The thin, lightweight tops worn by jockeys are not made from real silk but polyester that can be thrown in the washing machine and put through at 40˚celceus. Yet, over time, the term ‘silks’ stuck. ‘Colours’ means exactly the same and is more prolifically used today.
These brightly coloured, shiny tops take a battering on the racecourse as much as the jockeys who button them up. In winter, mud and kickback cause stains, falls and unseats cause greenish smears of grass at any time of the year and the whiff of stale sweat is worse after hot sunny days. It is often necessary to revitalise them for the next day’s racing…
Below are hints and tips on washing and whitening silks, revitalising them, based on a wealth of experience from esteemed heads of travelling, trainers, grooms and horse professionals. Whether it’s Napisan or another brand, there’s a lot of personal preference behind these varying methods, with Vanish stain remover being the most popular recommendation.
Soak them in some Vanish.
Julio Batho, head of travelling to Paul Nicholls
Elbow Grease De-greaser.
Paul Meaney
Make a paste out of Vanish and baking powder and put it on the stain, leave on for an hour, rinse and then soak in Vanish and white vinegar. If that doesn’t work, order a new one!
Zoe Smalley, head of travelling to Henry de Bromhead
Soak in Vanish first.
Katie Hughes
Use baking powder.
Joanna Holder
Napisan stain remover. Also, leave it to dry in sunlight will help with natural beaching.
Cordelia Chugg, show rider
Gently blot the marked area with a paper towel or clean cotton wool to draw out as much of the stain as possible. Make a gentle silk stain remover out of a couple of tablespoons of either white vinegar or lemon juice, mixed with a couple of tablespoons of lukewarm water.
Richard Evans
Orvus paste.
Orsolya Kokai
Pink Stuff stain spray.
Laura Scrivener, former groom to Paisley Park
Soak in Vanish and then wash again with a Glowhite sachet.
Jo Metherall, former point-to-point trainer
Use Vanish and soak.
Marcella Bayliss, groom to Grand National winner Earth Summit
Wash with a solution of hydrogen peroxide…that’s what the kit guy at Gloucester RFU told me...
Karen Oughton
Tomato ketchup.
Becky Chanin
Salt and lemon juice.
Debby Ewing, eventer and point-to-point trainer
Wash with a dishwasher tablet in a 40˚ cycle.
Ruth Jefferson, trainer
Vanish White is brilliant.
Emma Healy
Bicarbonate of soda
Sally-Anne Saunders
Vanish and Ace on a hotter wash.
Maggie Jones
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