Glossary of Terms

ALL OUT:   A horse who is trying to the best of his ability.

ALSO-ELIGIBLE:   A horse entered in the race but who cannot start unless another horse is scratched.

ALSO-RAN:   A horse who finishes out of the money.

BACKSTRETCH:   The straight way on the far side of the track.

BEARING IN (or OUT):   Failing to maintain a straight course, veering to the left or right. Can be caused by injury, fatigue, outside distractions, or poor riding.

BLANKET FINISH:   When the horses finish so close for the win you could theoretically put a single blanket across them.

BLINKERS:   Equipment worn on the bridle to restrict a horse's vision on the sides to help maintain attention and avoid distractions.

BLOWOUT:   A short fast workout, usually a day or two before a race, designed to sharpen a horse's speed.

BOARD:   The tote board on which odds, betting pools and other race information is displayed.

BOBBLE:   A bad step away from the starting gate, sometimes caused by the ground breaking away from under a horse and causing him to duck his head or go to his knees.

BOLT:   Sudden veering from a straight course.

BREEZE:   Working a horse at a moderate speed; less effort than handily.

BULLET WORK:   The best workout time for the distance on a given day at a track.

BULL RING:   Small racetrack less than one mile around.

BUTE:   Phenylbutazone a commonly used analgesic for horses.

CAULK:   Projection on the bottom of a shoe to give the horse better traction, especially on a wet track.

CHECKED:   A horse pulled up by his jockey for an instant because he is cut off or in tight quarters.

CHUTE:   Extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run at the start.

CLOSER:   A horse who runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace.

CLUBHOUSE TURN:   Generally the turn immediately after the finish line and closest to the clubhouse.

COLORS:   Racing silks, the jacket and cap worn by jockeys. Silks can be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner.

COUPLED:   Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit.

CUPPY:   A track surface which breaks away under a horse's hoof.

DEAD-HEAT:   Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the finish.

DEAD TRACK:   Racing surface lacking resiliency.

DISTANCED:   Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner.

DOGS:   Wooden barrier (or rubber traffic cones) placed a certain distance out from the inner rail, to protect the inner part of the track (usually the turf course) from traffic during workouts to save it for racing.

DRIVING:   Strong urging by rider.

EASED:   The jockey stops the horse during the race so he can't finish, usually due to an injury or equipment problem.

EASILY:   Running or winning without being pressed by the jockey or opposition.

ENTRY:   Two or more horses owned by the same stable or (in some cases) trained by the same trainer and running as a single betting unit.

EVENLY:   Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race.

EXTENDED:   Forced to run at top speed.

FALTERED:   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:   The optimum condition for a dirt track, dry, fast and even.

FIRM:   A optimum condition for a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track.

FIRST TURN:   Bend in the track beyond the starting point.

FLATTEN OUT:   When a horse drops his head almost on straight line with body, generally from exhaustion.

FRONT-RUNNER:   A horse who usually leads (or tries to lead) the field for as far as he can.

FURLONG:   One-eighth of a mile; 220 yards; 660 feet.

FUROSEMIDE:   Lasix, the medication used to treat of bleeders.

GOOD TRACK:   Condition between fast and slow, generally a bit wet.

GRADUATE:   Winning for the first time.

HANDILY:   Working or racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing.

HAND RIDE:   The jockey urges a horse with the hands and arms without using the whip.

HEAD OF THE STRETCH:   Beginning of the straight run for the finish.

HEAVY:   Condition of track when wet similar to muddy but slower.

HUNG:   A horse holding the same position, unable to make up distance on the winner.

IN HAND:   Running under moderate control, at less than best pace.

IMPOST:   Weight carried or assigned.

LASIX:   See furosemide.

LENGTH:   Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet.

LUG (in or out):   Action of a tiring horse, bearing in or out, failing to keep a straight course.

MORNING GLORY:   Horse who performs well in morning workouts but fails to fire in actual races.

MORNING LINE:   Approximate odds quoted before wagering begins.

MUDDY:   Deep condition of racetrack after being soaked with water. Horses who run will on wet tracks are generally referred to as mudders.

NECK:   Unit of measurement, about the length of a horse's neck; a quarter of a length.

NOSE:   Smallest advantage a horse can win by. In England called a short head.

ON THE BIT:   When a horse is eager to run.

OVERWEIGHT:   Surplus weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the assigned weight.

PADDOCK:   Area where horses are saddled and kept before post time.

PASTEBOARD TRACK:   Lightning fast racing strip.

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.

POST:   Starting point or position in starting gate.

POOL:   Mutuel pool, the total sum bet on a race or a particular bet.

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 start.

