Playing To Win

Dictionary of Racing Terms

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A

Across the board

A combination bet which is comprised of the same amount being wager to win, place, and show.

Airing

A workout or when a horse appears to only be out for exercise in a race (out for air.)

All-out

Maximum effort

Allowance - Optional claimer

An allowance race the permits horses who do not meet the race's allowance conditions to run for a stated claiming price.

Also eligible

Horses who may be added to the field if there is an early scratch.

Also-ran

Horses who finished no better than fourth.

Apprentice

An inexperienced jockey who has not yet attained journeyman status.

Apprentice allowance

The weight concession given when an apprentice rides.

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B

Baby race

A race for two year olds

Bandage

Leg wrapping

Bar shoes (or plates)

Horseshoes with bars across the back.

Bear in

Veers to the left.

Bear out

Veers to the right.

Bit

The metal bar held in the horse's mouth to which the reigns are attached.

Bleeder

A horse who bleeds (usually through the nose) during or after heavy exertion.

Blinkers

A device designed to limit a horses vision forwardly..

Block heel

Horseshoes with raised heels

Bloodline

Ancestry

Blow out

Brief exercise

Boat race

One that is not on the up and up (fixed.)

Bobble

A stumble or clumsy stride.

Bolt

Runs off

Book

The list of a jockey's future riding assignments.

Bottom

(1) stamina; (2) the sub-surface of the racing strip; (3) the lowest rung in the class structure.

Bottom line

The female side of a horse's pedigree.

Bow

A physical condition in which the tendon stands out behind the cannon bone.

Boxed

Surrounded by other horses.

Boy

Jockey.

Break

The start of a race.

Breakage

The portion not returned to bettor because the mutuels are rounded.

Break in the air

Leaps upward at the start rather than forward.

Break maiden

Wins first lifetime race.

Breeze

Runs easily with no encouragement.

Brush

Slight collision.

Bucked shins

Inflamed shins.

Bug boy

Apprentice jockey.

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C

Call

(1) the track announcer's play-by-play of the race; (2) the various points during a race that are used as a basis for compiling the past performance charts.

Chalk

Favorite.

Charts

The past performances.

Chute

The extension of the racing surface at the top of the backstretch (in sprints) or stretch (in routes) that is necessary in some races so that the horses have a straight run to the first turn.

Claimer

A horse who runs in claiming races.

Class

(1) the strength of a race; (2) the level at which a horse has shown the ability to compete effectively.

Class structure

The types of races scheduled during a meet broken down by their purported class.

Climbs

Runs with an unusual high motion suggesting that he is flustered or tired.

Closers

Horses who do their best running late.

Clubhouse turn

The first turn in two turn races.

Colt

An unaltered male horse aged 2 to 4.

Company line

The first three finishers in each race shown in a horse's past performances.

Condition book

The tentative schedule of races to be run during a stated period of time.

Conditional race

A race only open to horses who have not won a specified number of races in their lifetime.

Conditions

The terms of a race.

Connections

A horse's trainer and owner.

Consolation double

The payout to holders of a daily double ticket pairing the winner of the first race with a late scratch in the second race.

Cuppy

A racing surface that breaks into clods and shows hoofprints.

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D

Dead weight

Weights added to the saddle to bring the total weight up to the weight assigned.

Deep

A racing surface with a thicker than usual upper layer.

Distaff side

A horse's female ancestry.

Distance of ground

A one mile or longer race.

Dogs

Barriers or cones placed to keep horses off the rail during workouts. Usually used on the turf course.

Driving

Giving near maximum exertion.

Dwelt

Hesitating or breaking slowly from the gate.

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E

Ease

To slow a horse's stride.

Eighth pole

The post inside the rail located exactly one-eighth mile from the finish line.

Empty

Lacking in energy.

Entry

Two or more horses who are counted as one for betting purposes.

Extend

Urge a horse to go all out.

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F

Falter

To tire badly.

Far turn

The last turn in a race.

Filly

A female horse aged 2 to 4.

Fit

Physical readiness.

Flatten out

Tire somewhat.

Form

Current condition

Fractions

The times reported at the various stages of a workout or a race.

Freshener

A short layoff designed to restore an overworked horse to form.

Furlong

One eighth of a mile.

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G

Gallop

Fastest gait; easy work or race.

Gelding

A castrated male.

Get

The offspring of a stallion

Get into

To whip.

Gimpy

Lame or sore.

Getaway day

The last day of a meet.

Going away

Winning by an increasing margin.

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H

Half-mile pole

The post inside the rail located exactly one-half mile from the finish line.

Hand

A measure of a horse's height equal to four inches per hand.

Handily

A comparatively easy victory or a workout under a hand ride.

Hand ride

Hand movements on a horse's neck encouraging him to run faster.

Hang

A horse is said to hang when he is unable to improve his position late.

Heavy track

A slower than usual racing surface; often deep and dry.

Hidden class drop

A drop in class due to the conditions of the two races rather than the claiming prices.

