Horse Racing Terminology and Definitions


ABC Wagering	ABC Wagering is a wagering system invented by Steven Crist that allows you to rank the horses according to their appeal to you. “A” runners are the ones most likely to win, “B” runners are somewhat likely to win and “C” runners are unlikely but might have a shot. Given those ranking you can construct your bets more efficiently.
Artificial or Synthetic Track	From its name, artificial, this track is man-made and allows racing to occur in bad weather conditions, also sometimes referred to as All Weather surfaces. Synthetic tracks have drainage characteristics that are better than natural surfaces. For more detailed information about all three surface tracks, see “Track Surface”.
Across The Board	Across the Board bet is a bet on a a runner to Win, Place, and Show. If the runner wins the player collects all three prices, if the runner comes in second the player collects the Place and Show prices, and if the runner comes in third the player collects the Show price only
Action	A) The way a horse moves. B) To wager. I.E. (Number 1 has all of the action).
Added Money	Money added to the purse of a race by an industry fund to the amount paid by owners in nomination, eligibility, entry and fees.
Addin	Money added by the host track to pool. (Seed Money)
Agent	A person legally empowered to conduct business for a stable owner or jockey, may buy or sell horses for an owner or breeder.
Airing	Running slower than normal in a race.
All-Out	When a runner is pushing it to the edge, going faster and harder than normal.
Allowance Race	A race where the runners are allowed to carry different weight based on age, sex and/or past race performances.
Also-Eligible	A horse that is officially entered in the race, but will only run if other horses are scratched below a specified number.
Anterior	Toward front.
Apprentice	Rider which has ridden less then a specified number of races. May be denoted with an asterisk in the program.
Apron	Area between the grandstand and race track. Normally a paved spectator area.
Artificial or Synthetic Track	From its name, artificial, this track is man-made and allows racing to occur in bad weather conditions, also sometimes referred to as All Weather surfaces. Synthetic tracks have drainage characteristics that are better than natural surfaces. It is a racing surface typically composed of sand, fiber, wax, and rubber. The term “synthetic” makes it different from other natural racing surfaces like dirt and turf.
Baby Race	A race for two year old horses.
Backside / Backstretch	Employee and stable area many times located behind the track.
Bandage	Bandages are used on horses in a race to support their legs and help protect against injury.
Barrier / Tape	Starting device used in steeple chase racing which is stretched across the racetrack and springs back out of way when released.
Bell	Signal sounded to indicate betting is stopped. May happen when the gate opens or prior.
Beyer Number	Popular handicapping ranking popularized by author Andrew Beyer, assigns a numerical value to each runner based on final time and track conditions.
Bit	Aluminum, rubber, or stainless steel bar attached to the bridle which fits in the horse’s mouth and allows the rider/jockey to exert control over the horse.
Blanket	Covering for a runner bearing the number and color corresponding to post position.
Bleeder	A horse that is prone to bleeding from the lungs during exercise or running. May be exacerbated by either extreme hot or cold temperatures. May be preventively treated with Lasix.
Blinkers	A device to limit the range of vision of a horse. Prevents the horse from being distracted/scared by the crowd or other objects/horses.
Board	Historically the “Tote Board” in the middle of the racetrack that displayed pool totals and odds. May refer to any display presenting odds/pool totals.
Bolt	When a runner suddenly veer’s off course.
Bomber	When a long shot (high odds) horse wins.
Box	Bet type that uses all selections in each possible position. I.E. Trifecta Box
Breakage	Remaining pennies after rounding, may go to the state or entity taking the wager depending on state rules. (Negative Breakage is paid by the entity taking the wager)
Breaders Crown	An annual series of Harness races in the United States and Canada covering the sport’s twelve traditional categories of age, gait, and gender. The Hambletonian Society pioneered the Breeders Crown in 1984 to upgrade the Standardbred breeding industry and boost Harness racing sports.
Bute	Phenylbutazone, a NSAID that is legal in many jurisdictions. Also known by Butazolidin and Butazone.
Call	The actual position of the horses at a certain point in the race.
Carryover	Many pools may payout partially if no-one selects the exact finish. In that case the left over money will be added to the next (or specified) instance of the same pool. If a pool is not “hit”, this can lead to successive carryovers and very large pools. In some instances carryovers may be forced-out and paid to those with the most correct selections (5 of 6 etc.). Carryovers are more likely in pools with more legs. I.E. Pick 6 or Super High Five.
Chart	Shows the position and distance of each horse at pre-determined points of call, runners age, weight, owner, trainer, jockey, race statisics and other data.
Checked	When a jockey must slow a horse due to others in its path.
Chute	Extension of the straight stretches of the track allowing runners to get up to speed before going into a turn.
