| TERMS |
MEANING |
| Also Ran: |
A horse that does not finish among the
first three. |
Asterisk(*): |
When used with a jockey's
name or beside the weight a horse is to carry
it denotes an apprentice rider. In breeding
publications where it appears with a horse's
name it means the horse was imported to the
U.S. |
| Backstretch: |
The straightway on the far side of the
race track. Also used as a reference to
the stable area. |
Bandages: |
Bandages or cloth wrappings
on a horse's legs to not necessarily denote
lameness or infirmity. Many trainers keep their
horses in standing bandages at all times as
a protection. They are also used in racing for
protection and support. |
| Barrier: |
The starting gate is sometimes
referred to as the barrier. |
Bill Daly: |
A horse that breaks in front
and sets the pace is "on the Bill Daly." This
manner of running was said to be the principal
tactic drilled into jockeys developed by "Father
Bill" Daly, a colorful trainer prior to the
turn of the century. |
| Blanket Finish: |
One which finds several horses finishing
noses and heads apart or so closely grouped
that they could be covered by a blanket in
a figurative sense. |
Blinkers: |
Once called the "Rogue's
Badge," blinkers are a common piece of racing
equipment today. The eye cups on the blinkers,
depending on modifications, block side and rear
vision in either or both eyes. The use or disuse
of blinkers must be approved by the stewards
and the change reported on the official program.
|
| Blow Out: |
A brief last workout (usually three furlongs
or a half mile) given a day or two prior to
a race and designed to sharpen or maintain
a horse's condition. |
Bottom Wheel: |
Bottom wheel is a wagering
strategy in which a selection in an exacta is
wagered in the "bottom" or "place" position,
while all the other horses in the field are
used in the win position. To win in this wager
your selection must finish second. To get a
feeling about how much you might be about to
win you can check the possible payoffs grids
that are shown on your tv monitor. To wager
a bottom wheel you need to tell the mutuel clerk
that you want to "wheel the (whatever your horse
number) on the bottom." |
| Breakage: |
The calculation of the return on a $2.00
wager is made to the nearest .10 in most states.
For example, if the actual division of the
pool comes out to $8.64 the official payoff
is $8.60. |
Bug: |
Or "bug boy;" an apprentice
jockey so-called because of the "bug" or asterisk
in the official program to denote that the weight
carried includes the apprentice allowance. |
| Bug Waive: |
Apprentice jockeys have traditionally been
referred to as "bug boys", since they have
historically had their names printed in the
program with an asterisk or "bug" to denote
that they are not yet journeyman riders. When
one of those "bug boys" comes off a mount
and is replaced by a journeyman rider, the
weight concession extended to the apprentice
is relinquished, hence the "bug is waived"
in that case. |
Cast: |
When a horse is down in
confined quarters, such as his stall or the
starting gate, and unable to regain his feet--he
is "cast." |
| Chalk: |
Or Chalk Horse: the favorite or most heavily
played horse in a race. The term originated
in the days of bookmakers when the odds were
chalked on slates. |
Chute: |
A straightaway extension
of either the homestretch or the backstretch
used for distances which would otherwise necessitate
starting on a turn. |
| Climbing: |
A fault in a horse's stride in which, instead
of reaching out, his action is abnormally
high. |
Clubhouse Turn: |
The turn to the right of
the grandstand, so called because he Clubhouse
is usually to the right of the general stands.
|
| Colors: |
The jockey's silk or nylon jacket and cap
provided by the owner. Distinctive colors
are registered by the owner with The Jockey
Club and with the state racing authority.