Hood

The head covering used in connection with blinkers.

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I

Impost

The weight assigned.

In hand

Under restraint.

In the money

To bettors this means a horse who finishes at least third.

In tough

Entered in a race that may be too strong for a horse.

Irons

Stirrups.

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J

Jail

The thirty days after a horse is claimed during which he cannot race unless stepped at least 25% in class.

Journeyman

A jockey who is no longer an apprentice.

Juvenile

A two year old horse.

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L

Laminitis

A serious inflammation of the horse's foot.

Lead pony

The horse who escorts the horse during the post parade.

Legged up

Conditioned.

Length

A distance of measure equal to about eight and one half feet (the average length of a thoroughbred)

Long bandages

Used on the back legs for support; on the front legs they strongly suggest tendon problems.

Lug in

To bear inward (towards the rail.)

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M

Maiden

(1) A horse who has not won a race, (2) A race for horses who have never won a race.

Maiden allowance

A maiden special weights race; a race for maidens that cannot be claimed.

Main track

The dirt track as opposed to the turf course.

Main track only

Also eligible horses in turf races who are only permitted to run should the race be moved to the main track.

Middle distance

A race longer than seven furlongs but shorter than nine furlongs.

Monied allowance

A high level allowance with conditions relating to earnings rather than races won.

Morning Line

The estimate of actual odds listed in the program.

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N

Neck

A measure of distance equal to about two feet.

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O

Objection

A claim of foul.

Odds on

Odds of less than one to one.

Off-track

A racing surface that is not fast.

One-dimensional speed horse

A speedster who generally needs the lead to run effectively.

One-run

A racing style featuring one big 'move' usually down the stretch.

On the nose

To win.

On the rail

Along the inside rail.

Open race

An race that is unrestricted except for age or sex.

Overlay

A horse whose chances to win are perceived to be better than his odds suggest.

Overnights

Tomorrow's entries.

Overweights

The pounds a horses carries in excess of his assigned weight.

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P

Pace

The speed of the leaders in a race.

Past performances

The summary of a horse's previous races.

Pinched back

Forced back by pressure from both sides.

Pool

The total amount of money bet.

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Q

Quarter crack

A separation of the hoof's inner and outer walls.

Quarter pole

The marker pole located two furlongs from the finish line.

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R

Rank

A horse who is fractious and refuses to race under control.

Rate

The ability to relax and conserve energy while racing behind the leaders.

Ridden out

A horse who wins under only mild urging.

Route

A race of one mile or longer.

Run out

To finish out of the money.

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S

Savage

To bite.

Scenic route

A path far from the inner rail.

School

To teach a young horse.

Scratch

To withdraw.

Shadow roll

A cylinder strapped across a horse's nose so that he can't see shadows on the ground.

Shake up

To hit.

Shed row

The barn

Short bandages

Bandages use to protect a horse during a race or workout.

Short price

Low odds.

Shuffled back

Forced backward by traffic.

Shut off

Forced to take up or change course.

Shut out

Unable to place a bet because betting for the race has closed.

Sire

A horse's father.

Sixteenth pole

The marker pole located a half furlong from the finish line.

Sloppy track

The track condition when there is standing water but the surfaces has yet to turn muddy.

Smart money

The insiders or their bets.

Sophomore

A three year old.

Special weights

Races (usually for better maidens) in which all carry the same weight except for sex and apprentice allowances.

Speed duel

Two or more fully extended horses battling for the lead.

Splint

Growth on a horse's shin.

Sprint

A race of seven furlongs or less.

Starter allowance (or handicap)

A race without claiming that is open only to horses who have run to be claimed for a stated price or less within a specific period of time.

Stick

Whip.

Straight

Direct; without variation.

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T

Tack

The gear that the horse carries in addition to the rider.

Tactical speed

Speed that can be used early or late with equal effectiveness at the discretion of the jockey.

Tag

Claiming price.

Take down

To disqualify.

Takeout

The portion of each bet that is not returned to those with winning tickets.

Tight

A fit and ready horse.

Tightener

A race used by a horse for conditioning purposes.

Toe plate

A shoe with a cleat in front designed to eliminate sliding.

Tongue tie

A piece of leather or cloth used to hold a horse's tongue down to prevent him from swallowing it.

Top weight

The horse assigned the most weight in a race.

Trip

A horse's journey throughout a race.

Trouble line

Comments about a horse's trip found in post past performances.

Turn out

To return a horse to the farm for rest and relaxation.

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U

Underlay

A horse who is overbet, with his odds much lower than they should be.

Under wraps

Intentionally showing less than a horse's best.

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V

Valet

Person who attends riders and keeps their wardrobe and equipment in order.

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W

Walking ring

The oval near the paddock where the horses walk prior to the post parade.

Washy

A horse who is sweating nervously.

Well-meant

Out to win.

Wheel

A betting method in which all the horses in a race are used in combination with one or more horses.

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