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RACING GLOSSARY
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A method of wagering on a horse to win, place and show. The player collects
if the horse finishes first, second or third.
That money which is added to a purse by the racing association (track), or
by sponsors, state-bred programs or other funds added to those monies gathered
by nomination, entry, sustaining and other fees coming from the horsemen.
Shall be computed on the basis of a calendar year. Of racing animals, all
race horses have January 1 of the year they were born as their official birth
date, regardless of their foaling date. The South American countries of Argentina
and Brazil shall be computed on July 1 for show and race purposes.
A race in which eligibility is based upon amounts of money won or earned,
or number of races a horse has won over a specified time.
A horse officially entered, but not permitted to start unless the field is
reduced by scratches at scratch time. Also, the next preferred nonqualifier
for the finals or consolation from a set of elimination or time trials which
will become eligible in the event a finalist is scratched by the stewards for
rule violation or is otherwise ineligible.
Used to describe a horse that did not finish in the money (first, second or
third).
The allowance or weight off allowed an apprentice jockey during his/her first
year of riding. Usually an apprentice or "bug" rider gets 10 lbs.
off until his/her 35th winner. This gives younger, inexperienced riders a more
even chance against older more experienced "journeyman " jockeys.
The rule varies from state to state, and does not apply to Quarter Horse Racing.
The employee of the racetrack who, under direct supervision of the starter,
helps place the starting gate for a race, leads horses into the gate, helps
riders and handles horses while in the gate until start is given. Will also
help with any equipment change or repair at gate and with the "schooling"
of horses in the mornings.
A person employed by a licensed trainer to assist and assume responsibility
in the absence of that trainer in all the daily work, chores, saddling, etc.
involved in the training of horses. Assistant trainers are required to be tested
and licensed by state racing commissioners.
A term commonly used signifying the horses have arrived and are ready to be
loaded into the starting gate.
A person licensed by the commission and appointed by a written instrument,
signed and acknowledged before a notary public by the owner in whose behalf
the agent will act.
The stable and training area of a racetrack.
Straight or far-side of track between turns.
For horses these come in two forms; 1) Standing-used in stall at rest for
therapeutic purposes (i.e., poultice, brace, liniments); and 2) Racing-using
Vetrap or ace type bandages for support of tendons and to prevent a horse from
"running down" or burning his heels on the track surface as legs tire
and strain more.
A horse that moves or lugs inward (to its left toward the inside rail) or
outward while racing. May be due to weariness, infirmity, lack of experience,
whip used by rider or rider's inability to control mount.
Term used by track handicappers, tip sheets, selectors, etc., to signify the
horse they feel most likely to win that day.
Bold-face type used in sales catalogs to distinguish horses who have won or
placed in a stakes. If a horse's name appears in all upper case bold-face type,
he has won one stakes race. If it appears in upper/lower case bold-face type,
he has placed in at least one stakes.
Finish in which two or more horses are very close at finish (one can "Throw
a blanket over them"). Very common in American Quarter Horse racing.
A horse, during or following exercise or a race, is observed to be shedding
blood from one or both nostrils or the mouth, or is observed by scope to be
hemorrhaging in the lumen of the respiratory.
A hood placed over a horse's head with cups sewn onto the eye openings. The
cups prevent a horse from seeing anywhere but straight ahead, thus preventing
distractions. The size of the cups are varied to allow a horse more or less
peripheral vision.
The term for a very short-220 to 250 yards-workout at full speed. Used primarily
to put a horse on its toes before a race.
When a horse swerves sharply from his lane or the regular course; also a runaway.
Group of mares being bred to a stallion in a given year.
Part of a horse's pedigree or bloodlines, which indicates the dam, granddam,
maternal grandsire, etc..
That portion of the payoff to winning bettors that is retained by the association.
Since in most North American racing jurisdictions payoffs are to the
next lower dime, the difference is known as breakage and is retained (i.e.,
the computer calculates an actual payoff as being $4.47896 for $2.00, then the
actual payoff as being $4.40 and the breakage is $.07896.)
The breeder of an American Quarter Horse is considered to be the owner of
the dam at the time of service, while the breeder of a Thoroughbred is the owner
of dam at time of foaling.
