Horse Racing Terminology
Glossary of Horse Racing Terms
To the uninitiated or novice bettor, horse racing can seem confusing, particularly with the many different terms that are used in the sport of Kings.
In order to demystify some of these terms and phrases we decided to put together this glossary of horse racing terms to explain the terminology to those of you who may not be fully familiar with them.
Many of the horse racing terms explained here date back hundreds of years with some being self explanatory and some not! A 'blanket finish' or an 'overnight race' are not necessarily what they seem! Whereas the meaning of a 'fast track' would most likely be guessed without too much difficulty!
All of these phrases (and many more) and their meanings are listed below in our glossary of horse racing terms. Please feel free to print or download this horse racing terminology to help you better understand the unique language of horse racing.
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
A
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.
ALL OUT
A horse who is trying to the best of his ability.
ALLOWANCE RACE
A race where weights and eligibility to enter are determined by conditions set by the racing secretary
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
B
BABY RACE
A race for 2-year-olds
BACKSTRETCH
The straight way on the far side of the track
BLANKET FINISH
When the horses finish so close for the win you could theoretically put a single blanket across them
BOARD
The tote board on which odds, betting pools and other race information is displayed
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
BULL RING
Small racetrack less than one mile around
C
CHUTE
Extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run at the start
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
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
CONDITIONED RACE
Eligibility to enter is determined by a set of conditions such as age, sex, races won, etc.
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
D
DAILY DOUBLE
Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second
DEAD-HEAT
Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the finish
DEAD TRACK
Racing surface lacking resiliency
DERBY
A stakes race for three-year-olds
DISTAFF RACE
A race for fillies, mares, or both
DISTANCED
Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner
DRIVING
Strong urging by rider
E
EVENLY
Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race
EXACTA (or PERFECTA)
A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked
F
FAST TRACK
The optimum condition for a dirt track, dry, fast and even
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
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
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
G
GOOD TRACK
Condition between fast and slow, generally a bit wet
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
H
HANDICAP
Race where the racing secretary or track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried
HEAD OF THE STRETCH
Beginning of the straight run for the finish
HEAVY
Condition of track when wet similar to muddy but slower
I
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
INVITATIONAL
A stakes race open only to horses who are invited to enter. Generally no entry fee is charged
L
LENGTH
Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet
LOCK
Slang for a "sure thing" winner
M
MAIDEN RACE
Horses who have not yet won a race are referred to as maidens, hence a race for non winners
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 the difference
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
N
NECK
Unit of measurement, about the length of a horse's neck; a quarter of a length
O
OAKS
A stakes race for 3-year-old fillies
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
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
OVERWEIGHT
Surplus weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the assigned weight
P
PADDOCK
Area where horses are saddled and kept before post time
PASTEBOARD TRACK
Lightning fast racing strip
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
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, the total sum bet on a race or a particular bet
POST
Starting point or position in 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 start
Q
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
R
ROUTE RACE
A race run at a mile or longer, generally around two turns
S
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
SHOW
Third position at the finish
SHOW BET
Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better
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
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
STARTING GATE
Mechanical device with stalls for horses to stand in until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race
STRAIGHT
Betting to win only
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
T
TAKE (or TAKEOUT)
Commission deducted from mutuel pools which is 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
TRACK RECORD
Fastest time for a distance at a particular track
TRIFECTA (or TRIPLE)
A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order
TURF COURSE
Grass course
U
UNDERLAY
A horse racing at longer odds than he should
W
WARMING UP
Galloping horse on way to post
WIN
Cross the finish line first
WIN BET
Wager on a horse to finish first
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