Horse Racing Betting Terminology
- Horse Racing Betting Terminology
- Horse Race Betting Term
- Types Of Horse Racing Bets
- Horse Racing Betting Strategies
- Horse Racing Betting Terms Trifecta
A collection of popular horse racing and betting terms in an easy-to-use A-Z format:
Across the board
A bet on a horse to win, place and show. You are wagering on a horse to Win, Place and Show. If your horse wins, you receive Win, Place and Show payouts. If your horse finishes second, you receive Place and Show payouts. Explaining Horse Racing Betting Terms What is a bookmaker? A person or company who accepts your bets on a race day, shortened to ‘bookie’. What does 15/8, 9/4 and 17/2 mean? A racing system devised for the daily double bet in which the bettor backs one horse in the first race and every horse in the second (also known as Baseball or Locking). Weight-For-Age The purpose of weight-for-age is to allow horses of different age and sex to compete on equal terms. Horse Racing Terms and Jargon Buster. The world of horse racing contains plenty of confusing words, some of which may mean very little to the unseasoned horse racing fan. This handy jargon-buster can help you understand some of the common horse racing terms, so you can join in with the horse.
A bet on a horse to win, place, and show (it is actually three separate bets)
Allowance race
A race other than claiming for which the racing secretary establishes certain conditions to determine weights. It is the level of race between claiming and stakes
Also -eligible
A horse entered for a race but not allowed to run, usually due to the size of a starting gate or maximum capacity of a course, unless there is a defection from the main body of the field
Apprentice
A new jockey that has not ridden a certain number of winners in a specified time period
Backstretch
The straight on the far side of the track, between the turns. It can also refer to the stable area of a track
Bar shoe
A horse shoe with a rear bar to protect an injured foot
Bit
The bar in a horse’s mouth that allows the rider to guide them
Blacktype
Designation for a stakes winner or stakes -placed runner in sales catalogues. It refers to the bold, black font that distinguishes such races
Blinkers
A hood worn by a horse that limits their field of vision. Usually used to help the horse focus
Board
Totalisator board on which betting odds and pools are displayed
Breeze
A horse’s workout that is done without maximum effort
Bridge jumper
A person who bets large amounts on a horse with very low odds. The name implies that the sum of money bet is so large the person will jump off a bridge if they lose
Bullet
The best workout for a given day at a specific distance
Chart
A numerical composite of a race that provides winning times and positions of each horse throughout the race. It also includes a written description of each horse’s journey
Checked
When a jockey must pull up a horse suddenly because he is shut off or in tight quarters
Claiming race
A race in which all horses can be purchased for a predetermined price. Buying a horse this way is known as making a claim
Closer
A horse who comes from behind in a race
Clubhouse turn
The first turn on a racetrack. Generally the one closer to the clubhouse
Condition book
A list of races written by the racing secretary to be run during a set period of time
Coupled
Two or more horses comprising the same betting entity
Daily double
A wager in which the bettor must select the winner of two consecutive races
Damsire
The sire of the broodmare (or the horse’s maternal grandfather)
Distaff
Female. Or a race for fillies and mares
Eased
A horse that is pulled up in a race
Entry
Two or more horses forming the same betting entity in a race, usually because they share the same owner
Exacta
A wager in which the bettor must select the first and second -place finishers in a race
Exercise rider
A jockey that rides a horse during workouts
Farrier
A blacksmith, primarily responsible for the shoeing of horses
Filly
A female horse under the age of 5
Firm
The designation of a turf course when there is a minimal amount of moisture in it
Fractions
The internal times of a race, usually the first quarter -mile, half -mile, and three -quarters, depending on the length of the race
Gallop
A type of gait faster than a canter
Gelding
A castrated male horse
Grandsire
The grandfather of a horse
Halter
Similar to a bridle. Used in the handling of horses around the stable
Hand
The unit of measurement used to determine a horse’s height (from their withers to the ground). A hand equals four inches
Handicap
The process of determining a winner based on past performances. It is also a race in which horses are assigned varying weights to carry
Handle
The amount of money wagered on a race, a card, a meet or a year
Horse
Can broadly refer to any thoroughbred but is more specifically a male 5 years or older
Hotwalker
A person that cools off a horse by walking them after a workout or a race
Hung
A horse that appears as if they might win but ostensibly doesn’t have the desire to pass another horse
In the money
A horse that finishes first, second, or third
Infield
The inner portion of a track inside of the racing surfaces
Inquiry
A review of a race conducted by the track stewards to determine if an infraction occurred
Irons
Stirrups, where the jockey places their feet while riding
