sides to-
gether. On each side are five pouches
which hold the blocks of lead. These
are 2hx7% inches in dimension and
weigh a pound. Three of these can
be placed in a pad. If necessary. and
provision can be made for more up TO
seventy and eighty pounds, but it is
hardly likely a jockey would be called
upon to carry so much dead weight.
They have to be securely fastened in
the compartments, for the loss of one
would disqualify the horse. These lead
pads are worth 80. A lead pouch which
is worth also that much goes with this
outfit. This is used by the Jockeys
valet for storing the blocks of lead
and is provided with a strap so that II
can he carried about easily when nee
In order 10 complete the Jockeys
equipment there must be a pair of
spurs. light IN weight and strong OF
workmanship. They cost $3.50 up to
50. Last of all comes the whip. Even
this f. worth so or s.. being made Of
the fnest quality Of whalebone. Whips
which the exercise boys use can be pur-
chased Cor g and $3.50.