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  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
across the board: A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets. Actually three wagers. action: 1) A horse's manner of moving. 2) A term meaning wagering: The horse took a lot of action. added money: Money added to the purse of a race by the racing association or a breeding or other fund to the amount paid by owners in nomination, eligibility, entry and starting fees: The $500,000-added Kentucky Derby. age: All Thoroughbreds celebrate their birthday on Jan. 1. agent: A person empowered to transact business for a stable owner or jockey, or empowered to sell or buy horses for an owner or breeder. airing: Not running at best speed in a race. all-age race: A race for two-year-olds and up. all out: When a horse extends itself to the utmost. allowance race: A race for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights to be carried based on the horse's age, sex and/or past performance. (thoroughbred only) allowances: Reductions in weights to be carried, allowed because of the conditions of the race or because an apprentice jockey is on a horse. Also, a weight reduction female horses are entitled to when racing against males, or that three-year-olds receive against older horses (thoroughbred only) also-eligible: A horse officially entered for a race, hut not permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number. apprentice: Rider who has not ridden a certain number of winners within a specified period of time. Also known as a "bug," from the asterisk used to denote the weight allowance such riders receive. (thoroughbred only) apron: The (usually) paved area between the grandstand and the racing surface. artificial breeding: Includes artificial insemination or embryo transfer (transplants). auxiliary starting gate: A second starting gate used when the amount of horses in a race exceeds the capacity of the main starting gate. Average-Earnings Index (AET): A breeding statistic that compares racing earnings of a stallion or mare's foals to those of all other foals racing at that time. An AEI of 1.00 is considered average, 2.00 is twice the average, 0.50 half the average. etc. baby race: A race for two-year-olds. backside: Stable area, dormitories and often times a track kitchen, chapel and recreation area for stable employees. Also known as "backstretch;' for its proximity to the stable area. backstretch: 1) Straight portion of the far side of the racing surface between the turns. 2) See backside. bandage: Bandages used on horse's legs are three to six inches wide and are made of a variety of materials. In a race, they are used for support or protection against injury. "Rundown bandages" are used during a race and usually have a pad under the fetlock to avoid injury due to abrasion when the fetlocks sink toward the ground during weight-bearing. A horse may also wear "standing bandages," thick cotton wraps used during shipping and while in the stall to prevent swelling and/or injury. bar shoe: A horseshoe closed at the back to help support the frog and heel of the hoof, It is often worn by horses with quarter cracks or bruised feet. bay: A horse color that varies from a yellow-tan to a bright auburn. The mane, tail and lower portion of the legs are always black, except where white earkings are present. bearing in (or out): Deviating from a straight course. May be due to weariness, infirmity, inexperience or the rider overusing the whip or reins to make a horse alter its course. bias: The tendency of every racetrack to favor one style of running over another. bit: A stainless steel, rubber or aluminum bar, attached to the bridle, which fits in the horse's mouth and is one of the means by which a jockey or driver exerts guidance and control. The most common racing bit is the D-bit, named because the rings extending from the bar are shaped like the letter "D." Most racing bits are "snaffled," (snaffle bit) whach means the metal bar is made up of two pieces, connected in the middle, which leaves it free to swivel. Other bits may be used to correct specific problems, such as bearing in or out. black: A horse color which is black, including the muzzle, flanks, mane, tail and legs unless white markings are present. blaze: A generic term describing a large, white vertical marking on a horse's face. The Jockey Club doesn't use blaze, preferring more descriptive words. See snip; star; stripe. bleeder: A horse that bleeds from the lungs when small capillaries that surround the lungs' air sacs (alveoli) ruptureblind switch: A circumstance in which a rider's or driver's actions cause him/her to be impeded during a race. blinkers: A cup-shaped device to limit a horse's vision to prevent him from swerving from objects or other horses on either side of it. Blinker cups come in a variety of sizes and shapes to allow as little or as much vision as the trainer feels is necessary. board: