The Grand National kicks off today and jockeys will be gearing up to claim top prizes
The Grand National kicks off today and jockeys will be gearing up to claim top prizes
Jockeys use silks and colours in horseracing, in a long-standing tradition that can be traced back as far as 500 years. It is thought to be rooted in the traditions of wearing uniform to show who you were fighting for in battle.
The Jockey Club says: “Certainly, the use of silks and colours in horseracing to identify an owner was prevalent in the 18th century and has remained an important tradition in the sport right through to the modern day.”
The tradition first began in England and has made British horseracing renowned for its vivid and colourful aesthetics. Unique racing silks and colours are used to represent a horse’s owner and to allow race commentators and spectators to easily differentiate between racehorses.
While spectators may be aware of the different uniforms worn by jockeys, there is one unusual thing that you may not realise.
It is extremely rare to see a jockey sporting a beard. Over the years many have noticed those in the weighing room ranks are noticeably clean-shaven.
The Racing Post says: “Some have hypothesised it was down to extra weight or aerodynamics. Others have insisted some arcane rule, handed down from the old days, forbids it.” The truth, however, is more complex.
They add: “There is no truth in the longstanding rumour that somewhere deep in the rules of racing there is a sub-clause of a sub-clause stipulating that jockeys may not, under any circumstances, grow a beard.”
BHA spokesman Joe Rendall said: “It’s a common misconception jockeys aren’t allowed beards, and seems to be based more on pub quiz folklore rather than anything in the rules.
“As it stands, any jockey considering growing a beard who might be concerned about a close shave with the stewards needn’t worry.”
However, some jockeys over the years have had beards. Davy Jones, an amateur rider and of Monkees fame, had a beard when he won on Digpast at Lingfield in 1996. Former Godolphin jockey Ahmed Atjebi and Martin Lane, was one of the most recent British-based jockeys to ride with a beard.
Racing Post historian John Randall says: “Until about 100 years ago it was normal for amateur riders to sport a moustache. In Victorian times it was almost obligatory, being the mark of a gentleman.”
Professional jockeys, however, typically hailed from a different strata of society and so were subject to rather different expectations.”
Martin Lane spoke about his experiences when he sported a full beard. He said: “Everyone was like, ‘You can’t ride like that’, and I was like, ‘Why not?’ I got to the track 15 minutes before my race and no-one’s concerned about anything – only the fact I can’t ride with facial hair.
“It’s just not done. Most of them are old-school guys and they’ve had to shave every morning before leaving to ride – it’s just tradition, it’s what they’ve been made to do. So for someone to not to do it, they were just in shock.”
