a bet on a horse to win, place and show.
GLOSSARY
money added to the purse of a race by the racing association or by a breeding or other fund.
when a horse extends himself to the utmost.
a race other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights.
weight permitted to be reduced because of the conditions of the race or because an apprentice is on a horse. Also, a weight females are entitled to when racing against males.
a horse officially entered, but not permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number.
a horse who finishes out of the money.
rider who has not ridden a certain number of winners within a specified period of time. Also known as a bug boy.
weight concession to an apprentice rider: usually 10 pounds until the fifth winner, seven pounds until the 35th winner and five pounds for one calendar year from the 35th winner.
BABY RACE
a race for 2-year-olds.
BACKSIDE
stable area.
BACKSTRETCH
straight of far side of track between the turns. Also stable area.
BANDAGE
strips of cloth wound around the lower part of a horse’s legs for support or protection against injury.
BANKER
horse or horses nominated to be in every combination of a bet (applies to TRIO, DOUBLE TRIO and TRIPLE TRIO bet types)
BAR SHOE
a horse with a rear bar to protect an injured foot.
BEARING IN (OR OUT)
deviating from a straight course.
BLANKET FINISH
horses finishing so closely together they could be covered by a blanket.
BLEEDER
a horse who bleeds during or after a workout or race due to ruptured blood vessel.
BLINKERS
device to limit a horse’s vision.
BLOWOUT
a short, final workout, usually a day or two before a race.
BOARD
totalisator board on which odds, betting pools and other information is displayed.
BOBBLE
a bad step.
BOLT
sudden veering from a straight course.
BREAK MAIDEN
horse or rider winning first race of a career.
BREAKAGE
in pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or dime, those pennies that are left over. Breakage is generally split between the track and state and in some cases, breeding or other funds, in varying proportions.
BREAKDOWN
when a horse suffers an injury; lameness.
BREEDER
owner of dam at time foal is dropped.
BREEDING FUND
a fund set up by many states to provide bonus prizes for state-breds.
BREEZE
working a horse at a moderate speed; less effort than handily.
BROODMARE
female Thoroughbred used for breeding.
BUG
apprentice rider.
BULL RING
small racetrack; usually less than one mile.
BULLET (WORK)
the best time for the distance on a given day at a track.
CHECKED
a horse pulled up by his jockey.
CHUTE
an extension of the backstretch or homestretch.
CLAIMING
buying a horse out of a race for the entered price.
CLAIMING RACE
race in which horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price.
CLASSIC
race of traditional importance.
CLOCKER
one who times workouts and races.
CLOSER
a horse who runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace.
CLUBHOUSE TURN
generally, the turn closest to the clubhouse.
COLT
male horse under 5 years of age.
CONDITION BOOK
book issued by racing secretary which sets the conditions of races to be run.
CONDITION RACE
an event with conditions limiting it to a certain class of horse. Such as Fillies, 3-year-olds, non-winners of two races other than maiden or claiming etc.
CONTRACT RIDER
jockey under a contract to a stable.
COUPLED
two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit.
CUPPY (TRACK)
a surface which breaks away under a horse’s hoof.
CUSHION
surface of track or a layer of the track.
DAILY DOUBLE
type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second.
DEAD TRACK
racing surface lacking resiliency.
DEAD-HEAT
two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire.
DISQUALIFICATION
change of order of finish by officials for an infraction of the rules.
DISTAFF (DISTAFF RACE)
female. A race for fillies, mares, or both.
DISTANCED
well beaten, finishing a great distance behind the winner.
DOUBLE TRIO BET
1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in two consecutive races
DQ
disqualified.
DRIVING
strong urging by rider.
DROPDOWN
a horse facing a lower class of rivals than he had been running against.
EASED
chart caller’s assessment of a horse that is being deliberately slowed by the jockey to prevent injury or harm to the horse.
EASILY
running or winning without being pressed by rider or opposition.
EIGHTH
a furlong; 220 yards; 660 feet, 1/8 of a mile.
ELIGIBLE
qualified to start in a race, according to conditions.
ENTRY
two or more horses owned by the same stable or (in some cases) trained by the same trainer and thus running as a single betting unit.
EQUIPMENT
whip, blinkers, etc. Gear carried by a horse in a race.
EQUIVALENT ODDS
mutual price horses pay for each $1 bet.
EVENLY
neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race.
EXACTA
a wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked.
EXERCISE RIDER
male or female rider who is aboard a horse for morning workouts.
EXTENDED
forced to run at top speed.
EXTRA WEIGHT (ADDED WEIGHT)
more weight than conditions of race require.
FALSE FAVOURITE
a horse who is bet down to favoritism when others would appear to outclass him on form.
FALTERED
a term used for a horse that was in contention early and drops back in the late stages. It is more drastic than weakened but less drastic than stopped.
FAST TRACK
footing at its best; Dry, fast and even.
FIELD
the horses in a race.