Short for "tote board," on which odds, betting pools and other information are displayed. bolt: Sudden veering from a straight course, usually to the outside rail. bomb(er): A winning horse sent off at extremely high odds. book: 1) The group of mares being bred to a stallion in a given year. If a stallion attracts the maximum number of mares allowed by the farm manager, he has a full book. 2) A term used to describe a jockey's riding commitments with his agent: An agent handles a jockey's book. bounce: A poor race run directly following a career-best or near-best performance. box: A wagering term denoting a combination bet whereby all possible numeric combinations are covered. boxed (in): To be trapped between, behind or inside of other horses. breakage: In parimutuel payoffs, which are rounded down to a nickel or dime, the pennies that are left over. Breakage may be used for any of a number of purposes, depending upon a state's rules of racing. break maiden: Horse, rider, or driver winning the first race of its careen Also known as "earning a diploma." breather: Easing off on a horse for a short distance in a race to permit it to conserve or renew its strength. bred: 1) A horse is considered to have been bred in the state or country of its birth: Secretariat was Virginia-bred. 2) The past tense of "breed." breeder: Owner of the dam at time of foaling unless the dam was under a lease or foal-sharing arrangement at the time of foaling. In that case, the person(s) specified by the terms of the agreement is (are) the breeder(s) of the foal. breeding fund: A state fund set up to provide bonuses for state-breds. breeze (breezing): Working a horse at a moderate speed. less effort than handily. bridle: A piece of equipment, usually made of leather or nylon, which fits on a horse's head and is where other equipment, such as a bit and the reins, are attached. broodmare: A filly or mare that has been bred and is used to produce foals. brush: 1) During a race, two horses who slightly touch each other. 2) Injury that occurs when one hoof strikes the inside of the opposite limb. 3) a burst of speed during a race, usually in the later stages. calk: A projection on the heels of a horseshoe, similar to a cleat, on the rear shoes of a horse to prevent slipping, especially on a wet track. Also known as a "sticker." Sometimes incorrectly spelled "caulk." call (race call): Running position of horses in a race at various points. catch driver: A driver who concentrates on driving, rather than driving horses he trains himself. chalk: Wagering favorite in a race. Dates from the days when on-track bookmakers would write current odds on a chalkboard. chalk player: Bettor who wagers on favorites. chart: A statistical "picture" of a race (from which past performances are compiled), that shows the position and margin of each horse at designated points of call (depending on the distance of the race), as well as the horses' age, weight carried, owner, trainer, jockey, or driver, and the race's purse, conditions, payoff prices, odds, time and other data. chart caller: He/she makes a simultaneous written record of how individual races are run and how each hors performs. Chestnut: 1) A horse color which may vary from a red-yellow to golden-yellow. The mane, tail and legs are usually variations of coat color, except where white markings are present. 2) Horny, irregular growths found on the inside of the legs. On the forelegs, they are just above the knees. On the hind legs, they are just below the hocks. No two horses have been found to have the same chestnuts and so they may be used for identification. Also called "night eyes." claiming: Process by which a licensed person may purchase a horse entered in a designated race for a predetermined price. When a horse has been claimed, its new owner assumes title after the starting gate opens although the former owner is entitled to all purse money earned in that race. claiming box: Box in which claims are deposited before the race. claiming race: A race in which each horse entered is eligible to be purchased at a set price. Claims must be made before the race and only by licensed owners or their agents who have a horse registered to race at that meeting or who have received a claim certificate from the stewards or judges. clerk of scales: An official whose chief duty is to weigh the riders before and after a race to ensure proper weight is (was) carried. climbing: When a horse lifts its front legs abnormally high as it gallops, causing it to run inefficiently. (thoroughbred only) closer: A horse that runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace. clubhouse turn: Generally, the turn on a racing oval that is closest to the clubhouse facility; usually the first turn after the finish line. Colors: 1) distinctive pattern worn by drivers and jockeys 2) See silks. colors (horse): Colors: bay, black, chestnut, dark bay or brown, gray, roan and white. See individual entries for definitions. colt: An ungelded (entire) male horse four-years-old or younger. commingle: Combining mutuel pools from off-track sites with the host track. company: Class of horses in a race: He last ran in stakes company. condition book(s): A series of booklets issued by a racing secretary which set forth conditions of races to be run at a particular racetrack. conditioner: 1) A trainer. 