Page 24 - April 2017 Thoroughbred Highlight

Summer Job becomes Colourful Career
Looking for a summer job while attending university Josie Romano answered an ad for a part-time sewer at Stafford Racing Silks. Sewing was a hobby she enjoyed when she wasn’t studying to become a social worker. Little did she know that it would be the social aspect of her summer job
that would change the direction of her life.
Josie has now owned
Stafford Racing Silks for 19
years and the clients she
sews for are as colourful
as the silks she creates.
“Most of my clients are
enthusiastic, excited new
owners who are looking
forward to the future,” Josie
says as a reminiscent smile
crosses her face, “I also
have many loyal, long-time
clients many of whom have
become friends and like
family over the years.” Refreshing long-time silks or creating silks for new partnerships brings repeat customers climbing the steps to her trailer on the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack.
While showing some of the various designs being currently created Josie notes that while she is always open to different designs and creative ideas some designs don’t always work, “Some designs are too complicated but we usually nd a way to create a similar design and make it work.” Josie beams.
Modern day Silks (also known as colors) have origins tracing back to England where colourful racing jackets and caps were worn to identify horse and rider. While capes and headbands were used to identify chariot riders in ancient Rome, individual silk colours were rst mentioned in 1515 a few hundred years after racing meets were recorded in 1114.
During the reign of Charles II and Queen Anne of England, the need for individually coloured racing jackets and caps became a necessity when the amount of races and runners increased along with the popularity of the sport. Then in 1792 the Jockey Club at Newmarket, England requested that owners submit and register speci c colors for jacket and cap to distinguish riders among the elds of horses.
Today every race horse owner must register their “silks” with the regulatory body in their jurisdiction and Stafford Racing Silks can help new owners with the process of getting their designs approved and registered.
Josie recommends that you review your design with
her rst to ensure that it can be done,”I have a good idea of what designs work and also which designs have already been registered by other owners,” noted Josie who has many loyal, long-time customers, “A design that is too similar to those already registered
will be rejected. It is a good idea to meet with me before completing the application form.”
Racing silks are now rarely made from silk, the luxurious fabric from which the name derived, colourful Nylon is one of the more common fabrics, used mainly for its durability
and ability to withstand repeated machine washing. Aerodynamic synthetic lycra silks are another option that some owners choose. Josie mentions
that Jockeys either love or hate the tightness of their t and these silks tend to wear out faster than their nylon counterparts. Satin racing silks are often made to be worn during important stakes events however these silks are to be dry cleaned only.
Stafford Racing Silks tailors custom silks for both Thoroughbred and Quarter horse racing, and the cost begins at $200 with increases dependent on
the design and fabric chosen. Josie mentioned that most jockeys prefer to use their own helmet covers designed to t the safety helmets they are required to wear, the covers can also be made to complete the overall design.
Custom silks can take two to four weeks to make however Josie tries to accommodate any rush orders or repairs. Custom horse blinkers, training saddle towels, display silks and ags are some of the other items that can be custom tailored.
Josie’s Stafford Racing Silks workshop is located on the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack and is open from March to December, however orders can still
be placed in January and February. Clients can pick up their silks directly or they can be shipped across Canada, the United States and Internationally.
You can contact Josie at Stafford Racing Silks: 416-779-4318 or staffordsilks@gmail.com
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Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 24 - April 2017