When the 128th Kentucky Derby is renewed May 4 at Churchill Downs, the field assembled will become the first in the history of the race to wear color-coded saddlecloths. The colors will be the same used in most Thoroughbred races run in the United States, with new cloth/number combinations to accommodate an expected 20-horse field.
The color-coded cloths will also be used for Friday's Kentucky Oaks.
"We feel that this system will provide a service to our patrons as they watch the running of the Derby and Oaks, and all of our Derby week stakes," said Don Richardson, Churchill Downs' senior vice president of racing. "The system is standard in American racing and fans are accustomed to viewing races with the color-coded towels. We hope this system will aid Derby fans just as it has with racing throughout America."
The Kentucky Derby cloth colors, with number colors, will be:
1. Red, White
2. White, Black
3. Blue, White
4. Yellow, Black
5. Green, White
6. Black, Yellow
7. Orange, Black
8. Pink, Black
9. Turquoise, Black
10. Purple, White
11. Gray, Red
12. Lime, Black
13. Brown, White
14. Maroon, Yellow
15. Khaki, Black
16. Copen Blue, Orange
17. Navy, White
18. Forest Green, Yellow
19. Moonstone (denim), Red
20. Fuchsia, Yellow