2) A workout or race to enable a horse to attain fitness, conditions: The requirements of a particular race, This may include age, sex, money or races won, weight carried and the distance of the race, connections: Persons identified with a horse, such as owner, trainer, rider or driver, and stable employees. consolation double: A payoff to holders of daily double tickets combining the winning horse in the first race of the double with a scratched horse in the second. coupled (entry): Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit, daily double: Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second. See late double. daily triple: A wager where the bettor must select the winner of three consecutive races. Not to be confused with "triple," meaning trifecta in some regions. dam: The female parent of a foal. dam's sire (broodmare sire): The sire of a broodmare. Used in reference to the maternal grandsire of a foal. dark bay or brown: A horse color that ranges from brown with areas of tan on the shoulders, head and flanks, to a dark brown, with tan areas seen only in the flanks and/or muzzle. The mane, tail and lower portions of the legs are always black unless white markings are present. dark day: A day on which no racing is conducted at a particular racetrack. dead heat: Two or more horses finishing a race in a tie. deep stretch: A position very close to the finish line in race. dh: Abbreviation for dead heat. disqualification: Change in order of finish by officials for an infraction of the rules. distaff: A female horse. Distaff race: A race for female horses.. dq: Abbreviation for disqualified. driving: A horse that is all out to win and under strong urging from its jockey. drop(ed) down: A horse meeting a lower class of rival than it had been running against. eased: A horse that is gently pulled up during a race. easily: Running or winning without being pressed by rider or opposition. entry fee: Money paid by an owner to enter a horse in a stakes race. entry: Two or more horses with common ownership (or in some cases trained by the same trainer) that are paired as a single betting unit in one race and/or are placed together by the racing secretary as part of a mutuel field. Rules on entries vary from state to state. Also known as a "coupled entry." equipment: See bandage; bar shoe; bit; blinkers; bridle; earmuffs; halter; hood; nose band; overcheck; overgirth; reins; saddle cloth; saddle pad; shadow roll; shank; stirrups; tongue tie. exacta (or perfecta): A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked. Called an "exactor" in Canada. exacta box: A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are bet on. The total number of combinations can be calculated according to the formula x**2-x, where x equals the amount of horses in the box. Example: boxing four horses would actually be 12 combinations (4**2-4), To arrive at the cost of the wager, multiply the total combinations by the cost of the individual wager exotic (wager): Any wager other than win, place or show. For the mathematically inclined, the amount of combinations in any exotic wager can be figured by the formula n!/(n-a!), where n is the number of horses in your wager and a is the number of finishers in the wager (two in an exacta, three in a trifecta, etc.) false favorite: Horse that is a race favorite despite being outclassed by other competition in the field. See underlay. fast (track): Footing that is dry, even and resilient. fence: See rail. filly: Female horse four-years-old or younger firm (track): A condition of a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track. A firm, resilient surface. flatten out: A very tired horse that slows considerably, dropping its head on a straight line with its body. Some horses, however, like to run with their heads lowered. Foal(ed): 1) A horse of either sex in its first year of life. 2) As a verb, to give birth. Also known as "dropped." 