Horse racing is a sport that managed to stay relevant for centuries. But that’s not the most impressive part. The most astonishing thing about the sport is their close attention to history and heritage.
Most of the big horse racing events have managed to create a consistent brand throughout the years that carries meaning and tradition, and all of that is visible in their logos.
So, if you’ve ever watched a horse race, you’ve probably noticed something familiar – consistent symbols, badges, and marks that don’t just identify the event but also carry history, tradition, and emotion. In the world of design, we all know that a logo must do more than just look good. It communicates history and legacy, evokes emotions, and connects fans all over the world.
This inspired us to analyze some of the most iconic logos from the biggest horse racing events and racetracks around the world and observe what’s changed over time and what makes them so effective.
The Kentucky Derby
When most people think about horse racing in the U.S., the Kentucky Derby is probably the first thing that comes to mind. We are talking about an event that has run nearly every single year since 1875, which shows its incredible history. This event is also considered “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” and we can see that throughout their logo history.
The modern Kentucky Derby logo revolves around a few consistent values that are quite recognizable by Derby fans. We either have a rose, the Twin Spires, a trumpet, or a horseshoe. Each element represents something and carries the history of the event. Each year we get a new logo design, and over the years, the design team has experienced a lot.
Over the last couple of years, the Kentucky Derby logo featured a more minimalist design, which is actually a trend in recent years. But there are new fans and bettors of the Derby, and younger people don’t know much about the sport or its history, plus they want something that looks simple and that’s not overwhelming.
If you are new to horse racing and you are inspired by their imagery to the point where you want to place a bet, you should consider reading this beginner’s betting guide to horse racing here: https://www.twinspires.com/betting-guides/beginners-guide-betting-horse-racing/
In terms of logo designs on the Derby, earlier versions were often more complicated or focused more on typography and featured all elements in one logo.
There are no consistent color patterns (maybe gold and red), but over the years, we’ve seen every color possible on their logo.
Royal Ascot
Now we move to the other side of the Atlantic, to the Royal Ascot, and the situation here is a bit different. Even though we are also talking about a long-running event with exceptional history, over the years, we’ve not seen much of a design change.
When it comes to the elements of the logo, one thing that has remained constant throughout the years is the crown. After all, we are talking about an event supported by the Royal Family and founded by Queen Anne in 1711, so the crown makes perfect sense.
In the past versions of the logo, we can see some level of experimentation, where a horse symbol was added, but nowadays, they only focus on the crown, and that’s it. In the mid-2010s, Ascot overhauled its visual identity, with the goal of making everything, from the racehorse logo to digital assets, feel more cohesive and premium. They have done an incredible job on that.
Melbourne Cup
Let’s go Down Under to the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation. This is Australia’s most famous race, with millions of fans watching every year. This race also shares a long history, which gives us a chance to look at how the Melbourne Cup brand aged through time.
To be honest, they are quite inconsistent with the branding. For such a high-level horse race with a long history, they don’t do such a great job in terms of graphic design or creating a brand.
Their logos are all over the place, they have no consistent colors or symbols, and the main element that can be spotted on several past logos is the trophy. Yes, the Melbourne Cup trophy is fancy and probably one of the most beautiful horse racing trophies in the world, but they still haven’t done a great job in creating a unified picture of the race.
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is the third leg of the Triple Crown races, and since it is in the same basket as the Kentucky Derby, we can expect some high-level designs, right?
Well, yes. The Belmont Stakes had a bunch of logos throughout the years. In fact, they create a new logo for each race. Over the years, their logos have been quite unified. We can see that the brand focuses on the green color, and in terms of elements and symbols, we can find horses and skyscrapers (representing New York).
There are more heartwarming designs than prestigious ones (like the Kentucky Derby), but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup is one of the rare horse racing logos that hasn’t changed for decades. But that’s quite explainable. This is a unique horse racing event that isn’t tied to a single racetrack. So, they don’t have any symbols to include. The Breeders’ Cup logo features a line-drawn horse that looks futuristic and sophisticated, and they have been sticking to this logo ever since the 1980s.
Final Words
Logos are the perfect way to observe the history of a sport. And when we look at horse racing, we can see that this is a sport that has been around for quite some time. So, if you are into design and you are looking to create a timeless piece that feels prestigious and carries a legacy, maybe you should consider researching horse racing logos.