Actually... each bit of tack serves a purpose. I learned a lot when I worked at the track.

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proud owner of the Flying Goofball

That's really a great shot, love the flying mane.

--
"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who did not hear the music."

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Nice capture! Every horse has a different piece of tack equipped based on what works for him. For example, if the horse shies or gets spooked when he sees things on the ground, a shadow roll (those fluffy nose pieces you may sometimes see) gets added. For horses that don't react well to seeing others next to him for one reason or another, a Murphy Blind (that black square shaped piece of tack by his eye) is added, etc. The tack all serves a purpose as mentioned by Dom.

Most likely, the tack on that horse is very much a necessity, as it all adds weight and trouble and it is ideal to have the least amount of tack for the horse to lug around as possible in races. Most trainers really hate adding tack if it isn't absolutely necessary. It just makes the horse work that much harder, adds time and is one more piece to ensure is safely secured, one more piece to worry about breaking, otherwise.

Typically the experimentation about what works tack wise and what doesn't happens from the moment they hit the track during training and by the time the horses are 3 there is not a whole lot of change by then to what they wear. It's all been sorted out by then. The jumpers at shadows on the ground, get a shadow roll. Some get martingales, or headpoles, so need Murphy blinds or ear plugs or a tongue tie (to keep it from rolling back and choking the horse mid-race - man do I ever hate them though). But anyhow, you get the idea Even the bridles and bits change based on how the horse reacts - does he have a soft mouth, is he aggressive, does he like to grab the bit and take off? These are all important things to know to race safely so the trainers tend to figure it out ASAP when a new horse starts