By LATT Staff
The Kentucky Derby is nothing if not colorful. From the fashion to the saddle towels and even the red roses draped over the winner of the most prestigious event in horse racing, nothing is more colorful than the silks carried to post by each of the Kentucky Derby contenders representing each owner. The history of silks goes even farther back than the 143-year history of the Run for the Roses itself.
When organized horse racing first began in the early 18th century, there were no such things as program numbers, public address systems or closed circuit television. When England’s King Charles II first assembled race meets on the plains of Hempstead, the dukes and the barons had trouble figuring out which horse was which so they adopted racing silks – or colors – to distinguish their jockeys for easier viewing. And because they were made out of silk, they were referred to as “silks” and have kept the moniker since.
During the time of King Charles II, silks designs were simple. Red for one duke, black for another duke, orange for one earl, white for another earl, and so on. Today, since there are so many owners, silks have become even more colorful. The jockeys’ room at Churchill Downs houses thousands of silks, which are hung on pegs in the order of each jockey’s races for that day.
*UPDATE – For this year’s 144th Running of the Kentucky Derby, the following silks will be seen by millions around the world. Following is the field for the 2018 Kentucky Derby, with trainers, jockeys and morning line odds in post position order.
And for full, updated odds on all of this year’s Derby contenders, go to: Kentucky Derby Odds
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- 1. Firenze Fire — Mr. Amore Stable (Ron Lombardi); trained by Jason Servis; ridden by Paco Lopez, 50-1
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- 2. Free Drop Billy – Albaugh Family Stables LLC (Dennis Albaugh & Jason Loustch); trained by Dale Romans; ridden by Robby Albarado, 30-1
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- 3. Promises Fulfilled – Robert J. Baron; trained by Dale Romans; ridden by Corey Lanerie, 30-1
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- 4. Flameaway – John C. Oxley; trained by Mark Casse; ridden by Jose Lezcano
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- 5. Audible – China Horse Club International (Ah Khing Teo), Head of Plains Partners LLC (Sol Kumin), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf) & WinStar Farm LLC (Kenny Troutt); trained by Todd Pletcher; ridden by Javier Castellano
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- 6. Good Magic – eFive Racing Thoroughbreds (Bob, Christine, Cassidy, Riley & Delaney Edwards) & Stonestreet Stables (Barbara E. Banke); trained by Chad Brown; ridden by Jose Ortiz, 12-1
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- 7. Justify – China Horse Club International (Ah Khing Teo), Head of Plains Partners LLC (Sol Kumin), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf) & WinStar Farm LLC (Kenny Troutt); trained by Bob Baffert; ridden by Mike Smith, 3-1
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- 8. Lone Sailor – GMB Racing (Gayle Benson); trained by Tom Amoss; ridden by James Graham, 50-1
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- 9. Hofburg – Juddmonte Farms Inc. (Prince Khalid Abdullah); trained by Bill Mott; ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., 20-1
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- 10. My Boy Jack – Don’t Tell My Wife Stables (Kirk Godbey & Rob Slack), Monomoy Stables LLC (Sol Kumin) & West Point Thoroughbreds (Terry Finley); trained by Keith Desormeaux; ridden by Kent Desormeaux, 30-1
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- 11. Bolt d’Oro – Ruis Racing (Mick and Wendy Ruis); trained by Mick Ruis; ridden by Victor Espinoza, 8-1
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- 12. Enticed – Godolphin Racing LLC (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum); trained by Kiaran McLaughlin; ridden by Junior Alvarado, 30-1
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- 13. Bravazo – Calumet Farm (Brad Kelley); trained by D. Wayne Lukas; ridden by Luis Contreras, 50-1
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- 14. Mendelssohn – Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & MIchael Tabor; trained by Aidan O’Brien; ridden by Ryan Moore, 5-1
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- 15. Instilled Regard – OXO Equine (Lawrence Best); trained by Jerry Hollendorfer; ridden by Drayden VanDyke, 50-1
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- 16. Magnum Moon – Robert L. & Lawana E. Low; trained by Todd Pletcher; ridden by Luis Saez, 6-1
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- 17. Solomini – Zayat Stables LLC (Ahmed Zayat); Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith; trained by Bob Baffert; ridden by Flavien Prat, 30-1
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- 18. Vino Rosso – Repole Stable (Mike Repole) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola); trained by Todd Pletcher; ridden by John Velazquez, 12-1
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- 19. Noble Indy – WinStar Farm LLC (Kenny Troutt) & Repole Stable (Mike Repole); trained by Todd Pletcher; ridden by Florent Geroux, 30-1
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- 20. Combatant – Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ron Winchell) & Willis Horton Racing LLC; trained by Steve Asmussen; ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., 50-1
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- A/E – Blended Citizen – Greg Hall & SAYJAY Racing LLC (Steve Young); trained by Doug O’Neill; ridden by Kyle Frey, 50-1