FIELD HORSE (or MUTUEL FIELD)
two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than the totalisator board can accommodate.
FILLY
a female horse up to and including the age of 4.
FIRM
a turf course condition corresponding to fast on a dirt track.
FLATTEN OUT
when a horse drops his head almost on a straight line with its body. May indicate exhaustion.
FOAL
newly born Thoroughbred, or until weaned. Male or female.
FOUR FURLONGS
half a mile; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
FRACTIONAL TIME
intermediate time recorded in a race, as at the quarter, half, three-quarters, etc.
FRESH (FRESHENED)
a rested horse.
FRONT RUNNER
a horse who usually leads (or tries to lead) the field.
FURLONG
one-eighth of a mile; 220 yards; 660 feet.
GAIT
the ways in which a horse can move – walk, trot, canter, gallop, run, etc.
GALLOP
a type of gait, a fast canter. Also, to ride a horse at that gait.
GATE
the starting mechanism.
GELDING
an incomplete male horse.
GOOD BOTTOM
track that is firm under the surface, which may be sloppy or wet.
GOOD TRACK
condition between fast and slow.
GRADUATE
winning at a class and moving up.
HALF
half a mile, four furlongs; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
HAND
four inches. Unit used in measuring height of a horse from withers to ground.
HAND RIDE
a jockey urging a horse with the hands and not using the whip.
HANDICAP
a race a handicapper assigns weights to be carried. Also, to handicap a race, to make selections on the basis of the past performances.
HANDICAPPER
one who assigns weights. Also one who makes selections on past performances.
HANDILY
working or racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing.
HANDLE
amount of money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool on a race, a program, a meeting or a year.
HEAD
a margin between the horses. One horse leading another by the length of his head.
HEAD OF THE STRETCH
beginning of the stretch run home.
HEAVY
the condition of a track similar to, but even slower than muddy.
HORSE
broadly, in any Thoroughbred regardless of sex. Specifically, an entire male 5 years old or older.
HUNG
a horse tiring, but holding position.
LASIX
a medication for the treatment of bleeding.
LATE DOUBLE
a second daily double offered on the latter part of the program. (See Daily Double).
LEAD PONY
horse or pony who heads parade of field from paddock to starting gate. Also a horse or pony who accompanies a starter to post.
LEG UP
to help a jockey mount his horse.
LENGTH
length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet. Also distance between horses in a race.
LOCK
slang for a “sure thing” winner.
LUG (in or out)
action of a tiring horse, bearing in or out.
LUNGE
horse rearing or plunging.
MAIDEN
a horse who has not won a race. Also applied to a non-winning rider.
MAIDEN RACE
a race for non-winners.
MARE
female horse 5 years old or older. Also, female of any age who has been bred.
MEDICATION LIST
a list kept by the track veterinarian and published by the track and Daily Racing Form.
MIDDLE DISTANCE
broadly; From one mile to less than a mile and an eighth.
MINUS POOL
a mutual pool caused when one horse is so heavily wagered on, that after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet.
MORNING GLORY
a horse who performs well in morning workouts but fails to reproduce that form in races.
MORNING LINE
approximate odds quoted before wagering determines exact odds.
MUDDER
horse who races well on muddy tracks.
MUDDY TRACK
deep condition of racetrack after being soaked with water.
OBJECTION
claim of foul lodged by a rider.
ODDS-ON
odds of less than even money.
OFF TRACK
an off track refers to a wet racing surface.
OFFICIAL
sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official.
ON THE BOARD
finishing among the first four.
ON THE NOSE
betting a horse to win only.
OVERLAY
a horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances.
OVERNIGHT LINE
prices quoted the night before the race.
OVERNIGHT RACE
a race in which entries close a specific number of hours before running (such as 48 hours) as opposed to a stakes race for which nominations close weeks and sometimes months in advance.
OVERWEIGHT
extra weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the required weight.
PADDOCK
the area where horses are saddled.
PADDOCK JUDGE
official in charge of the paddock and saddling routine.
PARIMUTUEL
a form of wagering that originated in France in which all money bet is divided up among those who have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made.
PAST PERFORMANCES
a compilation in the Daily Racing Form of a horse’s record, including all pertinent data, used as a basis for handicapping.
PATROL JUDGES
officials who observe the progress of a race from various vantage points around the track.
PHOTO FINISH
a result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish.
PLACE
second position at finish.
PLACE BET
wager on a horse to finish first or second.
PLACING JUDGES
officials who determine the order in which horses reach the finish line.
boxed in, shut off. Running in a position with horses in front and alongside.
POLE
markers at measured distances around the track, marking the distance from the finish. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start.
POOL (mutuel pool)
total sum wagered.
POST
starting point or position in the starting gate.
POST PARADE
horses going from paddock to starting gate past the stands.
POST POSITION
position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.
POST TIME
designated time for a race to begin.
PREP (or PREP RACE)
a workout or a race to prepare a horse for a future engagement.