3) Can also denote the offspring of either a male or female parent: She is the fast foal of Secretariat fractional time: Intermediate times recorded in a race, as at the quarter, half, three-quarters, etc. The "quarter time," for example. refers to the time after the first quarter-mile, not the first 25 percent of the race. front-runner: A horse whose running style is to attempt to get on or near the lead at the start of the race and to continue there as long as possible. furlong: One-eighth of a mile, 220 yards, 660 feet. gallop: The horse's fastest gait. It's prized in every race horse except the Standardbred, who has to be pulled out of contention if he breaks into one. game: A horse who's brave, determined, or hard-working. gelding: A male horse of any age that has been neutered by having both testicles removed ("gelded") good (track): A din track that is almost fast or a turf course slightly softer than firm. gray: A horse color where the majority of the coat is a mixture of black and white hairs. The mane, tail and legs may be either black or gray unless white markings are present. Starting with foals of 1993, the color classifications gray and roan were combined as "roan or gray." See roan. groom: A person who cares for a horse in a stable. Known as a "lad" or "girl" in Britain. half-brother, half-sister: Horses out of the same dam but by different sires. Horses with the same sire and different dams are not considered half-siblings in Thoroughbred racing. halter: Like a bridle, but lacking a bit. Used in handling horses around the stable and when they are not being ridden. hand: Four inches. A horse's height is measured in hands and inches from the top of the shoulder (withers) to the ground, e.g., 15.2 hands is 15 hands, 2 inches. Thoroughbreds typically range from 15 to 17 hands. handicap: 1) Race for which the track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried. 2) To make selections on the basis of past performances. handily: 1) Working in the morning with maximum effort. Compare with, 2) A horse racing well within itself, with little exertion from the jockey. handle: Amount of money wagered in the parimutuels on a race, a program, during a meeting or for a year. hard (track): A condition of a turf course where there is no resiliency to the surface. head: A margin between horses. One horse leading another by the length of its head. heat: 1) A race in which more then one running is required to decide the winner. More common in harness racing. 2) A breeding term. See estrus. high weight: Highest weight assigned or carried in a race. horse: When reference is made to sex, a "horse" is an ungelded male five- years-old or older.hung: A horse that does not advance its position in a race when called upon by its jockey. infield: Area encompassed by the inner rail of the racetrack. in hand: Running under moderate control, at less than top speed. inquiry: Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on the tote board on such occasions. If lodged by a jockey, it is called an objection. in the money: A horse that finishes first, second or third. jog: Slow, easy gait. juvenile: Two-year old horse. key horse: A single horse used in multiple combinations in an exotic wager. lame: A deviation from a normal gait due to pain in a limb or its supporting structures. late double: A second daily double offered during the latter part of the program. See daily double. length: A measurement approximating the length of a horse, used to denote distance between horses in a race: Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths. lines: Harness racing uses this term instead of reins, but it means the same thing. lock: Slang for a 'sure' winnen lug (in or out): See bearing in(out). lunge: I) Horse rearing and plunging. 2) A method of exercising a horse on a tether ('lunge line"). maiden: 1) A horse or rider that has not won a race. 2) A female that has never been bred. maiden race: A race for non-winners. mare: Female horse five-years-old or older. middle distance: Broadly, from one mile to 1 1/8 miles. minus pool: A mutuel pool caused when a 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 the difference. morning glory: Horse that performs well in morning workouts but fails to reproduce that form in races. morning line: Probable odds on each horse in a race, as determined by a mathematical formula used by the track handicapper, who tries to gauge both the ability of the horse and the likely final odds as determined by the bettors. muddy (track): A condition of a racetrack which is wet but has no standing water mudder: Horse that races well on muddy tracks. Also known as a "mudlark." neck: Unit of measurement. About the length of a horse's neck; a little less than a quarter of a length. nose: Smallest advantage a horse can win by. Oaks: A stakes event for three-year-old fillies (females). objection: claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official after the running of a race. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry. odds-on: Odds of less than even money. official: 1) Notice displayed when a race result is confirmed. 