The Thoroughbred Corporation
January 13th, 2002by Jude T. Feld
Taking his lead from Roman chariot racers, English King Charles II introduced the use of racing silks in 1660. Since then, horse owners have designed and registered their personal colors as an exclusive emblem of their stable. This section features the history behind an owner’s silks.
War Emblem Gets The Roses
AP Photo
After Popular won the San Miguel Stakes at Santa Anita last January, winning rider Victor Espinoza, who was sporting the famous green and white stripes of The Thoroughbred Corporation, said, “Every time I wear these silks, I have confidence.”
It was evident on the first Saturday in May that Espinoza had “that old feeling” as he bounded to the lead aboard longshot War Emblem, undaunted by the mile and a quarter of the Kentucky Derby and the long stretch of Churchill Downs.
This confidence was rewarded when War Emblem drew away from his rivals and Espinoza draped a garland of red roses around those green and white stripes.
Thoroughbred Corp. racing manager Richard Mulhall explains how the late Prince Ahmed Salman selected his racing silks, this way.
“The Prince called and told me to turn on the television. There was a soccer game on and he wanted his silks to look exactly like the jerseys of one of the teams.”
“I don’t remember the name of the team,” Mulhall continued. “It wasn’t the Prince’s favorite team or anything like that. He just liked the blue and white striped uniforms. He said, “I want my silks exactly like that, except green.” So I took a tape of the game to the girl that makes our silks and told her to make them in the same design as the soccer shirts, only green and white.”
Carried to victory by Spain in her all-time money-winning record victory in the Louisville Breeders’ Cup Handicap the green and white stripes captured the Derby and Preakness with War Emblem to make May 2002 a month that will be difficult for the Thoroughbred Corp. to top.
