Why are owners’ colors restricted to the jockeys’ helmet covers and shirts? Why not extend them to the breeches? Are breeches white for any reason other than that it’s the tradition?
Why do racehorses’ blinkers come with hoods? Would a harness-type bridle with blinkers work? Or are those blinkers too heavy nowadays?
Just askin’ …
You usually put the blinkers on in the paddock when the horse is saddled. Sometimes if a horse is really bad you put them on back at the barn. Blinkers belong to the trainer, and are usually in the trainers colors. This helps the trainer (and race caller) identify the horse during a race. Some owners have blinkers in their colors, but because there are so many types of cups it’s usually the trainer that provides the blinkers. The silks are one size fits all, but the riders need pants that fit them and they like to wear. I think they can wear black mud pants. I guess breeches were white because they needed to be bleached to get clean?
In the UK a jockey can be sponsored, like any other sportsperson, and that logo tends to go on the breeches or undershirt. The owner provides the one-size-fits-all colours and they may or may not carry a sponsor’s logo. Also, the trainer’s yard may have sponsorship which also has to find room. The number cloth will often have the race sponsors name and logo too… There are rules about size, position etc.
As UK horses travel to the racecourse from their training yard, they arrive with bridle, blinkers etc but the saddles belong to the jockeys as they use different sized ones to make the correct weight. I think the number cloths belong to the race course.
The jockeys kit is cared for by a professional valet who does an awful lot of laundry overnight!
Blinkers on hoods can be different styles: half cup, French cup, full cup, etc, and are much more streamlined than driving blinkers.
Know the owners own their silks…which would be the shirt and helmet colors They are kept at the track during the meet and believe the valet service takes care of them and bills the owners. Was under the impression the jockeys own their own breeches, know they own their saddles and use the valet service to care for them
Stupid question, on a dry day, does the jockey wear the same breeches until they start to look ratty or change every race? Never thought about it before. Assuming s/he can afford multiple pairs.
Thanks. That makes sense. I guess harness-racing blinkers don’t need to be so streamlined, because of the sulkies.
Thanks. That makes sense, about the bleach (if it is safe to use on those particular fabrics!). 
According to Richard Migliore, the white pants are so the horse can see you if you fall off and not trample you.
https://twitter.com/NormCasse/status/1094718524327690240
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