Racing Terminology

[»Phantom]

RACING TERMINOLOGY_{______________________________}

• AGE - All thoroughbreds count January 1st as their birth date.
  
  
• ALLOWANCES - Reductions in weights to be carried, allowed because of certain conditions such as an apprentice jockey being on a horse, a female horse racing against males, or three-year-olds racing against older horses.
  
  
• ALSO RAN - When a horse doesn't finish in the money, it's listed as an also-ran. This is also a slang for anything that's not good.
  
  
• APPRENTICE - A trainee jockey.
  
  
• BACKSTRETCH - The straight way on the far side of the track.
  
  
• BEARING IN (OUT) - Going wide on the turns (Bearing Out), or running toward the inside rail (Bearing In). This term is used when a horse is failing to maintain a straight course, or veering to the left or right. This can be caused by injury, fatigue, outside distraction, or poor riding.
  
  
• BEYER NUMBER - A handicapping tool, popularized by author Andrew Beyer, assigning a numerical value to each race run by a horse based on final time and track condition. This enables different horses running at different racetracks to be objectively compared.
  
  
• BLANKET FINISH - When the horses finish so close to the winning line you could theoretically put a single blanket across them.
  
  
• BLINKERS - A cup-shaped device applied over the sides of the horse's head near his eyes to limit his vision. This helps to prevent him from swerving away from distracting objects or other horses on either side of him. Blinker cups come in a variety of sizes and shapes to allow as little or as much vision as the trainer feels is appropriate.
  
  
• BOARD - Short for 'Tote Board' on which odds, betting pools and other race information are displayed.
  
  
• BREAKDOWN - When a horse suffers a potentially career-ending injury. The occurrence of injury or lameness in a horse in a race or workout.
  
  
• BREAK MAIDEN - A horse or rider winning the first race of a career.
  
  
• BREEZE (BREEZING) - Working a horse at moderate speed.
  
  
• CHUTE - The chute is an extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run at the beginning of a race.
  
  
• CLAIMING - Buying a horse out of race for entered price. The 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 particular race.
  
  
• CLAIMING RACE - A race in which the horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price. 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.
  
  
• CLOSER - A horse that runs best in the latter part of the race (closing race), coming from off the pace.
  
  
• COLORS - Racing silks, the jacket and cap worn by jockeys. Silks can be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner.
  
  Colt - An ungelded (entire) male horse four-years-old or younger.
  
  Dead Heat - A tie. Two or more horses finishing equal in a race.
  
  Derby - A stakes event for three-year-olds.
  
  Distance - The length of a race: 5 furlongs is the minimum and the 4 1/2 miles of the Grand National the longest. Also, the margin by which a horse wins or is beaten by the horse in front; this ranges from a short head to 'by a distance' (more than 30 lengths).
  
  Distanced - Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner.
  
  Driving - Strong urging by rider.
  
  Entry - A horse entered in a race.
  
  Extended - Forced to run at top speed.
  False Favorite - A horse that is a race favorite despite being outclassed by others.
  
  Faltered - A horse that was in contention early in the race but drops back in the late stages.
  
  Fast (track) - Optimum condition for a dirt track that is dry, even, resilient and fast.
  
  Favorite - The most popular horse in a race, which is quoted at the lowest odds because it is deemed to have the best chance of winning the race.
  
  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.
  
  Foal - A baby horse, usually refers to either a male or female horse from birth to January 1st of the following year. All racehorses are given the nominal birthday of January 1st. Thus a two-year-old born in June and one born in January of the same year are considered to be of the same age for the purposes of satisfying the conditions of some races re: weight carried. In reality, the January horse may be considered to have a significant advantage in terms of physical development at this early stage in its career.
  
  Front-runner - A horse whose running style is to attempt to get on or near the lead at the start of the race and stay there as long as possible.
  
  Furlong - One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards or 660 feet (approx. 200 meters).
  
  Gelding - A male horse that has been castrated.
  
  Graded Race - Established in 1973 to classify select stakes races in North America, at the request of European racing authorities, who had set up group races two years earlier. Always denoted with Roman numerals I, II, or III. Capitalized when used in race title (the Grade I Kentucky Derby).
  
  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 - Race for which the track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried. Each horse is allocated a different weight to carry, the theory being all horses then run on a fair and equal basis.
  
  Hand Ride - The jockey urges a horse with the hands and arms without using the whip.
  
  Heavy (track) - Wettest possible condition of a turf course, similar to muddy but slower; not usually found in North America.
  
  Horse - When reference is made to sex, a 'horse' is an ungelded male five-years-old or older.
  
  Impost - Weight carried or assigned.
  
  In Hand - Running under moderate control, at less than best pace.
  
  In The Money - Describes the horses in a race that finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd (and sometimes 4th) or the horses on which money will be paid to bettors, depending on the place terms.
  
  Juvenile - Two-year-old horse.
  
  Length - A measurement approximating the length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet, used to denote distance between horses in a race. For example, "Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths".
  
  Listed Race - A stakes race just below a group race or graded race in quality.
  
  Long Shot - (Also, Outsider) A runner is often referred to as being a long shot, because of the fact it is returning high odds and is therefore deemed to have little chance of winning the race.
  
  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.
  
  Morning Glory - Horse who performs well in morning workouts but fails to fire in actual races.
  
  Mudder - A horse that races well on muddy tracks. Also known as a 'Mudlark'.
  