Working a horse at a moderate speed.
The sire of a broodmare.
The best time for the distance on the work tab for a given day at a track.
A racetrack with either a half-mile or 5/8ths mile oval.
Trade name for Phenylbutazone, a commonly used analgesic for horses.
Otherwise known as "mud caulks;" small cleats inserted on the back
end of a horse's shoe or racing plate; most often used when the track's surface
becomes muddy, heavy or slick; allows the horse a better grip of the surface
and eliminates slipping and provides sounder footing.
The "box score" of a race. The charts give all the information of
the running of a race including horses' positions during the race, official
order of finish, wagering handle, payoffs, closing odds, owner, trainer, jockey,
purse distribution, times, speed ratings and conditions of race.
The employee of Equibase Company or the racetrack who charts all the races
that day and sends the information to the past performance program company or
AQHA.
The pulling back or sudden slowing due to traffic problems during the race.
The straightaway extension to the oval section of a track. Generally, the
typical one mile track will have a 440-yard or 1 1/4-mile chute entering the
homestretch and a 3/4- and/or 7/8-mile chute entering the backstretch.
Term used to describe several racetracks with complementing racing dates,
which form a circuit within a certain geographic area.
Claiming races are the most common type of race, constituting approximately
70% of all races run. In these races, horses are entered for a specific price
and can be purchased or "claimed" by any licensed owner at the track
for that price.
A horse which consistently runs in claiming races.
The compartment usually found adjacent to the paddock where the claim sheet/card
is dropped.
The price for which a horse is running in a claiming race.
A race in which the conditions provide that each entry may be bought by a
licensed owner, either directly or indirectly, through a trainer. The claim
can only be made until a few minutes before post time, at which time the claiming
box is closed. A claimed horse becomes the property of the new owner when
the race starts, but the purse winnings from that race go to the previous owner.
A horse showing all the best qualities in breeding, conformation, ability
and stamina.
A racing official whose responsibility is to sequester all jockeys each racing
day, check their assigned riding weights versus their actual weights, report
all changes and weigh all riders out and in from races.
Person responsible for accurately timing the workouts of a horse. These times
are published for the benefit of the public. All workouts are taken during the
morning training hours.
The time published by the organization after which nominations or entries will not be accepted for a race.
Generally, the turn closet to the clubhouse.
A male horse at the ages of two or three.
The qualifications or eligibility rules for horses to be entered into a race.
Also a term used to indicate a horse is ready to race.
A booklet written by the Racing Secretary and published for the horsemen by
the racing association usually every two weeks, which lists all races, conditions
and other information pertinent to the race meet.
Term used to describe a racing animal's build, muscle and bone structures they relate to racing.
The person(s) responsible for selling a horse at a public sale. The owner pays the person(s) a commission based on the horse's selling price.
Restoring a horse, usually by bathing and walking, to normal temperature after
becoming overheated in a race workout.
Two or more horses belonging to the same owner or trained by the same trainer
are said to be coupled, as they run as an entry comprising a single wagering
interest.
A surface which breaks away under a horse's hoof, due to soft pockets; often
the case in a drying track.
The loose, top surface of the racetrack.
A type of wager in which one must select the winners of two races in succession.
The female parent or broodmare.
A day when no racing is scheduled.
Where the photo-finish camera shows two horses inseparable at the finish,
the race is declared a dead heat or tie.
The act of withdrawing an entered horse from a race before the closing of overnight entries. A horse that has been withdrawn is said to have been declared.
A stakes exclusively for three-year-olds.
The female designation for race horses.
Change in the order of finish by officials for an infraction of the rules.
Well beaten, finishing a great distance behind the winner.
A horse under strong urging by the rider.
A horse meeting a lower class of rival than he had been running against.
A horse not allowed to continue in a race due to injury, poor conditioning
or inability to compete.
To enroll a horse in a race.
A horse eligible to run in a race; also, two or more horses entered on the
same race which have common ties of ownership, lease or training.
A locked box into which trainers drop entry forms.
A track employee stationed in the racing secretary's office to take entries in person and collect those form the entry box.
Money paid to enter a horse in a race.
Gear carried by horse and jockey in a race, such as whip or blinkers.
