ACROSS THE BOARD Equal bets to Win, Place and Show on a single horse.
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, eligibilty, entry and starting fees.
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.
ALSO-ELIGIBLE A horse officially entered, but not permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below the maximum number allowed to start.
ALSO-RAN A horse who finishes out of the money.
APPRENTICE A novice rider (also called “bug boys”) who is accorded a 5-10 pound weight allowance from their assigned weight in all races except stakes.
BACKSTRETCH The straight area of the track between the turns and on the opposite side of the finish line. Also, the stable area.
BANDAGE Strips of cloth wound around the lower part of a horse’s legs for support or protection against injury. More commonly worn on the back legs. Also known as “wraps.”
BAR SHOE A horse shoe with a rear bar to protect an injured foot. Bar shoes may be worn with aluminum pads to protect a bruised foot, or may be worn alone.
BAY A horse color (noted as: B.) that varies from yellow-tan to a bright auburn. The mane, tail and lower portion of the legs are always black, except where white markings are present.
BEYER SPEED FIGURES Every performance by every horse in North America is assigned a Beyer number which reflects the time of the race and the inherent speed of the track over which it was run, permitting easy comparisons of efforts at different distances. Appear exclusively in Daily Racing Form since 1992.
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 exerts guidance and control.
BLACK A horse color (noted as: Blk.) which is black, including the muzzle, flanks, mane, tail and legs unless white markings are present.
BLEEDER A horse that bleeds from the lungs when small capillaries that surround the lungs/ air sacs (alveoli) rupture. The medical term is “exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.” The most common treatment is the use of the diuretic furosemide (Lasix).
BLINKERS A cup shaped piece of equipment to limit a horse’s vision to prevent him/her from shying from objects or other horses on either side. Also used in an attempt to get a horse to focus. Notated by a ‘b’ in past performance running lines.
BLOW-OUT A short, timed workout, usually a day or two before a race, designed to sharpen a horse’s speed.
BOLT Sudden veering from a straight course, usually towards the outside rail.
BOWED TENDON A type of tendinitis named because of appearance of a bow shape due to swelling.
BOX A wagering term used in exactas, trifectas and superfectas whereby selected horses must finish in the required positions in any order to constitute a winner. Simply a shortcut to betting each combination individually.
BREEDERS’ CUP American thoroughbred racing’s year-end championship day. Inaugurated in 1984, the event is conducted at a different racetrack each year and attracts the best talent from around the world competing in a variety of divisions. Extended to a two-day event beginning in 2007.
BREEZE Working a horse with only miminmal encouragement.
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 or reins) are attached.
BROODMARE A filly or mare that has been bred and is used to produce foals.
BUCKED SHINS Inflammation of the covering of the bone of the front surface of the cannon bone, to which young horses are particularly susceptible. Primarily a condition of the front legs.
BUG BOY An apprentice rider.
BULLET WORKOUT The best time for each distance on the worktab for a given day. Designated by a black dot.
BUTE A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication permitted for use on horses in most racing jurisdictions (officially identifed as phenylbutazone).
CANNON BONE The third metacarpal (front leg) or metatarsal (rear leg), also referred to as the shin bone. The largest bone between the knee and ankle joints.
CHALK The betting favorite in a race. Dates from the days when on-track bookmakers would write the current odds on a chalkboard.
CHECKED Description of a horse whose momentum is interrupted by its jockey for an instant because the horse is cut off or in tight quarters. Also referred to as being “taken up.”
CHESTNUT A horse color (noted as: Ch.) 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. Also horny, irregular growths found on the inside of the legs. Also referred to as “night eyes,” they are located just above the knees on the forelegs, and just below the hocks on the hind legs.
CHUTE Extension of a backstretch or homestretch to permit a straightaway run from the start.
CLAIMING RACE Race in which horses are entered subject to purchase for a predetermined price. Claims must be made before the race. 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.
CLASSIC A race of traditional importance. In American racing, 1 1/4 miles is considered the classic distance.
CLIMBING When a horse lifts its front legs abnormally high as it gallops, causing it to run inefficiently.
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 as horses exit the homestretch and heads towards the backside.
COLT An ungelded male horse age 4 or younger.
CONDITION BOOK A series of booklets issued by a racing secretary which set forth conditions of races to be run at a particular racetrack.
CONDITIONS The requirements of a particular race, including age, sex, money or races won, weight carried and the distance and surface of the race.
CONDYLAR FRACTURE A fracture in the lower knobby end (condyle) of the lower (distal) end of a long bone such as the cannon bone or humerus.
COUPLED Also known as an “Entry.” Two or more horses racing as a single wagering interest. Usually done with horses of common ownership or trainer.
CUPPY TRACK A dry and loose surface that breaks away under a horse’s hooves.
