Whether you a newcomer to horse racing or an everyday bettor, it is good to have a horse racing betting glossary at your disposal.
Horse racing has a wide array of terms that you don’t hear in other sports. If you ever have any questions about horse racing don’t hesitate t reach out to our customer service team using our Live Chat feature or drop us an email at help@ironbetsracing.com.
Here is the most commonly used horse racing lingo:
Across The Board: A bet on a horse to win, place or show. Three wagers combined in one. If the horse wins, the player wins all three wagers, if second, two, and if third, one.
Allowances: Reductions in weights to be carried allowed because of certain conditions such as; an apprentice jockey is on a horse, a female horse racing against males, or three-year-olds racing against older horses.
All Weather Racing: Racing that takes place on an artificial surface.
Apprentice: A trainee jockey. An apprentice will usually ride only flat races.
AWT: All weather track.
Baby Race: A race for two-year-olds.
Backstretch: The straight way on the far side of the track.
Bearing In (Out): Failing to maintain a straight course, veering to the left or right. Can be caused by injury, fatigue, outside distraction, or poor riding.
Beyer Number: A handicapping tool, popularized by author Andrew Beyer, assigning a numerical value to each race run by a horse based on final time and track condition. This enables different horses running at different racetracks to be objectively compared.
Blanket Finish: When the horses finish so close to the winning line you could theoretically put a single blanket across them.
Blinkers : A cup-shaped device applied over the sides of the horse’s head near his eyes to limit his vision. This helps to prevent him from swerving away from distracting objects or other horses on either side of him. Blinker cups come in a variety of sizes and shapes to allow as little or as much vision as the trainer feels is appropriate.
Box: A betting term denoting a combination bet whereby all possible numeric combinations are covered.
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Bobble: A bad step away from the starting gate, sometimes caused by the ground breaking away from under a horse and causing him to duck his head or go to his knees.
Bolt: Sudden veering from a straight course.
Breakage: Those pennies that are left over in pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or dime.
Breeders’ Cup: Thoroughbred racing’s year-end championship. Known as Breeders’ Cup Day, it consists of 14 races conducted over two days at a different racetrack each year with purses and awards over $30 million.
Bridge-Jumper: Bettor who specializes in large show bets on odd-on favorites.
Bug Boy: An apprentice rider.
Bull Ring: Small racetrack less than one mile around.
Chalk: Wagering favorite in a race. Dates from the days when on-track bookmakers would write current odds on a chalkboard.
Chalk Player: Bettor who wagers on favorites.
Checked : A horse pulled up by his jockey for an instant because he is cut off or in tight quarters.
Chute: Extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run.
Closer: A horse that runs best in the latter part of the race (closing race), coming from off the pace.
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. See ‘Late Double’.
Daily Racing Form: A daily newspaper containing racing information including news, past performance data and handicapping.
Dead Heat: A tie. Two or more horses finishing equal in a race.
Derby: A stakes event for three-year-olds.
Distanced: Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner.
Driving: Strong urging by rider.
Each Way – UK term for betting on a horse to win and/or ‘Place’. An each way bet is when you have the same amount on the horse for a win and for a place. Bookmakers will give you one quarter of the win odds for a place in fields of eight or more and one third of the win odds in fields of six or seven horses.
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Eclipse Award: Thoroughbred racing’s year-end awards, honoring the top horses in 11 separate categories.
Equibase: A partnership between The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations to establish and maintain an industry-owned, central database of racing records. Equibase past-performance information is used in track programs across North America.
Evenly: Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race.
Exacta: A wager that picks the first two finishers in a race in the exact order of finish. (Straight Forecast in the UK.)
Exacta Box: A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are covered.
Exotic: Any wager other than win, place or show.
False Favorite: A horse that is a race favorite despite being outclassed by others.
Faltered: A horse that was in contention early in the race but drops back in the late stages.
Fast (track): Optimum condition for a dirt track that is dry, even, resilient and fast.
Favorite: The most popular horse in a race, which is quoted at the lowest odds because it is deemed to have the best chance of winning the race.
Filly: Female horse four-years-old or younger.
Firm (track): A condition of a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track. A firm, resilient surface.
Flatrace: Contested on level ground as opposed to a steeplechase.
Flatten Out: When a horse drops his head almost in a straight line with his body, generally from exhaustion.
Foal: A baby horse, usually refers to either a male or female horse from birth to January 1st of the following year.
