Derby Field To Wear Standardized Saddle Towels

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 27, 2002) - The field for the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4 will make Derby history as the first to wear the standardized color-coded post position saddle towels. The towels will be the same color-coded towels that are used to easily identify contenders in the majority of thoroughbred races held each year in the United States.

Churchill Downs adopted the standardized color-coded towel system in the Fall Meet of 1994, but has not used it for its premier race until this year.

In addition to the color-coded system for the Derby, the standardized towels will also be used for the first time for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 3, as well as all Churchill Downs Derby Week Stakes. The Oaks has a maximum of 14 starters.

"We feel that this system will provide a service to our patrons as they watch the running of the Derby and Oaks, and all of our Derby Week stakes," said Churchill Downs Senior Vice President Racing, Don Richardson. "The system is standard in American racing and fans are accustomed to viewing races with the color-coded towels. We hope this system will aid Derby fans just as it has with racing throughout America."

Because of the Kentucky Derby's 20-horse maximum rule, an additional six colors were selected for saddle towels 15 through 20. The maximum number for most U.S. races is 12 with the exception of 14 for stakes races and certain racing jurisdictions.

Saddle towel colors for the 128th Kentucky Derby will include:

Towel Color	Number Color
1. Red	White
2. White	Black
3. Blue	White
4. Yellow	Black
5. Green	White
6. Black	Yellow
7. Orange	Black
8. Pink	Black
9. Turquoise	Black
10. Purple	White
11. Gray	Red
12. Lime	Black
13. Brown	White
14. Maroon	Yellow
15. Khaki	Black
16. Copen Blue	Orange
17. Navy	White
18. Forest Green	Yellow
19. Moonstone (denim)	Red
20. Fuchsia	Yellow

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