Racing Terminology
| across the board | A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets. Actually three wagers. | |
| age | All Thoroughbreds celebrate their birthday on Jan. 1st | |
| apron | space between the spectator stadium stands and the racetrack itself | |
| backside | Stable area, dormitories and often times a track kitchen, chapel and recreation area for stable employees. Also known as "backstretch," for its proximity to the stable area. | |
| backstretch | Straight portion of the far side of the racing surface between the turns | |
| bay | A horse color that varies from a yellow-tan to a bright auburn. The mane, tail and lower portion of the legs are always black, except where white markings are present. | |
| bell | Signal sounded when the starter opens the gates or, at some tracks, to mark the close of betting. | |
| bit | A 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. | |
| blaze | A generic term describing a large, white vertical marking on a horse's face. | |
| blinkers | A cup-shaped device to limit a horse's vision to prevent him from swerving from objects or other horses on either side of it. | |
| blowouts | race track workout for sprinting horses, often half mile timed runs on the race track | |
| break-maiden | first race won for a jockey or a horse. | |
| bridle | leather, nylon or sometimes rope equipment for a horse's head, where other equipment is attached to [ie: bit, curb bit, reins, blinkers] sometimes replaced with a halter [can't attach anything ex cept a lead line] | |
|
(part of bridle/halter) throatlatch crownpiece browband cheekstrap |
(attachable:) bit rein curb bit blinker lead lines |
|
| chestnut | A horse color 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. | |
| colt | An ungelded (entire) male horse four-years-old or younger. | |
| daily double | Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second. | |
| dam | The female parent of a foal. | |
| dead heat | Two or more horses finishing a race in a tie. | |
| exacta (or perfecta) | A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked. Called an "exactor" in Canada. | |
| exacta box | A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are bet on. The total number of combinations can be calculated according to the formula x2-x, where x equals the amount of horses in the box. For example, boxing four horses would actually be 12 combinations (42-4). To arrive at the cost of the wager, multiply the total combinations by the cost of the individual wager. | |
exercise boy/rider/whatever: rider who warms the
horses up in the morning, generally before the race, and
sometimes takes the horses on the work out training sessions if
the jockey isn't available
extend: horse at the highest speed possible
farrier - Horseshoer, blacksmith. Also called a
"plater."
fetlock (joint)
field: all the horses in a race [ie all the 'opponents']
filly: a young female horse [usually 4 years or less]
flank: the area between a horse's ribs and hips,
very sensitive and soft.
foal: a baby horse
forelock - Lock of mane hair that falls forward
from the poll (top of the head) to just above the horse's eyes.
furlong -One-eighth of a mile, 220 yards, 660
feet.
gait - The characteristic footfall pattern of a
horse in motion. Thoroughbreds have four natural gaits-walk, trot,
canter and gallop.
gelding - A male horse of any age that has been
neutered by having both testicles removed ("gelded").
get - Progeny of sire.
groom - A person who cares for a horse in a
stable.
halter
- Like a
bridle, but lacking a bit. Used in handling horses around the
stable and when they are not being ridden.
hand: used in measuring horses, it is 4 inches.
horses are normally between 13-17 hands, at the withers [shoulders]
hock - A large joint just above the shin bone in
the rear legs. Corresponds to the level of the knee of the front
leg.
hotwalkers/girl/boy: the person who takes racehorses on a cool-down walk after a race
in foal - Pregnant mare.
in the money: 2nd and 3rd place in a race
lead: 1) Length of
rope with a clip on one end, used to hook to a halter and lead a horse. 2) The
act of guiding a horse by use of a rope attached to the halter. Also
called a lead rope.
length - A measurement approximating the length
of a horse, used to denote distance between horses in a race For
example, "Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths."
leg up: helping a rider mount a horse by lifting
them into the saddle by their leg
maiden: a horse that hasn't won a race
maiden race: first race for a given horse
mare: female horse [usually over 4 years old]
muzzle: 'horse snout'
nearside: left side of a horse, usually the
mounting side and the side from which a rider tacks his horse
off side - Right side of horse.
pacesetter: the first horse at the lead, early
in the race [not necessarily the winner]
paddock - Area where horses are saddled and
paraded before being taken onto the track.
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."
post - 1) Starting point for a race. 2) An
abbreviated version of post position. For example, "He drew
post four." 3) As a verb, to record a win. For example,
"He's posted 10 wins in 14 starts."
post parade - Horses going from paddock to
starting gate past the stands.
post position - Position of stall in starting
gate from which a horse starts.
post time - Designated time for a race to start.
purse: the winnings in a race [money..]
rail: inside rail
in a racetrack, sometimes a poor riders' legs are unfortunately
crushed against them ::coughs::
rail runners: horses that LIKE running next to
this bar
reins: A long narrow leather strap attached to each end of the
bit of a bridle and used by a rider or driver to control a horse or other
animal.
roan - A horse color 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 as
"roan or gray." See gray.
saddle: A leather seat for a rider, secured on a horse's back
by a girth. Also called a "rig".
saddle blanket: A blanket placed between the saddle and the
horse's back to prevent galling. Also called a "saddle pad".
saddle cloth - A cotton cloth which goes under
the saddle to absorb sweat. It usually has the horse's program
number and sometimes, in major races, its name.
scratch - 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.
shank - Portion of bit measured from mouthpiece to ring where
reins attach. The longer the shank, the more pressure that is applied upon
a horse's mouth when the reins are pulled.
shed row: a row of barn buildings where horses
live :)
sire - 1) The male parent. 2) To beget foals.
socks - Solid white markings extending from the
top of the hoof to the ankles.
stallion: a male horse, 4+ years old
star: what every cartoon horse must have: the
white mark upon the forehead
steeplechase - A race in which horses are
required to jump over a series of obstacles on the course. Also
known as a "chase."
tack - 1) Rider's racing equipment. Also applied
to stable gear. 2) As a verb, a jockey, including his/her
equipment, as in "He tacks 112 pounds."
trifecta - A wager picking the first three
finishers in exact order.
trifecta box - A trifecta wager in which all
possible combinations using a given number of horses are bet upon.
The total number of combinations can be calculated according to
the formula x3-3x2+2x, where x equals the amount of horses in the
box. The sum of the formula is then multiplied by the amount
wagered on each combination.
untried: a green race horse: one that hasn't
raced yet
wire - The finish line of a race.
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 following its birth.
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