THE RACING PARTY

The Racing Party is an afternoon in mid-June at Belmont Park for sixteen members: a box above the finish on a day of stakes racing, with a morning at the rail beforehand and luncheon before the first race.

It exists so that a member who has never been racing learns to read a race, among people who can.

The Colours

A jockey rides in the owner’s colours. They were first mentioned in England in 1515, and probably began as livery, the colours an owner’s servants wore.

In 1762 the Jockey Club, at Newmarket, ordered riders to wear their patrons’ colours, so that the horses could be told apart in running and disputes avoided.

Colours are read like arms: jacket, sleeves and cap, in that order, as a blazon is read. Stripes, hoops and braces stand where heraldry has its bends and fesses, and there are no beasts.

A few families race in their arms. Viscount Portman’s colours are gold with a blue fleur-de-lys, as his shield is.

The King races in purple with gold braid and scarlet sleeves, under a black velvet cap with a gold fringe: the colours of Edward VII.

In America the colours are called silks. The Racing Party is an afternoon spent learning to read them.

The Afternoon

Sixteen places, in one box above the finish.

The morning begins at the rail, while the horses are out at exercise, and a trainer the Court knows talks the party through the day’s runners.

Luncheon is served in the box before the first race, with the card at every place.

Before the feature race the party goes down to the paddock to see the runners saddled, and comes back up in time to watch them run.

Members bet or not, as they please. Nobody is told what to back.

Tea is served in the box after the last race.

What Is Asked

Morning dress, as in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot.

Binoculars. The box keeps a few pairs for those who forget.

Telephones stay in pockets while a race is run.

Nobody is pitched in the box.

The Places

Sixteen. It is as many as one box will seat with a clear view of the finish.

Members are written to in March.

The sum is stated in the invitation and covers the box, luncheon and tea.

The Court goes north for The Travers Stakes, at Saratoga, in August.

How one becomes a member is set out under Admission.