Claiming	Method that any licensed person may purchase a running horse entered in a “claiming race” for a predetermined price. When a runner is claimed the runner changes owners as soon as the race begins although the prior runner still retains all purse money for the race. Thus the new owner takes the risk of the race and the old owner takes the reward.
Claiming Race	A race with a predtermined amount that any runner in the race can be purchased at. (See Claiming)
Classic	Historically significant race.
Clerk of Scales	Racing official whose duty is to ensure riders are properly weighed before and after each race.
Clocker	Person that times the races and workouts of a runner.
Closer	Runner that tends to do best in the late stages of a race.
Colt	Ungelded male horse under four years old.
Commingle	Combining wagers into the same pool from multiple wagering locations.
Conditions	Requirements and rules for a certain race. Restrictions may include age, sex, winning money, winning races, weight carried, and/or distance of race.
Dam	Female parent of a horse.
Dam’s Sire	Maternal grandfather of a horse.
Dead Heat	Two or more runners finishing at the same exact time in a race. (Tie)
Deep Stretch	Near the finish line in a race.
Decimal Odds	Actual probable payout for a runner to win. More accurate than fractional odds which may involve rounding.
Derby	Stakes race for three year olds.
Dirt Track	It is one of the natural surface tracks in horse racing that is composed of clay, sand, and soil. For more detailed information about all three surface tracks, see “Track Surface”.
Distaff	A female horse.
Distanced	A runner so far behind there is no possible way it may win.
Donn Handicap	An American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1959 through 2016 at Gulfstream Park. It is for horses aged four and older. It was raced on turf from its inauguration until 1964 at a distance of a mile and one-half. In 1965, its track type shifted to dirt at a mile and one-eighth until 2016. The race was named after the Donn family who owned and managed the racetrack for several years.
Driving	A horse running as hard as possible under urging from the jockey/driver.
Earmuffs	Device covering horses ears to prevent noise from distracting it.
Eased	Gently slowing a horse during a race.
Eligible	Qualified to start in a race.
Entry Fee	Money paid by an owner to put their runner in the race.
Entry	Two or more horses with common ownership or common trainers which run as a single betting interest. Rules vary between jurisdictions.
Exotic	Refers to any wager other than win, place, or show.
Fast	Track condition where it is dry and evenly packed.
Fence	Railing on inside of track.
Field	All runners in a race.
Filly	Female horse under four years old.
Firm	Track condition on a turf course where it is dry and evenly packed.
Flag	Manual race start signal.
Florida Derby	An American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park. It is a Grade I race run at 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt.
Force-Out	A pool which will be paid fully even if no one selects the correct order.
Front-Runner	Runner which normally leads the pack, may do poorly once in the middle of the pack.
Furlong	660 Feet = 220 yard = 1/8 of a mile.
Furosemide	Commonly known as Lasix. Medication to help prevent bleeding in some horses.
Gait	Particular characteristic of the way a horse walks, such as: walk, trot, canter, or gallop.
Gap	Opening in the railing where horses may enter and leave the racecourse.
Granddam	Grandmother of a horse.
Grandsire	Grandfather of a horse.
Groom	Person that cares for horses in the stable.
Hand	Measurement equivalent to four inches.
Handle	Amount of money wagered on a pool/race/event.
Hard	Track condition where it is extremely solid.
Head	Term for when a horse is leading another by a small amount (the size of their head).
Heat	Race in which the winners will qualify to run in a later more prestigious race.
Infield	The area inside the inner railing of the racecourse.
Inquiry	Judges/Stewards investigating a possible rule violation. May result in disqualification of a runner in some circumstances.
In The Money	A runner that finishes in first, second, or third place.
Jockey	It originated from England and was used to portray a person who rides horses in racing
Kentucky Derby	It is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of one and a quarter miles (2.0 km) at Churchill Downs. It is held annually almost every first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It is dubbed “The Run for the Roses” and known in the United States as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” because of its approximate duration.
Lasix	See furosemide.
Length	Sight measurement equivalent to the length of a horse. Denotes distances between horses during a race.
Lock	A sure thing, cannot lose. (Or so they say..)
Lure	Mechanical device used to guide the greyhounds around the racetrack.
Maiden	Horse that has not won a race.
Mare	Female horse older than five years.
Matinee	Race program conducted during daylight hours.
Minus Pool	A pool where a favorite horse is bet so much that when it wins the entities taking the bet must add money back to the pool to cover the legal minimum payout.
Mudder	A runner that does better in wet/muddy conditions.
Mutuel Pool	Sum of all wagers on a specific bet type for a specific race (or races in multi-race pools).
Neck	A sight measurement generally equivalent to the length of a horses neck.
Nose	A sight measurement meaning very small distance.
