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Horse Racing Terminology
| -A- |
Across The Board - A win, place and show bet.
Action - The way in which a horse runs. Action also refers to having a bet on a horse in a race.
Added Money - Money added to the purse of a race by the racing association (or sometimes by a breeding or other fund) to the amount paid by owners in nomination, eligibility, entry and starting fees.
All Out - Refers to a horse that wins a race with maximum effort.
Allowance Race - A race other than a claiming race, for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights.
Also-Eligible - A horse officially entered, but not permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number.
Also-Ran - A horse, or horses, that finishes out of the money.
Apprentice Jockey - A jockey who has not ridden a specified number of winners within a given period of time.
Apprentice Weight Allowance - Weight concessions afforded 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 fifth winner.
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| -B- |
Backstretch - The far side of a race track between the turns.
Backside - The stable area of a racetrack
Bad Actor - A horse that is fractious either in the paddock, parade to post or starting gate.
Bandage - Also called wraps. Strips of cloth wound around the lower part of a horse's legs for support or protection against injury.
Blanket Finish - A finish where horses are bunched so closely together they could be covered by a blanket, and it is difficult to discern the winner.
Bleeder - Horse who bleeds during or after a workout or race due to ruptured blood vessel.
Blinkers - Equipment worn by a horse limit its vision.
Blowout - A short, final workout, usually a day or two before a race, designed to sharpen a horse's speed.
Board - The totalisator board - tote board for short - on which odds, betting pools and other information is displayed.
Bobble - A bad step while leaving the starting gate. Bobbles are usually caused by the track breaking away from under a horse's hoof and causing it to duck its head or nearly go to his knees.
Bolt - A sudden sharp veering from a straight course.
Bottom - Refers to stamina in a horse.
Breakdown - Refers to times when a horse suffers an injury during a race,
Breeze - Working a horse at a moderate speed; less effort than handily.
Bridge Jumper - A betting situation where an inordinate amount of money is bet on a favorite to show, but the favorite then fails to run in the money. This results in abnormally large show payoffs for the top three runners in the race.
Bug - An apprentice weight allowance or an apprentice rider. The term Bug comes from the offset number that is placed next to the horse's weight carried in the racing form
Bullet Work - The best time for the distance on the work tab for a given day at a track.
Bull Ring - A small (less than one mile in circumference) race track.
Bute (Butazolidin) - The trade name for phenylbutazone, a commonly used analgesic for horses.
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| -C- |
Caulk - A spike on the bottom of shoe that gives a horse better traction, especially on a wet track.
Call (Points of Call) - The relative running position of horses in a race at various points (of call).
Chart - A snapshot of a race (from which past performances are compiled), which shows the position and margin of each horse at designated points of call (depending on distance of the race), age, weight carried, owner, trainer, purse, conditions, pay-off prices, odds, time and other data.
Chart Caller - One who calls the running positions of horses in a race.
Checked - A horse pulled up by his jockey for an instant because he is cut off or in tight quarters.
Claiming Race - A race in which horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price.
Clocker - The person who is responsible for timing workouts and races.
Closer - A horse that comes from off the pace as opposed to a front runner.
Colors - Racing silks worn by jockeys to denote the owner(s) of horse. See also, silks.
Colt - A male horse under 5 years of age.
Company - The class of horses in a race. Also refers to the field in a race.
Conditioned Race - A race with specific conditions that limit it to a certain class of horse. For example: Fillies, 3-year-olds, non-winners of two races other than maiden or claiming, etc.
Connections - Persons associated with the stable, including the owner, trainer, and jockey.
Coupled Entry - Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit.
Cuppy - A term used to describe a track surface which breaks away under a horse's hoof.
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| -D- |
Daily Double - A wager in which a bettor must select the winner of two consecutive races. Daily Doubles are usually the first two (Early Double) and last two (Late Double) races on a card.
Dead-Heat - Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire.
Disqualification - Change of order of finish by officials due to an infraction of the rules.
Distaff - A race or division devoted to female horses.
Distanced - Well beaten, finishing a great distance behind the winner.
Dogs - Wooden barriers (or rubber traffic cones) placed a certain distance out from the inner rail to protect it during training periods.
Dope - The slang term for past performances. Also called the Cold Dope.
Driving - Strong urging by rider.
Dropdown - A horse meeting a lower class of rival than he had been running against.
Dwelt - Slow in breaking from the gate.
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| -E- |
Eased - A horse that slows down during a race but still finishes, albeit slowly.
Easily - Running or winning without being pressed by rider or opposition.
Eighth - One furlong; 220 yards; 660 feet.
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. See Coupled Entry
Equipment - The gear worn by a horse during a race, including blinkers, wraps, tongue ties, and shadow rolls.