Form: Statistics of previous performance and comment as to the expected current performance of a runner, useful in deciding which runner to bet on.
Front-runner: A horse whose running style is to attempt to get on or near the lead at the start of the race and stay there as long as possible.
Furlong: One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards or 660 feet (approx. 200 meters).
Gait: Harness horses are divided into two distinct groups, pacers or trotters, depending on their gait when racing. The gait is the manner in that a horse moves its legs when running. The pacer is a horse with a lateral gait, whereas a trotter or square-gaiter has a diagonal gait.
Gate: Another term for barrier, or position a horse will start from.
Gelding: A male horse that has been castrated.
Going: The condition of the racecourse (firm, heavy, soft, etc.).
Good (track): Condition between fast and slow, generally a bit wet. A dirt track that is almost fast or a turf course slightly softer than firm.
Graded Race: Established in 1973 to classify select stakes races in North America, at the request of European racing authorities, who had set up group races two years earlier. Always denoted with Roman numerals I, II, or III. Capitalized when used in race title (the Grade I Kentucky Derby). See ‘Group Race’ below.
Graduate: Winning for the first time.
Green: An inexperienced horse.
Group Race: An elite group of races. Established in 1971 by racing organizations in Britain, France, Germany and Italy to classify select stakes races outside North America. Collectively called ‘Pattern Races’. Equivalent to North American graded races. Always denoted with Arabic numerals 1, 2, or 3. Capitalized when used in race title (the Group 1 Epsom Derby). See ‘Graded Race’ above.
Handicap: 1) Race for which the track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried. Each horse is allocated a different weight to carry, the theory being all horses then run on a fair and equal basis.. 2) To make selections on the basis of past performances.
Hand Ride: The jockey urges a horse with the hands and arms without using the whip.
Head: A margin between horses. One horse leading another by the length of its head.
Head Of The Stretch: Beginning of the straight run to the finish line.
Highweight: Highest weight assigned or carried in a race.
Horse: When reference is made to sex, a ‘horse’ is an ungelded male five-years-old or older.
Hung: A horse holding the same position, unable to make up distance on the winner.
In Hand: Running under moderate control, at less than best pace.
Inquiry: Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on the tote board on such occasions. If lodged by a jockey, it is called an objection.
In The Money: Describes the horses in a race that finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd (and sometimes 4th) or the horses on which money will be paid to bettors, depending on the place terms.
Jumper: Steeplechase or hurdle horse.
Juvenile: Two-year-old horse.
Length: A measurement approximating the length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet, used to denote distance between horses in a race. For example, “Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths”.
Listed Race: A stakes race just below a group race or graded race in quality.
Longshot: A runner is often referred to as being a long shot, because of the fact it is returning high odds and is therefore deemed to have little chance of winning the race.
Lug In (Out): Action of a tiring horse, bearing in or out, failing to keep a straight course.
Maiden: 1) A horse or rider that has not won a race. 2) A female that has never been bred.
Maiden Race: A race for non-winners.
Mare: Female horse five-years-old or older.
Morning Line: Approximate odds quoted before betting begins.
Mudder: A horse that races well on muddy tracks. Also known as a ‘Mudlark’.
Muddy (track): A condition of a racetrack which is wet but has no standing water.
Mutuel Pool – Short for ‘Parimutuel Pool’. Sum of the wagers on a race or event, such as the win pool, daily double pool, exacta pool, etc.
National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA): A non-profit, membership organization created in 1997 to improve economic conditions and public interest in Thoroughbred racing.
Neck: Unit of measurement about the length of a horse’s neck.
Nose: Smallest advantage a horse can win by. Called a short head in Britain.
Objection: Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official after the running of a race. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry.
Official: Sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official.
Off-Track Betting (OTB): Wagering at legalized betting outlets.
On The Board: Finishing among the first three.
Out Of The Money: A horse that finishes worse than third.
Overlay: A horse going off at higher odds than it appears to warrant based on its past performances.
Overweight: Surplus weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the assigned weight.
Pacesetter: The horse that is running in front (on the lead).
Paddock: Area where horses are saddled and kept before post time.
Parimutuel(s): A form of betting 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 betting method was adopted in England it became known as ‘Paris Mutuals’, and soon after ‘Parimutuels’.
Part Wheel: Using a key horse or horses in different, but not all possible, exotic betting combinations.
Photo Finish: A photo is automatically taken as the horses pass the winning line and when the race is too close to be judged the photo is used to determine the order of finish.
