Evening star., 1903-07-29
OUTFITS OF JOCKEYS
RIDERS OF RACE HORSES CARRY
HEAVY BURDENS.
Jackets, Boots and Other Wear Espe-
cially Made for Them-Weighting
the Mounts a Science.
From :he New York Telegram.

Ai'hi tHe We" l"Eh lelfSrdm
Who buys the racing colors which the
jockeys wear on their mounts? Naturally
the owners OF the thoroughbreds. who have
selected the combination of gay silk and
satin and 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.
y dealer in turf goods on the boulevard
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
Speaking of the business recently he said:
All an owner has to do is to give US his
order for the colors and we supply the rest
A set OF colors costs anywhere from $l2,
the cheaper grade, up TO $40. The ST. 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 highest grade silk and
satin and must be strongly made necessari-
ly. Generally at the beginning OF the sea-
son stable will take three sets OF colors,
comprizing different sizes. One particular
stable takes six sets always in the spring
at a cost OF $50 a set. or course. the num-
Der depends chiefly on the size of the stable.
In Rainy Weather.
Rainy weather IS the hardest on the coll
orS and the older ones are used on these oc-
casions. Eight ten sets of colors may be
used from April to October. The sets aver
age. L should say. about $50. The selection
depends on the individual choice Of the own
er of the racers. taking into consideration
the fact that he must not encroach on any
already registered
AS a matter of fact, there are persons who
make specially of designing racing colors
and keeping track of the ones already regis
tered, 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 copyright
In the matter of riding trousers said
the dealer. the jockey buys them himself.
They cost SO and SO and are fine imported
goods. Muddy. rainy weather Is very hard
on them and If a jockey has much riding To
do he VIII wear out a number of pairs III
season. Most of the boys like to appear
spick and span as possible and their en-
ployers likewise encourage this.
The jockeys supply their own riding
boots. These cost from So to S15 for pat
ent feathers. They are of the finest vici
Kid. Then there are the racing saddles
which the boys furnish themselves. A boy
like Tommy Burns or Odom is very partic
ular in this respect He must have II fit
The heavier a boy is the lighter he wants
all of his equipment and we sell saddles
from one pound in weight including stir
.
six and seven pounds. The heavier ones
are used more for exercising the thorough
bredS. They cost $50, and there is a lot
OF work in them. Strength must be the
requisite. even above lightness. If any
thing breaks, stirrup leather, for in
stance. it may 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 stirrups.
Here is a pair of the latter which weigh
but three ounces. They are Of the finest
hand-forged steel and 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 together. on each side are
five pouches which hold the blocks OF lead.
These are 2iaX7a4 inches In dimension and
weigh pound. Three of these can be
ION 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 Sc
curely fastened In the compartments, for
the loss Of one would dsqualify the horse.
pouch which Is worth also that much goes
with this outfit. This IS used by the jock
ey's valet for storing the blocks Of lead
and is provided with a strap that It can
be carried about easily when necessary"
In order to complete the jockeys equip
In weight and strong of workmanship.
They cost 50. 30 up to S5. Last Of all comes
the whip. Even this is worth SO or 81, be-
Ing made of the finest quality Of whale
bone. Whips which the exercise boys use
can be purchased for 50 and 50 80.