The odds to $1 (i.e., if a horse pays $12 dollars for a $2 wager, by deducting
the $2 wager the odds then are 10-2 thus making the equivalent odds 5-1).
A wager in which the bettor must select the first and second-place finishers
in order.
Rider who exercises horses in the morning training hours.
Any wager that involves more than one horse; generally the pari-mutuel takeout
is higher and the mutuel payoffs are higher than straight wagers (i.e.,
Quinella, Daily Double and Trifecta).
A horse that is wagered down to favoritism when others appear to outclass
him.
Unofficial start, from which horses are recalled to the gate.
An entrant that has the shortest odds on the toteboard.
The best race on a card.
A track that is thoroughly dry and at its best. The footing is even.
The entire group of starters in a race; or the mutuel field with several longshots
coupled as a single wagering interest when more horses are entered than the
toteboard allows.
A female horse at the ages of 2 and 3.
Bend in the track beyond the starting point; also, clubhouse turn.
Commonly used to describe a horse in the peak of condition.
A weighted, flat piece of equipment used to seal and remove the water from
a racing surface; also, the filing down of the sharp edges of a horse's molars.
An action by any horse or jockey that hinders or interferes with another horse
or jockey during the running of a race.
The track surface is frozen solid and unable to be maintained.
Horses that have both the same sire and dam.
A stakes race for two-year-olds in which owners must pay nominating money
and sustaining payments.
A castrated male horse of any age.
Offspring of a male horse.
The elastic strap, much like a belt, which is buckled to either side of the
saddle and tightened around the horse's mid-section or girth passage. A second
girth known as an overgirth is fastened over the girth and saddle as an extra
precautionary measure.
A racetrack surface rated between slow and fast. Moisture remains in the strip
but the footing is adequate.
The grade that may be given traditional handicaps, stakes or classic races
by quality of horses and size of the purse with Grade 1 being the best, Grade
2 the next best, and Grade 3 next.
The mother of a horse's dam (also called second dam).
The father of a horse's sire, unless otherwise stated (see maternal grandsire).
The stable employee, employed by the trainer, who cares for horses and performs
daily chores such as grooming, bedding stall, bandaging, feeding, tacking
and preparing for a race.
Horses out of the same dam but different sires.
Headgear used on horse when being handled around barn or when being walked,
when not using bridle; also to claim a horse.
A unit of measurement, approximately four inches, by which a horse's height
is measured; determined by placing one hand above the other from the ground
to the withers or the point where the saddle rests.
Urging a horse with hands rather than using the whip.
A race in which the weights are assigned depending on a horse's past performance
and ability. The racing secretary or handicappers assigns a range of weight
which would theoretically cause horses to finish in a dead heat.
The racing secretary or other official who assigns weight, handicaps, and
races; also the journalist who analyzes a day's racing card and reports his
selections for the wagering public.
Making a selection by determining relative qualities of horses through their
past performance and class.
Of a horse in a race, winning easily; in a workout, a pace which is a bit
slower than driving but faster than breezing.
The aggregate amount of money passing through the pari-mutuel machines and
windows for a given period.
A margin between horses which describes one horse leading another by the length
of his head.
A drying track that is muddy and drying out. Footing is heavy and sticky.
A horse bred by his owner.
The straightaway between the end of the far turn and the finish line.
Any equine regardless of sex; specifically, an entire male 4 years of age or older.
Of horses, involves a system of recognition of several types of markings by the horse identifier. Markings are noted on animal's breed registry papers and usually range from coat color, lip tattoos, hair whorls, cowlicks, white markings, scars and brands.
Weight carried or assigned to a racehorse.
A horse finishing first, second or third in a race.
Area within the inner rail of the racetrack.
The stewards' immediate investigation into the running of a race which may
result in the disqualification of one or more horses.
Wagering on a race broadcast from another out-of-state track.
Wagering in a simulcast race from another track.
Wagering on a race broadcast from a track within the state.
A race in which the field of competing horses is selected by inviting horse
owners to enter a specific horse.
Stirrups.
Signifying the 30 days after a horse has been claimed, in which it must run
for a 25% higher claiming price than for what it was claimed.
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