An eye on victory: Blinkers for Mr Brightside in Champions Mile

This decision by Ben Hayes and the Lindsay Park team echoes a long history of trainers strategically employing blinkers to enhance a horse’s performance, especially their father, David, who played a pioneering role in popularising their use in Australia. David, who took over the reins from his father Colin (himself a champion trainer who some credit with introducing blinkers to Australia), has frequently utilised blinkers throughout his career.

He often found them particularly effective for younger horses still learning their craft and for seasoned campaigners needing a change of pace.

Notable examples include Jeune, who sported blinkers for his Melbourne Cup victory in 1994, and Miss Finland, who wore them when she triumphed in the 2006 Golden Slipper.

What are blinkers?

Blinkers are a common piece of equipment used in horse racing to help horses focus on the race and ignore distractions. They are typically made of plastic eye cups attached to a lycra hood that is placed over the horse’s head.

How do they work?

Horses have a much wider field of vision than humans, almost 360 degrees. Blinkers restrict their vision to what lies ahead, helping them to concentrate on the race and ignore what is happening beside and behind them.

Types of blinkers

Blinkers come in several different sizes that control the range of vision, including half and full cup. They can also be applied to just one eye.

There are also several variations of blinkers, including:

• Winkers: A sheepskin roll attached to the cheek straps of the bridle.
• Visors: Blinkers with a slit in the cup around the eyes to stop a horse from getting spooked when it can’t see other runners.
• Pacifiers: Mesh material placed over a horse’s eyes to help it fully concentrate.

How do trainers use blinkers?

Trainers use blinkers for a variety of reasons, including:

• To help horses focus and concentrate on the race.
• To improve performance in horses that are not giving their best.
• To help young horses learn to race.
• To change things up for older horses.