CUSHION The top portion of a dirt racetrack.
CUSHION TRACK A synthetic racing surface which is reportedly safer for horses, requires less maintenance than a standard dirt surface, and is always listed “fast” regardless of weather conditions. Currently in place at Hollywood Park.
DAM Mother of a horse.
DARK BAY OR BROWN A horse color (noted as: Dk. b or br) that ranges from brown with areas of tan on shoulders, head and flank, to a dark brown, with tan areas seen only on the flanks and/or muzzle. The mane, tail and lower portions of the legs are always black unless white markings are present.
DEAD HEAT Two or more horses finishing in a tie.
DISQUALIFICATION Change in the order of finish by officials (stewards) for an infraction of the rules.
DOGS Traffic cones placed at certain distances our from the inner rail to prevent horses during the workout period from churning the footing on that section of the track.
DOUBLE Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races. “Daily Double” typically refers to the day’s first two races.
DRIVING Strong urging by the rider in the stretch.
DWELT Extremely late in breaking from the gate at the start of a race.
EASED A horse pulled up before the finish of a race, usually due to injury.
ECLIPSE AWARD Thoroughbred racing’s year-end awards, honoring the top horses and humans in several categories as champions.
ENTRAPPED A condition in which the thin membrane lying below the epiglottis moves up and covers the epiglottis, obstructing breathing.
EQUIBASE A partnership between The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations to establish and maintain an industry-owned, central database of racing information.
EXACTA A type of wager in which the first two finishers in a given race must be selected in the exact order of finish.
EXPERIMENTAL FREE HANDICAP A year-end projection of the best North American 2-year-olds of the season, put together by a panel under the auspices of The Jockey Club, that is based on performances in unrestricted races. Separate lists exist for males and females.
FAST TRACK Footing that is dry, even and resilient.
FETLOCK JOINT Joint located between the cannon bone and the long pastern bone. Also referred to as the ankle.
FIELD The horses in a race.
FILLY Female horse age 4 or younger.
FIRM A condition of a turf course equivalent to “fast” on a dirt track.
FLATTEN OUT A horse that slows considerably and is unable to sustain a rally.
FRACTIONAL TIME Intermediate time recorded in a race, typically the opening quarter-mile, half-mile, etc depending on distance of race.
FROG A V-shaped, pliable support structure on the bottom of the foot.
FRONT-RUNNER A horse who generally leads (or tries to lead) the field for as far as he/she can.
FURLONG One-eighth of a mile. (660 feet)
FUTURITY A race for 2-year-olds in which owners make a continuous series of payments over a period of time to keep their horses eligible.
GELDING A male horse of any age that has been neutered by having both testicles removed.
GET Progeny of a sire.
GIRTH An elastic and leather band band that passes under a horse’s belly and is connected to both sides of the saddle.
GOOD Condition of either the main track or a turf course when slightly less than ideal (more moisture than either fast or firm).
GRAB A QUARTER An injury, usually minor in nature, to the back of the hoof or foot caused by a horse stepping on itself.
GRADED RACE Established in 1973, races designated as the most prestigious. Thoroughbred racing in America has classifications for Grade 1 (the top), Grade 2 and Grade 3 races. Typically identified with a roman numeral (e.g. Grade III).
GRAND SLAM Type of wager available in New York where tickets much select a horse to finish in the money in each of the first three legs of the wager, and then correctly select the winner of the fourth and final leg.
GRAY A horse color (noted as: Gr/ro.) where the majority of the coat is a mixture of black ans 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.
GROUP RACE Established in 1971, the international equivalent to American graded stakes races.
HALTER Like a bridle, but lacking a bit. Used in handling horses around the stable, but not when being ridden.
HAND Four inches. A horse’s height in measured in hands and inches from the top of the shoulder (withers) to the ground. Thoroughbreds typically range from 15 to 17 hands.
HANDICAP Race for which the track handicapper assigns weights to be carried in an attempt to make the race more competitive.
HANDICAPPER One who assigns weights for handicap races. Also one who makes selections on the basis of past performances.
HANDLE The total amount of money wagered into the parimutuel pool.
HEAD OF THE STRETCH Beginning of the straight run home.
HOCK A large joint just above the shin bone in the rear legs.
HORSE An ungelded male horse age 5 or older.
HOT WALKER Person who walks horses to cool them out after workouts or races.
IN THE MONEY A horse that finishes first, second or third in a given race.
INFIELD Area encompassed by the inner rail of the track.
INQUIRY A steward’s review of the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules.
JUVENILE A 2-year-old horse.
LAMINITIS An inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the foot which can be life-threatening. Also known as “founder.”
LASIX The common name for the medication furosemide, used in the treatment of bleeders which acts as a diuretic, reducing the pressure on the capillaries.