Juvenile
A two -year -old horse
Lasix
A common raceday medication that is given, typically to prevent a horse from bleeding
Length
Measures the distance between horses in a race. A length is the distance from a horse’s nose to their tail, or about eight feet
Maiden
A horse who has not yet won a race. Also the type of race for non -winners
Morning line
Odds established ahead of time by a morning-line oddsmaker that are meant to approximate the final odds of a race
Mudder
Horses who perform well on muddy or wet racetracks
Neck
A unit of measurement, about the length of a horse’s neck or a quarter of a length
Nose
The smallest unit of measurement a horse can win by
Odds-on
Odds that are less than even -money (or 1 -1)
On the board
Finishing among the top three
Overlay
A horse whose chance of winning is greater than his odds suggest. In other words, a good bet
Paddock
The area where horses are saddled before a race. Can also refer to a field for horses
Parimutuel
The system of betting used for horse racing. In parimutuel wagering every bet of a particular type is grouped together in a pool, of which the track takes a percentage
Past performances
A list of past races for a horse, including important pieces of information for each race. It is the main means by which a handicapper analyzes a race
Photo finish
A result so close that a finish -line camera must be used to determine the winner
Pick-3 (or more)
A wager in which the bettor must select the winner of three consecutive races
Place
Second position at the finish, or a type of bet in which a horse must finish either first or second to win
Pole
Markers around the track denoting how far the horses are from the finish line. There is typically a pole for every sixteenth of a mile
Pool
The total amount wagered on a specific type of bet
Post parade
The procession of horses coming out on to the track and past the stands before a race
Post position
The starting position for a horse within the gate
Purse
The prize money of a race
Quinella
Like an exacta, it is a type of wager in which the bettor must pick the first and second -place finishers in a race. The main difference is that in a quinella except the order of the horses doesn’t matter
Rabbit
A horse that is entered in a race without the intent of winning but to ensure a fast pace, usually for a better regarded stablemate
Ridgling
A horse with one or two undescended testicles
Roan
The coloration of a horse with white and red (or brown) hairs
Router
A horse who performs best at route distances (a mile or longer)
Saddle cloth
The cloth under the saddle that displays the horse’s number for a race
Scratch
To be removed from a race, whether it be by the trainer, stewards, or veterinarian
Shadow roll
A roll worn halfway up a horse’s face to prevent him from seeing his own shadow
Shank
A rope attached to a horse’s bridle or halter by which they are led
Show
Third position at the finish, or a type of bet in which a horse must finish first, second, or third to win
Silks
The jacket and cap worn by a jockey to signify who owns the horse
Sloppy
A condition of a dirt racetrack in which the surface is wet with a firm bottom
Stake
The highest level of competition for racehorses. There are Grade 1, 2, 3 and ungraded stakes races
Starter race
An allowance race restricted to horses who have run for a specific claiming price or less
Starting gate
The mechanical device in which horses are entered prior to the start of a race and that springs open once it commences
State-bred
A horse that is bred in a particular state and thus eligible to compete in races restricted to horses bred in that state
Steadied
A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually due to being put in close quarters
Stewards
Racetrack officials responsible for enforcing the rules
Steeplechase
Horse Racing Betting Terminology
A race in which horses must jump over obstacles such as hedges
Stretch
The final straight portion of a racetrack to the finish
Swayback
A horse with a dipped backbone
Takeout
The portion of a betting pool that the host track takes as commission for conducting the race
Tout
A person who gives out picks, or the act of giving out a pick
Track bias
A racing surface that favors a particular running style or path
Trifecta
A wager in which the bettor must select the first, second, and third -place finishers of a race
Triple Crown
Horse Race Betting Term
Name given to the series of three races for 3-year-olds beginning with the Kentucky Derby. The Preakness Stakes is the second leg and the Belmont Stakes is the last
Underlay
A horse whose chances of winning are less than what the odds suggest. In other words, a bad bet
Under wraps
A horse that wins while under restraint from the jockey at the end
Valet
The person who attends a jockey to make sure their equipment is in order
Types Of Horse Racing Bets
Walkover
A race in which, due to scratches, there is only one horse. By rule the horse must gallop around the track at the specified distance
Warm up
Galloping a horse before a race to get them ready to run
Weanling
A horse that is less than one -year -old that has been separated from its dam
Work
Horse Racing Betting Strategies
A formal exercise for a horse leading up to a race
Yielding
Horse Racing Betting Terms Trifecta
A condition of a turf course with a lot of moisture in the ground