  Muddy (track) - A condition of a racetrack which is wet but has no standing water.
  
  Neck - Unit of measurement about the length of a horse's neck.
  
  Nose - Smallest advantage a horse can win by. Called a short head in Britain.
  
  Oaks - A stakes event for three-year-old fillies (females).
  
  Odds - The sportsbook's or bookmaker's view of the chance of a competitor winning (adjusted to include a profit). The figure or fraction by which a bookmaker or totalisator offers to multiply a bettor's stake, which the bettor is entitled to receive (plus his or her own stake) if their selection wins.
  
  Out Of The Money - A horse that finishes worse than third.
  
  Pacesetter - The horse that is running in front (on the lead).
  
  Paddock - Area where horses are saddled and kept before post time.
  
  Parimutuel(s) - A form of wagering originated in 1865 by Frenchman Pierre Oller in which all money bet is divided up among those who have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made. Oller 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'.
  
  Perfecta or Exacta (Straight Forecast, UK) - A wager in which you pick the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish. The Perfecta is similar to the Quiniela, except the two horses must finish in the exact order. To bet you say '$3 Perfecta, 5-6'. Only if the horses finish 5-6 you win.
  
  Photo Finish - A photo is automatically taken as the horses pass the winning line and when the race is too close to be judged the photo is used to determine the order of finish.
  
  Place - Finish in the top two, top three, top four and sometimes also top five in a competition or event. A Place bet will win if the selection you bet on is among those placed. Usually, a horse runs a place if it finishes in the first three in fields of eight or more horses. If there are only six or seven runners the horse must finish first or second to place. Different sportsbooks have different Place terms and you should check their rules before placing a bet. In US, 2nd place finish. (See 'Each Way' UK)
  
  Post Position - Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.
  
  Post Time - Designated time for a race to start.
  
  Purse - Prize money contained in a purse and hung on a wire which crossed the finish line. Technically, a race to which the owners do not contribute to the prize.
  
  Race Caller - The person who describes the race at a racecourse.
  
  Rail Runner - Horse that prefers to run next to the inside rail.
  
  Route - Broadly, a race distance of longer than 1-1/8 miles.
  
  Router - Horse that performs well at longer distances.
  
  Saved Ground - A horse is said to have 'saved ground' if the horse is allowed to stay inside, just off the inner rail throughout the trip. A horse that has experienced no traffic trouble during the race and was not forced to race wide at any point.
  
  Scratch (Scratching) - 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.
  
  Shadow Roll - Usually a lamb's wool roll half way up the horse's face to keep him from seeing his own shadow.
  
  Show - Third position at the finish.
  
  Sire - Father of a horse.
  
  Sloppy (track) - A track that is wet on surface, with standing water visible, with firm bottom.
  
  Slow (track) - A racing strip that is wet on both the surface and base. Between good and heavy.
  
  Soft (track) - Condition of a turf course with a large amount of moisture. Horses sink very deeply into it.
  
  Sprint - Short race, less than one mile.
  Stakes Horse - A horse whose level of competition includes mostly stakes races.
  
  Stakes race - A race for which the owner usually must pay a fee to run a horse. Some stakes races are by invitation and require no payment or fee.
  
  Stallion - A male horse used for breeding.
  
  Starting Gate - Partitioned mechanical device having stalls in which the horses are confined until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race.
  
  Stayer - A horse that can race long distances.
  
  Stewards - The group of people who control the day's racing by ensuring that every runner competes on its merits and imposing penalties for any breach of the rules of racing.
  
  Stick - A jockey's whip.
  
  Stretch (home-Stretch) - Final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish.
  
  Stretch Runner - Horse that runs its fastest nearing the finish of a race.
  
  Switch Leads - (Also 'Change their Leads') The process where a horse shifts his weight to one side or the other. Horses change their leads in a race, they start off on the right lead then when they go into the turn they go onto the left lead to make the turn, then they change back to the right lead in the stretch and finish the race. Horses are trained to change their leads when they first start training, but the jockey sometimes taps them on the shoulder to make them change leads at the right spot in the race.
  
  Taken Up - A horse pulled up sharply by his rider because of being in close quarters.
  
  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. Any other horse, no matter what its parentage, is not considered a Thoroughbred for racing and/or breeding purposes.
  
  Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) - An industry group comprised of many of the racetracks in North America.
  
  Track Condition - Condition of the racetrack surface. Slow, Fast; good; muddy; sloppy; frozen; hard; firm; soft; yielding; heavy.
  
  Track Record - Fastest time for a distance at a particular track.
  
  Trainer - The person responsible for looking after a horse and preparing it to race. A trainer must hold a license or permit to be entitled to train.
  
  Triple Crown - Used generically to denote a series of three important races, but is always capitalized when referring to historical races for three-year-olds. In the United States, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
  
  Wager - Another term for bet.
  
  Weight-For-Age - The purpose of weight-for-age is to allow horses of different age and sex to compete on equal terms. The weight a horse carried is allocated on a set scale according to its sex and age.
  
  Whip - Instrument or a stick, usually of leather, with which rider strikes horse to increase his speed.
  
  Wire - The finish line of a race.
  
  Yearling - A horse in its second calendar year of life, beginning January 1 of the year following its birth.
  
  Yielding - Condition of a turf course with a great deal of moisture. Horses sink into it noticeably.