2) Used to denote a racing official. off-track betting: Wagering at legalized betting outlets usually run by the tracks, management companies specializing in parimutuel wagering, or, in New York State, by independent corporations chartered by the state. Wagers at OTE sites are usually commingled with on-track betting pools. out of the money: A horse that finishes worse than third. overlay: A horse going off at higher odds than it appears to warrant based on its past performances. overnight: A sheet published by the racing secretary's office listing the entries for an upcoming racing card. pace: This Standardbred gait features legs on the same side moving backward and forward at the same time. Pacers are sometimes called amblers or sidewheelers. pacesetter: The horse that is running in front (on the lead). parked: When a harness horse is parked, he's still moving. But he has been forced to race wide. parlay: A multi-race bet in which all winnings are subsequently wagered on each succeeding race. parimutuel(s): A form of wagering originated in 1865 by Frenchman Pierre Oiler in which all money bet is divided up among those who have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made. Oiler called his system "parier mutuel" meaning "mutual stake" or "betting among ourselves." As this wagering method was adopted in England it became known as "Paris mutuals," and soon after "parimutuels." part wheel: Using a key horse or horses in different, but not all possible, exotic wagering combinations. See wheel. past performances: A horse's racing record, earnings, bloodlines and other data, presented in composite form. patrol judge(s): Official(s) who observe the progress of a race from various vantage points around the track. payoff: The amount of money you get back on a winning ticket. It's also called the payout. photo finish: A result so close it is necessary to use the finish line camera to determine the order of finish. place: Second position at finish. place bet: Wager on a horse to finish first or second. Placing judge: Official who posts the order of finish in a race. pole(s): 1) Markers at measured distances around the track designating the distance from the finish. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start. 2) The top of the head, between the ears, post position: The place in the starting gate for each horse, with the lowest number nearest the rail. they're usually drawn, but they are assigned in some Standardbred races. prep (race): A workout (or race) used to prepare a horse for a future engagement. provisional driver: In harness racing, a driver who's not fully licensed. It's the equivalent of an apprentice jockey without the weight advantage. pull up: To stop or slow a horse during or after a race or workout. purse: The total monetary amount distributed after a race to the owners of the entrants who have finished in the (usually) top four or five positions. Some racing jurisdictions may pay purse money through other places. quinella: Wager in which the first two finishers must be picked in either order. rabbit: A speed horse running as an entry with another, usually come- from-behind horse. The rabbit is expected to set a fast pace to help the chances outs stablemate. race card: The entire day's race lineup makes up the race card. racing secretary: Official who drafts conditions of races and assigns weights for handicap events. rail: The barrier on either side of the racing strip. Sometimes referred to as the "fence." reins: long straps, usually made of leather, that are connected to the bit and used by the jockey to control the horse. rigging: A Standardbred's harness, protective equipment, and other gadgets designed to make him perform better, plus the manner in which it's fastened to him. roan: A horse color where the majority of the coat of the horse is a mixture of red and white hairs or brown and white hairs. The mane, tail and legs may be black, chestnut or roan unless white markings are present. Starting with foals of 1993, the color classifications gray and roan were combined as "roan or gray." See gray. rogue: Ill-tempered horse. scale of weights: Fixed weights to be carried by horses according to their age, sex, race distance and time of year. scratch: To be taken out of a race before it starts. Trainers usually scratch horses due to adverse track conditions or a horse's adverse health. A veterinarian can scratch a horse at any time. show: Third position at the finish. show bet: Wager on a horse to finish in the money: third or better Silky Sullivan (a): A horse that makes a big run from far back. Named for the horse Silky Sullivan, who once made up 41 lengths to win a race. simulcast: A simultaneous live television transmission of a race to other tracks, off-track betting offices or other outlets for the purpose of wagering. sloppy (track): A racing strip that is saturated with water; with standing water visible. slow (track): A racing strip that is wet on both the surface and base. soft (track): Condition of a turf course with a large amount of moisture. Horses sink very deeply into it. solid horse: Contender sound: Some people use this word to describe only a horse whose legs are healthy and painless. Others consider a horse to be sound only if his legs are strong, his breathing is adequate, and his general health is good. sprint: Short race, less than one mile. stakes: A race for which the owner usually 