Colourful and distinctive racing silks allow jockeys and their horses to be easily identified during a race. Racehorse owners register their colours with the principal racing authority in their state, after which they have exclusive rights to that combination of colours and design.
A postcard of The Grafter, winner of the 1898 Melbourne Cup, with his jockey wearing the Forrester colours. Forrester also won the Cup the previous year with Gaulus.