Exacta - A wager in which a bettor calls the first and second place finishers of a race in order.
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| -F- |
Faltered - A term used to describe a horse that was in contention early and dropped back in the late stages. It is more drastic than weakened but less drastic than stopped.
False Favorite - A betting favorite that is not worthy of that status due to various handicapping factors, including form, class, speed or ability.
Fast - A track that is dry and holds only a small amount of moisture.
Fence - Sometimes called "outside rail." More properly the barrier between the front of the stands and the racing strip.
Field - The horses in a race.
Filly - A female horse up to and including the age of 4.
Firm - A turf course that is dry and relatively hard. A firm turf course is the equivalent of a fast dirt track.
Flat Race - A race run on level ground as opposed to a hurdle race or steeplechase.
Four Furlongs - Half a mile; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
Fractional Time - The split times recorded in a race. Fractional times are noted at the quarter mile, half mile, three quarter mile, etc.
Front Runner - A horse that attempts to gain the lead.
Furlong - One-eighth of a mile; 220 yards; 660 feet.
Furomeside - The generic name for a medication used to treat bleed in the lungs. The most common brand name is Lasix.
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| -G- |
Gate - The starting gate.
Gelding - A castrated male horse. The most famous gelding ever is Funny Cide.
Good - Track condition between fast and sloppy. There is some moisture, but no standing water.
Graded Races - Races designated as the most prestigious in the United States and Canada (Grade I, Grade II, Grade III).
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| -H- |
Half - Half a mile, four furlongs; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
Handicap - A race for which a handicapper assigns weights to be carried. Also, to handicap a race. To make selections on the basis of past performances.
Handicapper - One who assigns weights for handicap race. Also, one who makes selections based on past performances.
Handicapping - The assigning weights by a racing secretary for a handicap race. Making selections based on past performances.
Handily - Working or racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing.
Handle - The total amount of money wagered in the pari-mutuel on a race, a program, a meeting or a year.
Hand Ride - Urging a horse with the hands only, and not using the whip.
Head - One horse leading another by the length of his head. The measurement between nose and neck.
Head of the Stretch - Also called the top of the stretch. The beginning of the straight run out of the turn to the finish line.
Heavy - A track condition denoting a very deep track, full of moister and devoid of speed.
Horse - A horse that is 5 or more years old.
Hung - A horse that tired while still holding position. A typical notation in the racing form is "Bid hung."
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| -I- |
In The Money - A horse that finishes first, second or third in a race.
Infield - The area within the inner rail of the racetrack.
In Hand - Running under moderate control, at less than best pace.
Impost - The weight carried by, or assigned to, a race horse.
Inter-State Wagering - Wagering on a simulcast of a race from another state.
Intra-State Wagering - Wagering on a simulcast of a race from another track within the state.
Inquiry - A review (inquiry) into a race to determine if any rules infractions occurred that should affect the placing of the horses. Also, a sign flashed by officials on tote board on such occasions.
Irons - Stirrups.
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| -J- |
Jockey Fee - The payment made to a jockey for riding services.
Jumper - A steeplechase or hurdle horse.
Juvenile - A two-year-old horse.
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| -L- |
Lasix - The brand name of furosemide.
Late Double - A second daily double offered on the latter part of the program. (See Daily Double)
Length - The measured length of a horse from nose to tail. Handicappers usually argue about just how much distance constitutes a length. At Sports Betting Acumen, we consider a length to be eight feet.
Lock - In gambling terms, a can't miss propostion.
Lug - The act of a tiring horse, bearing in or out in the stretch.
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| -M- |
Maiden - A horse that has not won a race.
Maiden Race - A race for non-winners.
Mare - Female horses 5 years old or older. Also, a female horse of any age thatthas been bred.
Minus Pool - A par-mutuel pool caused when one horse is so heavily played that, after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet. The racing association usually makes up t he difference. See also Bridge Jumper.
Morning Glory - A horse that runs well in morning workouts but fails to reproduce that form in races.
Morning Line - Approximate odds quoted before wagering determines exact odds.
Muddy - Deep condition of racetrack after being soaked with water, and after the water soaks deep into the track.
Mudder - A horse that races well on muddy or sloppy tracks.
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| -N- |
Neck - A unit of measurement approximating the length of a horse's neck.
Nose - The smallest amount a horse can win by.
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| -O- |
Oaks - A classic stakes event for 3-year-old fillies.
Objection - A claim of foul lodged by a rider, patrol judge or other official. If lodged by an official, it is called an inquiry.
Odds-On - Odds of less than even money.