Oaks	Stakes race for three year old female horses.
Objection	Claim of a foul or rule infraction made by a jockey against another horse/rider.
Official	Race is final and tickets can be paid/redeemed for shown prices.
Off Track Betting	Wagering at legal betting outlets not at the actual racetrack. All wagering on AmWager is Off Track Betting.
On The Board	Runner finishing in the top three positions.
Overlay	A runner / combination that has been wagered on less than it warrants based on statistics.
Pacesetter	The horse running in front. The leader.
Paddock	Area where horses are saddled and paraded for the crowd before racing.
Part Wheel	Using multiple horses in each leg of a wager. Also known as just Wheel.
Past Performance	Statistics about the actual performance of a runner in its past races.
Pegasus World Cup	The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race inaugurated on January 28, 2017, at Gulfstream Park. It is run over the dirt at the distance of 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) for horses four years old and up. The Grade I rating was assumed from the Donn Handicap. The Pegasus World Cup surpassed the Dubai World Cup as the richest horse race in the world for the years 2017 and 2018.
Photo Finish	Finish where the order is too close to call visually, judges must view the high-speed finish camera to determine the winners.
Pick	Type of multi-race wager where you must pick the winner in each selected race. I.E. Pick 3, Pick 5, Pick 6.
Place	Second position. A wager that pays on first or second.
Post	Starting position of a runner in the race.
Post Time	Designated time the race should begin.
Purse	Total money distributed to owners of the top finishers of the race.
Rail	Barrier on either side of the racing surface.
Rail Runner	A runner that likes to stay near the inside rail of a track.
Schooling Race	Practice race.
Scratch	Removed from the race. May be removed for various reasons.
Self-Serve	A machine that you can place a wager at a track without interacting with a teller.
Show	Third position. A wager which pays out if a runner comes in at least third.
Silks	Jacket and cap worn by jockey’s that designate the owner of the horse, or post position. (Varies based on track)
Simulcast	Transmission of the race to other locations.
Sire	Male parent of a horse.
Sloppy	Track condition – Wet with water visible on the track.
Slow	Track condition – Track is wet and somewhat soaked.
Soft	Track condition – Extremely wet, horses may sink deeply.
Sprint	Short race.
Sports Illustrated	An American sports magazine owned by Authentic Brands Group and licensed to The Arena Group (formerly “The Maven”), first published in August 1954.
Stakes	A race in which the owner must pay an entry fee. Generally has higher purses than other races.
Stallion	Male horse used for breeding.
Standardbred	A type of horse breed best known for its capacity in harness racing, either in trot or pace. For more detailed information about all horse racing breeds, see “Horse Racing Breeds“.
Starting Gate	Device which serves to hold the runners until the start of the race and then release them evenly.
Stronach Group	The Stronach Group became part of the horse racing industry by acquiring Magna Entertainment Corporation’s former holdings from MI Developments. In January 2020, the company announced a rebranding to the 1/ST banner for all consumer-facing operations. It is North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack operator of Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Laurel Park, and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The group is also one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies, and services.
Takeout	The percentage of each bet deducted prior to going into the pool. Shared by the entity taking the bet, the track, government bodies, tote systems, and others.
Tapeta Track	It is one subtype of artificial or synthetic track that is composed of sand, fiber, rubber, and wax makes up the racing surface’s top 4-7 inches, instated on either porous asphalt or a geotextile membrane. One of the subtypes of tracks with a synthetic surface. It is an artificial surface, unlike dirt and turf tracks. For more detailed information about all three surface tracks, see “Track Surface“.
Thoroughbred	It is a breed of horse best known for its use in horse racing, agility, speed, and spirit. These horses are commonly crossbred to form new breeds or to enhance existing ones and are “hot-blooded”. For more detailed information about all horse racing breeds, see “Horse Racing Breeds“.
Thoroughbred Racing Association	Industry group comprised of many race tracks in North America.
Tote / Totalizator	Computer system which aggregates wagers, displays odds, and calculates payouts.
Tout	Person which claims to have the best knowledge of who will win.
Track Bias	Some race courses may favor certain types of runners. Finding the bias in a track can help handicapping.
Trip	Description of how a specific horse performed in a race.
Turf Track	It is a natural grass track and the most popular track surface for flat-track horse racing in Europe. For more detailed information about all three surface tracks, see “Track Surface“.
Twilight Racing	It means racing activities at night
Underlay	A runner or combination which has had more money bet on it than statistics warrants.
Untried	A runner that has never ran in these specific conditions.
Wire	The finish line.
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG)	Formerly known as the Ontario Jockey Club from 1881 to 2001, operating the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, and Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ontario
Work	To exercise a runner.

Horse Racing Terminology and Definitions

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