LENGTH Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 9 feet. Also distance between horses in a race.
LISTED RACE A ungraded stakes race.
MAIDEN A horse or rider who has not won a race in his/her career. Also a female that has never been bred.
MAIDEN RACE A race restricted to non-winners of a race lifetime.
MARE Female horse age 5 or older. Also, female horse of any age who has been bred.
MINUS POOL A mutuel pool caused when a horse is so heavily bet that, after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet, forcing the track to make up the difference.
MORNING LINE A linesmaker’s estimate of what the final odds will be in a race, made before the betting begins.
MUD CALKS Also known as “Stickers.” Types of shoes that offer a horse better traction.
MUDDER A horse who races well on a wet track.
MUDDY A track condition which is wet but has no standing water.
MUTUEL FIELD Two or more starters grouped together as a single wagering interest when there are more entrants than available program numbers on the tote board.
NAME Names of North American thoroughbreds are registered by The Jockey Club. They can be no longer than 18 characters, including punctuation and spaces.
NOSE BAND A leather strap that goes over the bridge of a horse’s nose to help secure the bridle.
NTRA Established in 1988, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association is a broad-based coalition of thoroughbred racing interests designed to increase awareness and popularity of the sport and improve the economic conditions in the industry.
OAKS A stakes event for 3-year-old fillies.
OBJECTION Claim of foul lodged by a rider. If lodged by a patrol judge or other official, it is called an “inquiry.”
ODDS A reflection of money wagered on a given horse relative to the total win pool.
ODDS-ON A horse whose odds are less than even money.
OFFICIAL Sign displayed when the result of a given race is confirmed. Also a racing official.
ON THE BOARD Finishing among the top three in a given race.
ON THE NOSE Betting a horse to win only.
OPTIONAL CLAIMER A race condition that allows a mix of horses running for a claiming tag as well as horses running under a specific allowance condition.
OUTRIDER Accompanies horses during the pre-race warm-up. Also leads post parade, acts as traffic cop during morning workouts, and assists in the apprehension of loose horses on the track.
OVERLAY A horse going off at odds higher than seemingly warranted.
OVERNIGHT RACE A race in which entries close a specific number of hours before running, as opposed to a stakes race, for which entries close weeks in advance.
OVERWEIGHT A horse carrying more weight that the condition of the race requires, usually because the jockey exceeds the stated limit.
PACE Relative rate of early speed in a race.
PADDOCK Structure or area where horses are saddled and paraded prior to being taken to the track.
PARIMUTUEL WAGERING Introduced by Pierre Oller in 1865 meaning “mutuel stake,” betting is conducted against everyone who is making the same type of wager in the same race. Parimutuel odds reflect how much is wagered on each horse or combination relative to the size of the mutuel pool.
PARIMUTUEL PAYOFF The posted amount each bettor will recieve for a winning mutuel ticket.
PAST PERFORMANCES A horse’s racing record, earnings, bloodlines and other data, presented in composite form.
PATROL JUDGES Racing 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 the order of finish.
PICK 3 Type of multi-race wager calling for the selection of winners of three consecutive races.
PICK 4 Type of multi-race wager calling for the selection of winners of four consecutive races.
PICK 6 Type of multi-race wager calling for the selection of winners of six consecutive races. Wagers must be placed prior to the running of the first leg of the wager. If no tickets correctly contain all six winners, a portion of the pool is carried over to the next racing day’s Pick 6 pool.
PILL A small numbered ball used in a blind draw to decide post positions.
PINHOOKER A person who buys a racehorse with the specific intention of re-selling for a profit.
PLACE Finishing second in a race.
PLACE BET Wager on a horse to finish at least second in a given race.
POLL The top of the horse’s head, between the ears.
POLYTRACK A patented synthetic racetrack surface which has the texture of natural dirt but is lighter in color, and is a mixture of sand, synthetic fibers and recycled rubber coated with a “microcrystalline wax.” Polytrack has a high shock absorption rate, a low elasticity repulsion rate, is reportedly safer for horses, and requires less maintenance than a standard dirt track. Tracks utilizing Polytrack are always considered to be “fast” regardless of weather conditions. Polytrack is currently installed at Turfway Park, Keeneland, Woodbine and Del Mar.
POST PARADE Procession in front of the stands as horses make their way from the paddock to the starting gate prior to a race.
POST POSITION Position of stall in the starting gate from a horse will break.
POST TIME Designated time for a race to begin.
PROP When a horse suddenly stops moving by digging its front feet into the ground.
PURSE Prize money distributed after a race to the owners of the entrants that finished in the top five positions.
QUARTER CRACK A crack between the toe and the heel.
QUARTER POLE Marker one-quarter mile from the finish.
