Colours

On Oct. 4, 1762 the nineteen members of the Jockey Club announced a resolution at Newmarket to register specific racing colors to members (seven Dukes, one Marquis, four Earls, one Viscount, three Commoners, one Lord and two Baronets). "For the greater Conveniency of distinguishing the Horses in Running, as also for the Prevention of Disputes, arising from not knowing the Colours worn by each Rider,..." Which could be particularly difficult with the horses speeding by the finish on a muddy track with several jockeys wearing coats similar in color. Owners registered specific colours for their use. In the first list of Colours registered following the resolution of the Stewards of the Jockey Club, eighteen owners shared seventeen sets of colours:

Colours in 1762
Duke of Cumberland	Purple	Earl of March Mr. Vernon	White
Duke of Grafton	Sky-blue	Earl of Northumberland	deep Yellow
Duke of Devonshire	Straw colour	Earl of Gower	Blue with cap of ditto
Duke of Kingston	Crimson	Viscount Bolingbroke	Black
Duke of Ancaster	Buff	Sir John Moore	darkest Green
Duke of Bridgewater	Garter-blue	Mr. Grevile	Brown trim'd Yellow
Marquis of Rockingham	Green	Mr. Shafto	Pink
Earl of Waldegrave	deep Red	Lord Grosvenor	Orange
Earl of Orford	Purple & White	Sir J. Lowther	none

Both William Douglas (1725-1810) the 3rd Earl of March (later 4th Duke of Queensbury 'Old Q') and the Honorable Richard Vernon of Newmarket chose White. Lord March tried several colours before he settled on his famous Red and Black.
Viscount Bolingbroke picked Black. Frederick St John, 2^nd Viscount Bolingbroke (1732-1787) kept a stable of 20 racehorses at Lydiard and was an early patron of George Stubbs. He owned several famous horses including Gimcrack, who was painted by Stubbs in these colours. He also owned the great racehorse and later great stud Highflyer, with 13 race wins. Highflyer had to be sold during his racing career because Lord Bolingbroke had racked up a huge gambling debt. Highflyer's stud fees made Tattersall a fortune.
The Black Colour then passed to the Duke of Grafton for a few years.
The Black Colour was then registered to the 9th Duke of Hamilton (1740-1819) until his death. Jockeys in his Black silks rode his horses to a record 7 St. Leger wins between 1786 and 1814.
The next distinguished registrant was John Bowes who won 4 Derbys between 1835 and 1853.
William Cavendish (1720-1764) the 4th Duke of Devonshire owner of Chatsworth, Derbyshire chose 'Straw,' for his Colour. The Straw Colour is still registered to the family and is the oldest continuously used color in racing.
Richard Grosvenor, 1st Earl Grosvenor [1731-1802] had Orange and Black Colours
Sir William Gerard registered pink and white stripe racing colours in 1802.
The famous 'Aske Spots' colours (large green spots on white) of the Dundas (later Earls of Zetland) family of Aske Hall, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, were registered for the first time in 1774 by Thomas Dundas (1741-1820).

Lord Derby, Edward Smith Stanley (1752-1834) the Twelfth Earl of Derby, adopted the colours "black with white cap" in 1787.

Lord Eglington's jockeys sported a tartan jacket with yellow sleeves.

A painting by W. Mason in 1786 of a country race meeting shows two jockeys in the foreground. One is wearing horizontal stripes and the other vertical stripes, on the jacket and cap. The jackets are short, tight fitting, and button down the front to the hem. The top two or three buttons are left undone disclosing a cravat. The jackets have small stand-up collars and look rather like sleeved waistcoats.

English painters of sporting scenes during the 19th century depict jockeys' attire. Jockey clothing appears to be uniform in style by this time. The jackets are close fitting and waist length. The breeches are white. The boots are short 'top boots'. The caps are generally black with a bow in front. The distinctively coloured jackets are worn according to the registered Colours of the horse owner the jockey is riding for. Because silk was the fabric most commonly used for the jockeys' jackets, they became known as 'Silks'. The term silks soon came to denote the entire clothing ensemble of a jockey.

Colours in 1774
Duke of Grafton	Dark blue and black cap	Duke of Ancaster	Very light buff, cap same
Duke of Northumberland	Gold colour, cap same	Duke of Devonshire	Straw colour, cap same
Marquis of Rockingham	Green, black cap	Lord Bolingbroke	Black waistcoat and cap
Lord Grosvenor	Orange, black cap	Lord Carlisle	Scarlet & Grey stripe, cap same
Lord Farnham	Sky-blue, cap same	Lord Ossory	Pea green, cap same
Lord Clermont	scarlet waistcoat & cap	Lord Craven	White, Crimson cap
Lord March	Brown, black cap	Lord Abington	Blue & White stripe, Cap same
Sir Charles Bunbury	Pink & White, cap same	Sir L. Dundas	White with Scarlet spots, cap same
Sir C. Sedley	Blue, black cap	Mr. Vernon	White, black cap
Mr. Foley	Green & White stripe, cap same	Mr. Blake	Grey & White stripe, cap same
Mr. Burlton	Yellow, cap same	Mr. Ogilvy	Harlequin, cap same
Mr. Wentworth	White, cap same	Mr. Pigott	Pompadour, cap same
Mr. Panton	Buff, cap same	Mr. Fenwick Mr. Pratt Mr. Waftell	Red, black cap
Mr. Strode	White turn'd up with Scarlet, black cap	Mr. Brand	Violet blue & flesh colour stripe, cap same
Mr. Henry Vernon	Black & White stripe, cap same	Mr. Gascoyne	Pea green & Red stripe, cap same
Mr. Walker	Bloom & White stripe