Jockey

Riding high on the racehorses of the world, the jockey’s traditional attire has been transformed and simplified since the nineteenth century. Heavy riding coats were replaced by lightweight, brightly coloured ‘silks’, boots replaced buckled slippers, and black riding hats decked with fluttering ribbons gave way to the familiar jockey’s cap. The riders’ comfort has greatly improved, and racecourses everywhere are bright with the vivid colours of each racehorse owner’s distinctive silk. Increasing numbers of owners led to a bewildering array of colour combinations and motifs until the introduction of precise rules, in 1900. Circling the silhouettes of jockeys in the heat of the race, a festive, multicoloured dance of caps fills the space of the square, punctuated with lucky horseshoes at each corner. Because even the greatest talent sometimes needs a little luck.