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. Standardbred: The racing breed that competes either at the trot or pace. starter: 1) An official responsible for ensuring a fair start to the race, the starter supervises the loading of horses into the starting gate through a gate crew. He/she also has control of the opening the gate. 2) A horse that is in the starting gate when the race begins, whether he runs or not. state-bred: A horse bred in a particular state and thus eligible to compete In races restricted to state-breds. steadied: A horse being taken in hand by its rider, usually because of being in close quarters. step up: A horse moving up in class to meet better competition. stewards: Officials of the race meeting responsible for enforcing the rules of racing. stretch (home): Final straight: portion of the racetrack to the finish. stretch call: Position of horses at the eighth pole. stretch runner: Horse that runs its fastest nearing the finish of a race. stretch turn: Bend of track into the final straightaway. substitute race: Alternate race used to replace a regularly scheduled race that does not fill or is canceled. sulky: The vehicle pulled by the Standardbred during a race. tag: A horse who competes in claiming races is running for a tag. The tag is his claiming price. take (takeout): Commission deducted from mutuel pools which is shared by the track, horsemen (in the form of purses) and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax. taken down: A horse who's disqualified is taken down. totalizator: An automated parimutuel system that dispenses and records betting tickets, calculates and displays odds and payoffs and provides the mechanism for cashing winning tickets. Often shortened to "tote." tote board: The (usually) electronic totalizator display in the infield which reflects up-to-the-minute odds. It may also show the amounts wagered in each mutuel tool as well as information such as jockey and equipment changes, etc. Also known as the "board." track bias: A racing surface that favors a particular running style or position. For example, a track bias can favor either front-runners or closers or horses running on the inside or outside. track condition: Condition of the racetrack surface. See fast: good; muddy; sloppy, frozen; hard; firm; soft; yielding; heavy. trifecta: A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order. Called a "triactor" in Canada and a "triple" in some parts of the U.S. trifecta box: A trifecta wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are bet upon. The total number of combinations can be calculated according to the formula x**3-3x**2+2x, where x equals the amount of horses in the box. The sum of the formula is then multiplied by the amount wagered on each combination. trip: An individual horse's race, with specific reference to the difficulty (or lack of difficulty) the horse had during competition, e.g., whether the horse was repeatedly blocked or had an unobstructed run. triple: See trifecta. trot: The normal midspeed gait of four-legged animals. It features legs on opposite corners moving at the same time. turf: Grass. It's the most common racing surface in most of the world, but not in North America. underlay: A horse racing at shorter odds than seems warranted by its past performances. under wraps: Horse under stout restraint in a race or workout to keep it from pulling away from the competition by too large a margin. untried: 1) Not raced or tested for speed. 2) A stallion that has not been bred. unwind: Gradually withdrawing a horse from intensive training. veterinarian: Commission: The commission (or board) veterinarian, sometimes referred to as the state veterinarian, is usually appointed by the state racing commission. This person serves as professional adviser and consultant to the State Racing Commission on veterinary matters including all regulatory aspects of the application and practice of veterinary medicine at the track. vet's list: A list of horses temporarily prohibited from racing for medical reasons. walkover: A race in which only one horse competes. washed out: A horse that becomes so nervous that it sweats profusely. Also known as "washy" or "lathered (up)." weanling: A foal that is less than one-year-old that has been separated from its dam. weigh in (out): The certification, by the clerk of scales, of a rider's weight before (after) a race. A jockey weighs in fully dressed with all equipment except for his/her helmet, whip and (in many jurisdictions) flak jacket. wheel: Betting all possible combinations in an exotic wager using at least one horse as the key. See part wheel. wire: The finish line of a race. work: To exercise a horse by galloping a predetermined distance. yearling: A horse in its second calendar year of life, beginning Jan. 1 of the year following its birth. yielding: Condition of a turf course with a great deal of moisture. Horses sink into it noticeably. |
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