Off-Track Betting (OTB) - Wagering on horses at legalized betting offices run usually by the state or the tracks, or, in New York, by independent corporations chartered by the state, with wagers commingled with on-track betting pools.
On The Board - The top four finishers in a race.
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.
Overweight - The extra weight carried by a horse when the jockey cannot make the required weight.
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| -P- |
Paddock - The area where horses are saddled and walked prior to the parade to post.
Pari-Mutuel - A form of wagering that originated in France in which all of the money bet is divided up among those who have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made.
Photo Finish - A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish.
Pick Six - A wager in which a bettor must select the winner of six consecutive races.
Pinched Back - A horse in close quarters and forced back. This usually occurs at the start of a race.
Place - A second position place finish.
Place Bet - A wager placed on a horse to finish first or second in a race.
Pole - Striped poles placed 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 - The total sum bet on a race or individual bets such as the exacta, trifecta or pick 3.
Post Parade - The process of horses moving from paddock to starting.
Post Position - The position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.
Prep - A workout or race run for the purpose of preparing a horse for a future engagement.
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| -Q- |
Quarter - One-quarter of a mile; 440 yards; 1,320 feet.
Quarter Horse - A horse specifically bred to run fast at short distances.
Quarter Pole - A striped pole designating one-quarter miles distance from the finish line.
Quinella - A wager in which a bettor must call the first two finishers in any order.
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| -R- |
Ridden Out - A horse finishing a race very strongly without urging (whipping) from the rider.
Ridgling - A horse with one or more undescended testes.
Route - A race run at a distance of one mile or longer.
Router - A horse that performs well at longer distances.
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| -S- |
Scratch - A horse that is removed from a race for various reasons. A horse may be scratched by its trainer, the stewards, or a veterinarian.
Seven Furlongs - Seven-eighths of a mile; 1,540 yards; 4,620 feet.
Shadow Roll - A roll of cloth, usually made from lamb's wool, placed half way up the horse's face to keep him from seeing his own shadow.
Show - A horse that finishes third in a race.
Show Bet - Wager on a horse to finish third or better.
Silks - The jacket and cap worn by riders to designate ownership of the horse. See colors.
Simulcast - Televising a race to other tracks, OTB offices or other outlets for the purpose of wagering.
Sire - The father of a horse.
Six Furlongs - A common racing distance. Three-quarter of a mile; 1,320 yards, 3,960 feet.
Sixteenth - One-sixteenth of a mile; 110 yards, 330 feet.
Sloppy - A track that is very wet on surface, with standing water, but still firm underneath.
Slow - A track condition between good and heavy.
Sophomore - A three-year old horse.
Stakes Placed - A horse that has finished third or higher in a stakes race.
Stake - A race for which the horse's owner must pay a fee to run a horse. The fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, to which the track adds more money to make up the total purse. Some stakes races are by invitation and require no payment or fee.
Stallion - Entire (non-gelded) male horse.
Starter Race - An allowance or handicap race restricted to horses that have started for a specific claiming price or less.
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.
Stewards - The track officials responsible for enforcing the rules of horse racing.
Steeplechase - A race where horses jump over obstacles.
Stickers - Caulks on shoes which give a horse better traction in mud or on soft tracks.
Straight Wager - A win bet.
Stretch - The stretch of racetrack from the turn to the finish line.
Stretch Runner - A horse that runs closes distance in the stretch.
Subscription - The fee paid by an owner to nominate their horse for a stakes race or to maintain eligibility for a stakes race.
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| -T- |
Tack - A jockey's riding equipment.
Takeout - The commission deducted from mutuel pools. The takeout is shared by the track and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax. Takeouts pay for track operations and the purse structure of horse racing.
Taken Up - A horse pulled up sharply by his rider because of being in close quarters.
Totalisator - Machine which sells and records betting tickets and shows odds. Also figures out and displays payoff figures. Commonly referred to as the Tote Board.
Tout - A handicapper who sells their horse racing selections.
Trifecta - A wager picking in which a bettor must call the first three finishers of a race in order.
Trip - Refers to a horse's trip around the track and any negative factors that affect its finish position.
Triple Crown - The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
Turf Course - Grass course.
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| -U- |
Underlay - A horse going off at longer odds than a handicapper thinks it should.
Under Wraps - Horse under strong restraint in a race or workout.
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| -V- |
Vanned Off - Refers to a horse that was unable to complete a race or leave the track on its own.
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| -W- |
Washy - A horse breaking out in nervous sweat prior to a race.
Whip - An instrument, usually of made of leather, with which a jockey strikes horse to increase his speed.
Work - A formal workout conducted on the racetrack.
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| -Y- |
Yearling - A one-year old thoroughred race horse.
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