Pick Four, Five or Six: A type of wager in which the winners of all the included races must be selected.
Place: A horse that finishes in the top two.
Pool: Mutuel pool, the total sum bet on a race or a particular bet.
Post: 1) Starting point for a race. 2) An abbreviated version of post position. For example, “He drew post four.”
Post Position: Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.
Post Time: Designated time for a race to start.
Punt: Another term for bet or wager.
Pull Up: To stop or slow a horse during or after a race or workout.
Quinella: Wager in which the first two finishers must be picked in either order. Payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second.
Race Caller: The person who describes the race at a racecourse.
Restricted Races: Races which only certain horses are eligible.
Route Race – Broadly, a race distance of longer than one mile.
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.
Shadow Roll: Usually a lamb’s wool roll half way up the horse’s face to keep him from seeing his own shadow.
Show: Third position at the finish.
Show Bet: Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better.
Simulcast: A simultaneous live television transmission of a race to other tracks, off-track betting offices or other outlets for the purpose of betting.
Sire: Father of a horse.
Sloppy (track): A track that is wet on surface, with standing water visible, with firm bottom.
Soft (track): Condition of a turf course with a large amount of moisture. Horses sink very deeply into it.
Sprint: Short race, less than one mile.
Stakes-Placed: Finished second or third in a stakes race.
Stakes Horse: A horse whose level of competition includes mostly stakes races.
Stallion: A male horse used for breeding.
Starter: The person responsible for starting a race.
Starting Gate: Mechanical device having stalls in which the horses are confined until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race.
Stayer: A horse that can race long distances.
Steeplechase: A race in which horses are required to jump over a series of obstacles on the course. Also known as a ‘Chase’.
Stewards: The group of people who control the day’s racing by ensuring that every runner competes on its merits and imposing penalties for any breach of the rules of racing.
Stewards Inquiry: An inquiry by the stewards into a race.
Stickers: Calks on shoes which give a horse better traction in mud or on soft tracks.
Superfecta: A bet placed on four horses to cross the finish line in exact chosen order.
Takeout: Commission deducted from mutuel pools which is shared by the track, horsemen (in the form of purses) and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax.
Taken Up: A horse pulled up sharply by his rider because of being in close quarters.
Thoroughbred: A Thoroughbred is a horse whose parentage traces back to any of the three ‘Founding Sires’ the Darley Arabian, Byerly Turk and Godolphin Barb, and who has satisfied the rules and requirements of The Jockey Club and is registered in ‘The American Stud Book’ or in a foreign stud book recognized by The Jockey Club and the International Stud Book Committee. Any other horse, no matter what its parentage, is not considered a Thoroughbred for racing and/or breeding purposes.
Totalizator: The system of betting on races (an automated system that dispenses and records betting tickets, calculates and displays odds and payoffs and provides the mechanism for cashing winning tickets) in which the winning bettors share the total amount bet, minus a percentage for the operators of the system, taxes etc. Synonyms: Tote, Parimutuel.
Toteboard: The electronic totalizator display in the infield which reflects up-to-the-minute odds. It may also show the amounts wagered in each mutuel pool as well as information such as jockey and equipment changes, etc.
Track Condition: Condition of the racetrack surface. Slow; Fast; good; muddy; sloppy; frozen; hard; firm; soft; yielding; heavy.
Track Record: Fastest time for a distance at a particular track.
Trainer: The person responsible for looking after a horse and preparing it to race. A trainer must hold a license or permit to be entitled to train.
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.
Triple Crown: Used generically to denote a series of three important races, but is always capitalized when referring to historical races for three-year-olds. In the United States, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In England the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes. In Canada, the Queen’s Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes and Breeders’ Stakes.
Trotting: A term for harness racing in general. It also describes the specific gait of a trotter.
Turf Course: Grass course.
Underlay: A horse racing at shorter odds than seems warranted by its past performances.
Wager: Another term for bet.
Wheel Betting all possible combinations in an exotic wager using at least one horse as the key. See ‘Part Wheel’.
Whip: Instrument or a stick, usually of leather, with which rider strikes horse to increase his speed.
Win: The term used to describe a first place finish.
Win Bet – Wager on a horse to finish first.
Wire: The finish line of a race.
Yearling: A horse in its second calendar year of life, beginning January 1 of the year following its birth.
Yielding: Condition of a turf course with a great deal of moisture.
