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21ROYAL ASCOTwhich he had 8220extracted from Racing Calendars
and Sale Papers, and arranged on a new plan.8221
The General Stud Book was born. That slim
tome, published more than 200 years ago, had grown
to three hefty volumes running to 4,257 pages by
the time the 45th edition was produced in 2006.
The publisher, now based at Wellingborough in
Northamptonshire, is Weatherbys 8211 a family business
that has kept hold of the stud book and now performs
a myriad of other functions to the racing industry.
Meanwhile, as some form of regulation was being
applied to the breeding industry, the Jockey Club
8211 which was established in Newmarket around 1750
to administer racing 8211 decided in 1762 that jockeys
should carry the specific colours of their owners.
Previously, riders had worn jackets matching their
masters8217 livery but the resolution was passed that
8220for 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...8221 The Duke of Cumberland8217s runners
would wear purple silks, both the Earl of March
and Mr R Vernon chose white while the remaining
colours registered were those of The Duke of Grafton
(sky blue), Duke of Northumberland (yellow), Duke
of Devonshire (straw), Earl of Gower (blue), Duke
of Kingston (crimson), Viscount Bolingbroke (black),
Duke of Ancaster (buff), Sir John Moore (darkest
green), Duke of Bridgewater (garter blue), Mr
Greville Brown (brown, trimmed yellow), Marquis
of Rockingham (green), Mr Jenison Shafto (pink),
Earl of Waldegrave (deep red), Earl of Grosvenor
(orange), Earl of Orford (purple & white) and
Sir Jas. Lowther (orange).
More than two centuries later, distinctive standout
single silks are still eagerly sought after by owners,
although of the 19 original colours, only the straw
worn by The Duke of Devonshire8217s jockeys is still
frequently utilised 8211by the 12thDuke,currently 10141Below:
The General Stud
Book, 1985-1998
archived at Weatherbys,
Northamptonshirep18-24 In the family.qxp:Layout 1 15/5/08 08:39 Page 21
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