QUINELLA Wager in which the the first two finishers must correctly be picked, but can finish in either order.
RIDDEN OUT Mild encouragement by rider in the stretch.
RIDGLING A horse with one or both undescended testicles.
ROAN A horse color (noted as: Gr/ro.) 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.
ROUTE Race at a distance of a mile or longer.
RUN DOWN Abrasions of the heel.
SADDLE A throughbred racing saddle is the lightest used, weighing less than two pounds.
SADDLE CLOTH Cloth under the saddle on which a horse’s program number is displayed.
SCALE OF WEIGHTS Fixed weights to be carried by horses according to age, sex, race distance and time of year.
SCRATCH To be withdrawn from a race before it starts.
SESAMOID BONES Two small bones located above and at the back of the fetlock joint.
SHADOW ROLL A piece of equipment positioned halfway up a horse’s face to keep from seeing shadows or tracks on the ground and shying away from or jumping them.
SHEDROW Stable area.
SHOW Finishing third in a race.
SHOW BET Wager on a horse to finish at least third in a given race.
SILKS Jacket and cap worn by riders with a design and color scheme unique to the owner of the horse.
SIMULCAST Televising a race to other tracks, OTB or other outlets for the purpose of wagering.
SIRE Father of a horse.
SLOPPY Condition of the main track when extremely wet with standing water visible.
SPLINT Either of the two small bones thta lie along the sides of the cannon bone. Also a condition where calcification occurs on the splint bone causing a bump.
SOFT Condition of a wet turf course that indicates less than firm footing.
SOPHOMORES Three-year-old horses as age 3 is the second year of racing eligibility.
STAKES A race for which the owner usually must pay a fee to run a horse.
STARTING GATE Mechanical device having partitions (stalls) for horses in which they are loaded prior to the start. The front door of each stall is opened simultaneously to ensure an equal beginning.
STATE-BRED A horse bred in a particular state and thus eligible to comcpete in special races restricted to horses bred in that particular state.
STEADIED A horse being taken in hand by its rider, usually becuase of being in close quarters.
STEWARDS Track officials responsible for enforcing the rules.
STICK A jockey’s whip.
STIRRUPS Metal “D”-shaped rings into which a jockey places his/her feet.
SUPERFECTA A type of wager in which the first four finishers in a given race must be selected in the exact order of finish.
TAKEN UP A horse pulled up sharply by its rider because of being in close quarters.
TAKEOUT The percentage of tax taken from each betting pool at the track and distrubuted according to state law among the state, horsemen (purses) and racetrack.
TAPETA TRACK A synthetic racing surface which is reportedly safer for horses, requires less maintenance than a standard dirt surface, and is always listed “fast” regardless of weather conditions. Currently being installed at Golden Gate Fields.
TATTOO A permanent, indelible mark on the inside of the upper lip used to identify the horse.
THOROUGHBRED A thoroughbred is a horse whose parentage traces back to any of the three “founding sires”: the Darley Arabian, Byerly Turk and Godolphin Barb, and who has satisfied the rules and requirements of The Jockey Club and is registered in The American Stud Book or in a foreign stud book recognized by The Jockey club and the International Stud Book Committee.
TIMEFORM RATING A European speed rating system, which typically yields a value 12-14 points higher than an equivalent Beyer speed figure.
TONGUE TIE Strip of cloth material used to stablize a horse’s tongue to prevent the horse from “choking down” in a race or workout or to keep the tongue from sliding up over the bit, rendering the horse uncontrollable.
TOTALISATOR Machine which sells and records betting tickets and shows odds. Also displays payoff figures.
TOTE BOARD The electronic totalizator display in the infield which reflects up-to-the-minute odds and other information.
TRACK BIAS A racing surface that favors a particular running style or position.
TRIFECTA A type of wager in which the first three finishers in a given race must be selected in the exact order of finish.
TRIPLE CROWN In America, the series consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In England, the series consisting of the 2,000 Guineas, epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes. In Canada, the series consisting of the Queen’s Plate, the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeders’ Stakes.
TURF Grass racing surface.
VALET A person emplyed to clean and care for a jockey’s tack and other riding equipment.
WALKOVER A race in which only one horse competes.
WASHED OUT A horse that sweats profusely prior to a race. Also known as “washy” or “lathered up.”
WEANLING A foal that is less than 1-year-old that has been separated from its dam.
WHITE An extremely rare horse color in which all the hairs are white, and the horse’s eyes are brown.
WIN Finishing first in a race.
WIN BET Wager on a horse to finish first in a given race.
WIRE The finish line.
WITHERS Area above the shoulder, where the neck meets the back.
YEARLING A horse in its second calendar year of life, beginning Jan. 1 of the year folloiwng its birth.
YIELDING Condition of a turf course between firm and soft.