PURSE
prize money.
QUARTER
one-quarter of a mile; 440 yards; 1,320 feet.
QUARTER POLE
marker one-quarter mile from the finish.
QUINELLA
a wager in which the first two finishers must be picked in either order.
RABBIT
a horse that is considered to have little chance of winning a race but is entered purely to ensure a fast pace, softening up the competition for the benefit of the entry mate.
RACING SECRETARY
official who drafts conditions of races and assigns weights for handicap events.
RAIL RUNNER
horse who prefers to run next to inside rail.
RESERVED
held off the pace.
RIDDEN OUT
refers to a horse that wins under a vigorous hand ride but is not being whipped.
RIDGLING
a horse with one nut.
ROMP
running (or winning) with utmost ease.
ROUTE
race distance of a mile or longer.
ROUTER
horse who perfoms well at distance races.
RUNDOWN BANDAGES (or WRAPS)
bandages on the hind legs.
SADDLE CLOTH
a cloth under the saddle on which a horse’s wagering number is displayed.
SCALE OF WEIGHTS
fixed imposts to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year.
SCRATCH
to be taken out of a race.
SECOND CALL
a second engagement of a jockey who already is listed for a mount in a race.
SET DOWN
a suspension. Also, put to a drive, or asked to run by the jockey.
SEVEN FURLONGS
seven-eighths of a mile; 1,540 yards; 4,620 feet.
SEX ALLOWANCE
fillies and mares, according to their age and time of year, are allowed to carry less weight when meeting males.
SHOW
third position at the finish.
SHOW BET
wager on a horse to finish in the money, third or better.
SILKS
jacket and cap worn by riders which designate owner of the horse.
SIX FURLONGS
three-quarters of a mile; 1,320 yards; 3,960 feet.
SIXTEENTH
one-sixteenth of a mile; 110 yards, 330 feet.
SLOPPY
condition of track. Wet on surface with firm bottom.
SLOW
footing that is not fast, between good and heavy.
SOLID HORSE
contender.
SOPHOMORE
three-year-old horse.
STAKE
a race for which the owner must pay a fee to run his horse. Some stakes races are by invitation and require no payment or fee.
STAKES HORSE
one capable of competing in such events.
STAKES-PLACED
finishing first, second or third in a stakes race.
STALLION
entire male horse.
STARTER RACE
an allowance or handicap race restricted to horses who have started for a specific claiming price or less.
STARTING GATE
a mechanical device having partitions (stalls) for horses in which they are confined until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race.
STATE-BRED
a horse bred in a particular state and thus eligible to compete in special races restricted to state-breds.
STEADIED
a horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually because of being in close quarters.
STEPS UP
a horse moving up in class.
STEWARDS
officials of the meeting responsible for enforcing the rules.
STRETCH
final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish.
STRETCH CALL
position of horses at the eighth pole, usually about halfway down the stretch.
STRETCH RUNNER
horse who finishes fast.
STRETCH TURN
bend of track into homestretch.
STRIDE
manner of going. Also distance covered after each foot has touched the ground once.
STUD
male horse used for breeding.
STUD BOOK
registry and genealogical record of the breeding of Thoroughbreds maintained by the Jockey Club.
SUBSCRIPTION
fee paid by owner to nominate horse for a stakes race or to maintain eligibility for a stakes race.
SUSPEND (or SUSPENSION)
a punishment for infraction of rules.
TACK
riders’ racing equipment.
TAKE (or TAKEOUT)
a commission deducted from pari-mutuel pools.
TAKEN UP
a horse pulled up sharply by his jockey.
TOP WEIGHT
highest weight assigned or carried in a race.
TOTALISATOR
a machine which sells and records wagering tickets and shows odds. Also figures out and displays payoffs.
TOUT
one who gives tips on racehorses.
TRACK BIAS
a racing surface that favors a particular running style or post position.
TRACK RECORD
fastest time at various distances recorded at a particular track.
TRIAL
workout.
TRIFECTA
a wager picking the first three finishers in exact order.
TRIO BET
1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in a race.
TRIP
a horse’s race.
TRIPLE CROWN
in the US: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
TRIPLE TRIO BET
1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in three consecutive races.
TURF COURSE
grass course.
UNDER WRAPS
horse under stout restraint in a race or workout.
UNDERLAY
a horse going of at a lower price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances.
UNTRIED
not raced.
WALKOVER
a race which scratches down to only one starter who merely gallops the required distance.
WARMING UP
galloping a horse.
WASHY
a horse breaking out in a nervous sweat.
WEANLING
a foal that is less than 1 year-old that has been separated from its dam.
WEIGHT-FOR-AGE
a fixed scale of weights to be carried by horses according to age, sex, distance of race and time of year.
WINDED
breathing with difficulty after workout or race.
WINNER-TAKES-ALL
a winner receiving all the purse or stakes.
WORK
to exercise a horse.