The practice of using individually registered
colors was introduced at Newmarket, England
in 1762. |
Condition Book: |
A booklet issued periodically
by the racing office describing conditions of
upcoming races so that trainers can plan in
which races to enter their horses. |
| Coupled: |
Two or more horses belonging to the same
owner or trained by the same person are said
to be "coupled" and they run as an "entry"
comprising a single betting unit. Their program
number regardless of post position would be
"1" and "1A." A second "entry" in the race
would be listed in the program as "2" and
"2A." A bet on one horse of an entry is a
bet on both. |
Cushion: |
The loose, top surface of
the race track. |
| Dead Heat: |
Where the photo-finish camera shows two
horses inseparable at the finish, the race
is declared a "dead heat" or tie. |
Dogs: |
Wooden barriers used during
workout periods to close off a portion of the
race track near the inner rail when the track
is sloppy or muddy. |
| Driving: |
When a horse is running under extreme pressure
he is said to be driving. |
Dwelt: |
A horse that is slow in
breaking from the starting gate is said to have
"dwelt." |
| Eighth Pole: |
The pole one eighth of a mile before the
finish line. |
Entry: |
Two or more horses in a
race, owned by the same stable, or trained by
the same trainer are termed an "entry" and coupled
as a single betting unit, a bet on one being
a bet on both. |
| Excused: |
To be withdrawn from a race after the regular
time for scratches a horse must be "excused"
by the Stewards. |
Extended: |
A horse running at top speed
under extreme pressure by the rider. |
| Farrier: |
A blacksmith specializing in the shoeing,
or plating, of horses. In early days he was
also a horse doctor. |
Far Turn: |
The turn off the backstretch.
|
| Fast: |
A race track at its best condition is said
to be fast. |
Field: |
This word has two meanings
in racing which could be confusing. The entire
group of starters in a race is known collectively
as the "field." However, a "field horse" is
one of a group designated by the track handicapper
in a case where there are more starters than
there are betting units provided by the pari-mutuel
equipment. Rightly called the "pari-mutuel field"
this group runs as a single betting unit. For
example in the Kentucky Derby of 1951, while
there were only 12 betting units, 20 horses
started. Seven started as individual betting
units; four stables had entries of two horses
each; the remaining five ran as the "field"
and one of these, Count Turf, was the winner.
|
| Flat Race: |
Originally a race without obstacles such
as hedges, hurdles or fences. Today more often
used as opposed to harness racing although
the trotters also race on the flat. |
Fractional Time: |
The running time at various
points between the start and finish of a race.
|
| Furlong: |
One eighth of a mile. Originally a "furrow
long" or the length of a plowed field. |
Garrison Finish: |
A late rush resulting in
a narrow margin of victory, so called because
Edward "Snapper" Garrison, a prominent rider
at the turn of the century, specialized in such
finishes. |
| Gelding: |
A castrated male horse. |
| Ginney: |
A groom; a corruption
of the English "Guinea," which in days past
was the traditional award to the groom of
a winner. |
| Halter: |
A piece of equipment placed on a horse's
head similar to a bridle but lacking a bit
and reins. A long leather shank is attached
to the halter for walking the horse. Also
an expression used for claiming a horse deriving
from the fact that when the representative
of the new owner takes the horse he must have
with him his own halter. A trainer who frequently
claims horses is called a halter man. |
| Hand: |
A unit of four inches
by which a horse's height is measured, placing
one hand above the other from the ground to
the withers or the point where the saddle
sits. A horse that measures 16 hands is 5
feet 4 inches tall at the withers. |
| Handicapper: |
One who assigns the weights to be carried
in a handicap race. Also one who makes selections
in a race based on a thorough study of the
past performance of each horse. |
| Handily: |
A horse working or racing
with ease and without urging is said to be
going "handily." |
| Handle: |
The aggregate amount of money wagered on
a race, a day, a meeting or a season. |
| Holy Ghost: |
Holy Ghost is a wagering
theory that is used by numerologists. The
suggestion is that good things happen in threes
(reference to the Biblical Trinity of the
Father, Son and Holy Ghost). Players of the
Holy Ghost theory believe that when a certain
jockey, saddle cloth number, post position,
trainer, etc., scores two wins, then it follows
that there will be a third success, since
good luck tends to run in groups of threes.
|
| Homestretch: |
The straightaway leading to the finish.
|
| Hot Walker: |
A stable hand who leads
a horse around the shed row or walking ring
in the "cooling out" process following a race
or a workout. Walking hots is usually the
first job given a novice stable employee.
|
| Infield: |
The area within the inner rail of a race
track. |
| Inquiry: |
An inquiry is an action
taken by the track stewards following a race
to check for a possible infraction that might
have been noticed during the actual running
of the race. In the inquiry the stewards will
replay the race on videotape and review the
incident, deciding eventually whether or not
punitive action needs to be taken. |
| In the Money: |
A horse finishing first, second or third
is "in the money." |
| Irons: |
The stirrups are referred
to as irons. |
| Juvenile: |
A 2-year-old horse is called a "juvenile."
|
| Key Horse: |
A single horse used in
multiple combinations in an exotic wager.
|
| Lead Pad: |
A piece of equipment under the saddle containing
thin slabs of lead used to bring a rider's
weight up to that assigned to the horse. |
| Length: |
The measurement corresponding
to the average length of a horse and used
to describe winning, or losing, distances.
