Auckland Cup: Jockeys' colours depend on which horse they're riding

Danielle Johnson says wearing silks "is just something we have to do". Photo / Dean Purcell

The blue and white patterned outfit jockey Danielle Johnson wore to race at Ellerslie on Wednesday wasn't just a nice vibrant colours combo.

The colours of the jackets and hat covers worn by jockeys depend on the horse they're riding, and are regulated by racing authorities.

"The different colours are the [horse's] owners, or stable and trainer's. So if the owner doesn't have colours, you'd wear the trainer's ones," the Pukekohe woman said.

But unlike some primped and primed punters, who spend hours creating perfectly pieced together raceday looks, Johnson whacks on her gear and goes for it.

The 23-year-old, who has been racing thoroughbreds for seven years and will compete in about nine races at Diamond Day at Ellerslie tomorrow, said putting on her "silks" before a race was second nature. "It's just something that we have to do."

She brought her own trousers, protective vest, boots, helmet, goggles and saddles to the track.

Before silks can be worn in a race, the trainer or owner must register the colours with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

Clevedon trainer, owner and harness racing driver Barry Purdon said he loved seeing drivers wearing his silks, which are silver with blue spots. "There's a sense of pride."

Purdon said one of his trainer's wives now made the silks for his horses' drivers.

But for world champion harness driver Dexter Dunn, 25, from West Melton, near Christchurch, putting on silks before a race wasn't a big deal. "You just slap them on and go up the track really."

Last Sunday, Dunn took out the title of 2015 World Driving Champion in Australia after competing in 20 heats against nine of the world's best harness racing drivers.

But he remained grounded about his big achievement: "Yeah, yeah, nah it was pretty exciting ... It was one of the highlights of my career, that's for sure."

Tonight, he will drive in about five races at Alexandra Park as part of Auckland Cup Week, including the $250,000 Northern Derby and the $250,000 Auckland Cup.