RIDDEN OUT:   Finishing a race without rider urging him to do his utmost.

SADDLE CLOTH:   Cloth under the saddle on which number denoting post position is displayed.

SCALE OF WEIGHTS:   Fixed weights 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.

SHADOW ROLL:   Usually a lamb's wool roll half way up the horse's face to keep him from seeing his own shadow.

SILKS:   See colors.

SLOPPY:   A track that is wet on surface with firm bottom.

SLOW:   A track with some moisture in it that is not fast, between good and heavy.

STARTING GATE:   Mechanical device with stalls for horses to stand in until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race.

STEADIED:   A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually because of being in close quarters.

STICK:   A jockey's whip, also called a bat.

STICKERS:   Calks on shoes which give a horse better traction in mud or on soft tracks.

STRETCH:   Final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish.

STRETCH RUNNER:   Horse who finishes fast in the stretch.

STRETCH TURN:   Bend of track into homestretch.

TAKEN UP:   A horse pulled up sharply by his rider because of being in close quarters.

TONGUE STRAP OR TIE:   Cloth or rubber strap used to tie down a horse's tongue to prevent it from choking in a race or workout.

TRACK RECORD:   Fastest time for a distance at a particular track.

TURF COURSE:   Grass course.

UNDER WRAPS:   Horse under stout restraint in a race or workout.

WARMING UP:   Galloping horse on way to post.

WASHY:   Horse breaking out in nervous sweat before race, sometimes to the point it will be dripping from his belly.

WHIP:   Instrument, usually of leather, with which rider strikes horse to increase his speed.

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.

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.

DAILY DOUBLE:   Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second.

EXACTA (or PERFECTA):   A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked.

FIELD HORSE (or MUTUEL FIELD):   Two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than positions on the totalisator board can accommodate.

IN THE MONEY:   Finishing first, second or third.

INQUIRY:   Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on tote board on such occasions.

LOCK:   Slang for a "sure thing" winner.

MINUS POOL:   A 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 tSohe difference.

OBJECTION:   Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry.

ODDS-ON:   Odds of less than even money. In England it is simply called "on," thus a horse "5-4 on" is actually at odds of 4-5.

OFFICIAL:   Sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official.

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.

PHOTO FINISH:   A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish.

PICK SIX (or more):   A type of wager in which the winners of all the included races must be selected.

PLACE:   Second position at finish.

PLACE BET:   Wager on a horse to finish first or second.

QUINELLA:   Wager in which first two finishers must be picked, but payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second.

SHOW:   Third position at the finish.

SHOW BET:   Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better.

STRAIGHT:   Betting to win only.

TAKE (or TAKEOUT):   Commission deducted from mutuel pools which s shared by the track and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax.

TOUT:   Person who professes to have, and sells, advance information on a race.

TRIFECTA (or TRIPLE):   A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order.

UNDERLAY:   A horse racing at longer odds than he should.

WIN:   Cross the finish line first.

WIN BET:   Wager on a horse to finish first.

Race Types

ALLOWANCE RACE:   A race where weights and eligibility to enter are determined by conditions set by the racing secretary.

BABY RACE:   A race for 2-year-olds.

CLAIMING RACE:   A race where horses are entered for a specified price and can be claimed (purchased) from the race for that price. Claimers are horses who generally run only in claiming races.

CLASSIC:   A race for three-year-olds, such as a Derby or Oaks, that has a long standing tradition behind it. The American classics are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

CONDITIONED RACE:   Eligibility to enter is determined by a set of conditions such as age, sex, races won, etc.

DERBY:   A stakes race for three-year-old colts.

DISTAFF RACE:   A race for fillies, mares, or both.

GRADED RACE:   The most important or prestigious races in North America are assigned grades (I, II, or III) based on the quality of previous winners and the race's influence on other races or championships.

GROUP RACE:   European equivalent to North American graded races.

HANDICAP:   Race where the racing sectretary or track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried.

INVITATIONAL:   A stakes race open only to horses who are invited to enter. Generally no entry fee is charged.

MAIDEN RACE:   Horses who have not yet won a race are referred to as maidens, hence a race for non winners.

OAKS:   A stakes race for 3-year-old fillies.

OVERNIGHT RACE:   A race where entries close a specific number of hours before running (such as 48 hours), as opposed to a stakes race where nominations close far in advance.

ROUTE RACE:   A race run at a mile or longer, generally around two turns.

SCALE OF WEIGHTS:   Fixed weights to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year.

SPRINT RACE:   A race run at less than a mile, generally with only one turn.

STAKE:   A race for which an owner must pay an entry fee to run his horse. The fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, and are generally added to the amount put up by the track to make up the total purse.