A horse can win, or be beaten, by a length
or more, or by fractions thereof -- 3/4 of
a length, half-length, 1/4 length, neck, head
or nose. These terms are more descriptive
than scientific. |
| Minus Pool: |
When an outstanding horse is so heavily
played that, after the deduction of the state
tax and commission, not enough money remains
in the pool to pay off the legally prescribed
minimum, it is called a minus pool and the
racing association makes up the difference.
|
| Morning Line: |
The approximate odds usually
printed in the program and posted on the totalisator
board prior to the betting. This is a forecast
of how it is believed the betting will go
in a particular race. |
| Mud Caulks: |
These are small cleats inserted on the back
end of a horse's shoe or racing plate. The
caulks are used most when the track surface
becomes muddy or sloppy. this will enable
the horse to have better racing traction on
an "off" surface. |
| Near Side: |
The left side on which
a horse is led, mounted and dismounted. |
| Odds-On: |
Odds of less than even money ($1 to $1).
A winner at a payoff of under $4.00 is "odds
on." |
| Off Side: |
The right hand side of
a horse. |
| Overlay: |
An overlay occurs when a horse that is placed
at a certain price on the morning line receives
considerably more play than one might have
expected. That horse is said to be "overlaid".
It tells you that there is money being played
on this horse that was not anticipated and
the payoff price will be smaller than originally
expected |
| Overnight: |
A race for which entries
close 72 hours (exclusive of Sundays) or less
before the post time for the first race on
the day the race is to be run. Also, the (usually)
photocopied sheet available to horsemen in
the racing secretary's office showing the
entries for the following day. |
| Overweight: |
Depending on conditions each horse carries
an assigned weight. When the jockey cannot
make the weight, overweight is allowed but
not more than 5 pounds. The overweight is
either posted on an information board or announced
on the public address system prior to the
race. |
| Paddock: |
The area at the race track
where the horses are saddled and viewed prior
to a race. A fenced off field on a farm. |
| Placing Judge: |
Officials from the Racing Secretary's Office
are in charge of the official placing of horses
during and after the running of a race. Two
of the judges call the view of the race to
a third judge who feeds the information by
computer to the tote board. The judges determine
the official order of finish by viewing a
still negative film of each horse reaching
the finish line, proceeding to the last place
finisher. Their viewing stand is located on
top of the grandstand, at the finish line.
|
| Plater: |
A term for a horse that
runs in cheap claiming races. Also the farrier
who makes or fits the horse's shoes or plates.
|
| Post: |
The starting point for a race. |
| Post Position: |
A horse's position in
the starting gate from the inner rail outward
which is decided by a drawing at the close
of entries the day prior to the race. |
| Post Time: |
The time at which all horses are required
to be at the post and ready to start. |
| Preferred List: |
A group of horses having
priority in the event that a race draws more
entries than can be accommodated. |
| Public Trainer: |
One who trains for more than one owner,
usually on a per diem basis. |
| Quarter Horse: |
A type of horse recently
established as a breed which is extremely
fast at short distances. While so-called "quarter
horse" racing was popular in Colonial times
it has in recent years had a renaissance in
the West. |
| Quarter Pole: |
On a one-mile track, the pole at the turn
into the stretch a quarter of a mile before
the finish. |
| Racing Secretary: |
The official who makes
up the conditions for the races and assigns
the weights for handicap races. |
| Ridgeling: |
A colt with one or both testicles undescended.
|
| Route: |
A race of more than one
and one-eighth miles is considered a route.
|
| Savage: |
In racing parlance "savage" is a verb. A
horse that tries to bite another horse or
a man is "savaging" the horse or the man.
