Kentucky Derby jockeys already won what, for them, could be a more lucrative race - the race to the courthouse.

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U.S. District Court Judge John G. Heyburn II on Thursday ruled that five jockeys who sued can wear advertising patches during Churchill Downs' spring meet, including Saturday's Kentucky Derby. He also ruled in a separate suit that all jockeys riding in Kentucky can wear a patch supporting their union. Heyburn was right in granting jockeys relief from an overly restrictive state regulation.

Although the sport is rife with sponsorships, Kentucky's rule banned jockeys from wearing any "advertising, promotional or cartoon symbols not in keeping with the traditions of the turf." Jockeys argued the ban denies their First Amendment rights. Those "traditions" aren't spelled out, and the judge isn't alone in being unable to identify their legal meaning.

Jockeys in New York, California, Florida and other states can wear commercial logos and Jockeys' Guild patches. This month, Irish jockeys were granted permission to wear sponsor advertisements. It's easy to see which way the thoroughbred pack is heading. The tougher questions: Where do you draw the line on unacceptable advertising, and can the "sport of kings" hold that line? Do we want to see Derby jockeys tricked out like the walking billboards NASCAR drivers have become?

After Heyburn's decision, the jockeys issued a statement that the ads would be done in good taste.

Jockeys are not paid royally like pro basketball, baseball or football stars. Sellers and two other jockeys had filed a separate suit to wear their guild emblem. They argued it would help recruit members and call attention to the plight of disabled jockeys. Fourteen jockeys were fined $500 for wearing guild patches in last year's Derby. Their appeal is pending in state court. When sponsor logos are displayed even on Derby horses' goldenrod saddlecloths, it's blatantly unfair to prohibit jockeys from wearing an emblem.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority argued jockeys' white pants needed to be logo-free for stewards to be able to spot fouls, and also that the ads could encourage riders to manipulate races to benefit a sponsor. More credible are concerns about conflicting ads, especially when owners or tracks have negotiated exclusive sponsorship deals. But they should be able to work out reasonable ground rules.

Owners worried that race sponsors might shift their ad dollars to jockeys are overacting. Sponsors like sure things as much as anyone. Jockeys deserve a piece of the ad action.