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saddlecloth

American  
[sad-l-klawth, -kloth] / ˈsæd lˌklɔθ, -ˌklɒθ /

noun

  • saddlecloths
    plural
  1. Horse Racing. a cloth placed over the saddle of a racehorse bearing the horse's number.

  2. saddle blanket.


saddlecloth British  
/ ˈsædəlˌklɒθ /

noun

  1. a light cloth put under a horse's saddle, so as to prevent rubbing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of saddlecloth

First recorded in 1475–85; saddle + cloth


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He was scheduled to break from nine, wearing the saddlecloth of 10.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2025

Dressed in slim-fit pants and a waistcoat, Bairwa sat on a horse fitted with a red saddlecloth and neon pompoms to mark the occasion.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 21, 2022

He says, “They are friends cut from the same saddlecloth; honest, clean trainers with horsemanship experience spread across the spectrum of racing.”

From New York Times ● May 20, 2011

Racing For Change has been accused of footering around with initiatives like larger saddlecloth numbers which, while welcome, are unlikely to make much of an impact.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 10, 2010

Reaching across the gap between the two horses, he grabbed Seabiscuit’s saddlecloth and pulled back hard.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

With their horses racing stride for stride to the finish, the jockeys grabbed each other's saddlecloths, bridles and legs.

From US News ● May 7, 2016

With their horses racing stride for stride to the finish, the jockeys grabbed each other’s saddlecloths, bridles and legs.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2016

Jockeys on trailing horses grabbed hold of leading horses’ tails or saddlecloths so their own horses could be towed around the track, saving energy.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Building a large fire of brushwood, we ate our supper, and then lay down on our saddlecloths, the firmament of God with its galaxy of stars as our covering overhead.

From Through Five Republics on Horseback, Being an Account of Many Wanderings in South America by G. Whitfield Ray

The usual trappings, the fancy reins and broidered saddlecloths, she had the stableman leave off; she didn't want to call attention to the fact that she was Ewyo's daughter.

From The Buttoned Sky by Geoff St. Reynard

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