A chart footnote or an account of a race may
mention that a horse tried to savage another.
|
| Scale of Weights: |
An arbitrary set of weights
to be carried by horses of a certain age at
a certain time of year at a certain distance. |
| Scratch: |
To scratch a horse is to withdraw him from
a race. There is a deadline for scratches
after which permission must be obtained from
the Stewards. |
| Set Down: |
A jockey who has been
suspended has been "set down." |
| Sex Allowance: |
In all races other than handicaps or where
conditions state otherwise, fillies and mares
are allowed weight below the scale, usually
3 pounds for 2-year-old fillies and 5 pounds
for fillies and mares 3 and up, prior to September
1, and 3 pounds thereafter. |
| Shadow Roll: |
A thick noseband of sheep's
wool used to prevent a horse from seeing shadows
directly in front of him which might cause
him to jump or shy away. |
| Short: |
A horse that drops out of contention in
the stretch or close to the finish is said
to have been "short," the inference being
that with more work or preparation he might
have lasted to the finish and perhaps have
been the winner. |
| Silks: |
See colors. The jacket
and cap worn by a jockey. |
| Sophomore: |
A 3-year-old horse is referred to as a sophomore. |
| Stayer: |
A horse that can run well
at longer distances. |
| Stick: |
A jockey's whip. |
| Stickers: |
A type of shoe with calks
to provide better purchase under adverse track
conditions. |
| Stud: |
A stallion used for breeding. Also a breeding
farm. |
| Tack: |
The saddle and other equipment
worn by a horse during racing or exercise.
|
| Three-Horse Box: |
To make a three-horse box you simply take
the three horses that you prefer in a race
and wager them in each possible combination.
Three-horse boxes are available in exactas
and trifectas. When you wager a three-horse
box in an exacta, two of the horses you use
must finish first and second in exact order.
When you wager a three-horse box in a trifecta
the three horses you use must finish first,
second and third. A three-horse exacta box
gives you six possible winning combinations
(a-b, a-c, b-a, b-c, c-a, c-b) and a three-horse
trifecta box also gives you six possible combinations
(a-b-c, a-c-b, b-a-c, b-c-a, c-a-b, c-b-a).
|
| Top Wheel: |
Top wheel is a wagering
strategy in which a selection in an exacta
is wagered in the "top" or "win" position
while all the other horses in the field are
used in the "place" position. To win in this
wager your selection must finish first. To
get a feeling about how much you might be
about to win you can check the possible payoffs
grids that are shown on your tv monitor. To
wager a top wheel you need to tell the mutuel
clerk that you want to "wheel the (whatever
your horse number) on top." |
| Totalisator: |
An intricate piece of electronic equipment
which records each wager in each betting pool
as the pari-mutuel ticket is sold by a manually
operated vending machine. This equipment calculates
the odds on each horse, according to the amount
wagered at given intervals. |
| Totalisator Board:
|
A display board in the
infield on which is posted electronically,
data essential to the race goer such as approximate
odds, total amount bet in each pool (on some
boards), track condition, post time, time
of day, result of race, official sign or inquiry
or objection sign if a foul is claimed, running
time and payoff prices after the race is declared
official. |
| Track Variant: |
Track variant is a measurement of the speed
of the horse according to how performances
on the track measured up to one another during
the course of an entire day's racing program.
There are a number of ways to calculate a
variant and professional handicappers normally
subscribe to one of these primary theories
in order to get a feeling for how impressive
a particular running time really was. It is
clear that six furlongs in 1:10 on one day
can be significantly more impressive than
the same time on a different day. The track
variant gives a player a chance to make those
comparisons with some ease. |
| Under Wraps: |
A horse running under
restraint is "under wraps." |
| Valet: |
An employee who takes care of a jockey's
equipment, sees to it that the right silks
are at his locker, that the rider has the
proper weight in his lead pad, carries the
saddle and equipment to the paddock and helps
the trainer in saddling the horse, meets the
rider after the race and carries saddle and
equipment back to the jockey's room. |
| Walkover: |
A rare occurrence in which
only one starter goes to the post and is required
only to gallop the distance of the race to
be declared the winner and collect the purse
or a prescribed portion thereof depending
on the rules in effect. |
| Washy: |
A horse that breaks out into a heavy sweat
prior to the race is said to be "washy." |
| Weight-For-Age: |
A type of race in which
horses carry scale weight or weight assigned
arbitrarily according to age, distance and
month of year. (See Scale of Weights.) |
| Work Tab: |
A list of morning workouts according to
distance and time. |
| Yearling: |
A one year old colt or
filly, just one year away from racing age.
|
