BHA Sale Racing Colours: BROWN with YELLOW seams, BLACK cap.

The British Horseracing Authority Sale of Racing Colours: BROWN with YELLOW seams, BLACK cap. 

What is being offered here is the opportunity to register a BHA standard set of racing colours. These are similar to colours that were one of the historic seventeen original sets of racing colours recorded in the Jockey Club Resolution of October 1762, those of the Hon. Francis Greville, later 1st Earl of Warwick (see lot images).

The 1762 resolution stated: “For the greater convenience of distinguishing the horses in running, and also for the prevention of disputes arising from not knowing the colours of each rider, the under-mentioned gentlemen have come to the resolution and agreement of having the colours annexed to the following names worn by their respective riders.”

The Greville colours were recorded as brown trimmed with yellow. An example of colours described in this era as ‘trimmed’ are illustrated in a painting depicting HRH The Prince of Wales's (later King George IV) famous horse Escape (see lot images). The jockey, Sam Chifney, can be seen wearing the colours registered in the Racing Calendar from 1791 onwards, as purple and scarlet trimmed gold - ‘trimmed’ visibly similar to ‘seams’ in the modern day standard patterns.

In the formative years of horse racing, the colour of the cap did not form part of the registration and overwhelmingly by convention, all the riders in a race wore black caps. 

The British Horseracing Authority Sale of Racing Colours.
Lots 228 to 235.

What is being sold is a right: the right to register the colours in Britain for use on the racecourse, such that, should the registrant own a runner in a horse race, the rider whom he/she engages to ride the horse may don the registered colours. (In the very unlikely event that two registrants with similar colours each have a horse running in the same race, one rider may be asked to wear a distinguishing cap).

One need not be a racehorse owner to register colours. Indeed many colours are registered to non-owners, who perhaps intend to own a horse at a later date or pass the right to register the colours to their children.

All colours are sold as described and the buyer is purchasing the right to register these colours in accordance with the Rules of Racing. The successful bid price will include a registration period according to the price sold (see below).

Less than £10,000: 1 year.
£10,000 - £20,000: 5 years.
More than £20,000: 10 years.

Please note that if the purchaser fails to formally register the colours with the British Horseracing Authority, via Weatherbys within one year of the auction date the purchaser runs the risk of losing the right to register them. The name of the registrant will be published on the Racing Administration website upon registration.

Please note that the hammer price for all lots is subject to the auctioneer’s buyer’s premium of 24%. VAT is only payable on the auctioneer’s buyer’s premium.

If you have any queries regarding the registration of Racing Colours please contact Registrations at Weatherbys on 01933 440077 or Registrations@weatherbys.co.uk who will be happy to assist.