Betting Vocabulary
Across The Board: To place equal bets, to win, place and show, on one horse.
Allowance Race: A race which has eligibility situation to determine the horses that may enter and is not a claimer.
Also Eligible: A horse who is an alternate starter, who will be allowed in the race if a starter is hurt.
Also-Ran: A horse which finished back in the pack. Apprentice: Rookie jockey.
Backside: Location of stables.
Bay: Brown or tan horse with black "points" - mane,lower legs, and tail.
Bear Out: To drift toward the outside of the track.
Bleeder: Horse that bleeds during heavy exertion, usually from small vessels or capillaries in respiratory system.
Blinkers: A ordinary piece of racing equipment that contains eye cups which limit a horse's vision and prevent it from shying from objects or other horses.
Bloodline: Pedigree.
Blow Out: Workout before a race to limber up a horse.
Bolt: A sharp left- or right-hand movement by a horse.
Break: To leave the gate at the start of a race. Also, a harness horse changing to a different gate than the one specified in the race in which they are competing.
Break Maiden: When a horse wins his first race. Until that first win, a horse is a maiden.
Breed: An equine group whose members have been selectively bred for consistent characteristics over a period of time and with pedigrees recorded in a stud book.
Breeze: To run easily, under a hold, without much encouragement.
Broodmare: Female horse used for breeding purposes.
Broodmare Sire: The sire of the dam of a horse.
Bug: Apprentice Jockey who is allowed a reduced weight as they gain experience.
Chestnut: Red to golden yellow horse with red main and tail.
Claiming Race: A race in which any horse may be bought at a predetermined price.
Colt: Ungelded male horse under five years of age.
Conformation: The shape and correctness of the anatomy of a horse.
Dam: The female parent of a horse.
Dead Heat: Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire.
Derby: Stakes race for three year olds.
Driver: A person driving a harness horse in a race.
Driving: Strong urging by the rider.
Fast Track: Track condition with footing at its best. Dry and even.
Favorite: Horse having the most money wagered on it to win.
Filly: Female horse under five years old that has not been bred.
Foal: A horse under one year old.
Furlong: A distance equal to 1/8th of a mile.
Gait: Used to describe the manner in which a horse moves.
Gallop: A fast gate in which all four feet are off the ground at once.
Gelding: Castrated male horse.
Groom: A person who cares for a horse in the stables.
Hand: Unit of dimension for a horse's height, each of which is 4 inches.
Handicap Race: A race in which weights have been assigned by the racing secretary after evaluating entrant's past races.
Handicapping: The art of evaluating a horse's past performance to determine the outcome of a race.
Handily: Working or racing with moderate effort; not under the whip.
Horse: Ungelded male horse five years old or older.
Hot Walk: Cooling down a horse by walking by hand or on a machine after a race or workout. Jockey: Rider of a horse in a race.
Juvenile: A two year old horse.
Length: About eight feet, the length of a horse from nose to tail. At racing speeds a horse travels about 5 lenghts a second. Thus timing is often in 1/5 seconds.
Longshot: Entry not well regarded by bettors, resulting in the possibility of longer odds and higher payoffs.
Maiden Race: A race for horses which have never won a race.
Mare: Female horse five years old or older, or younger if bred.
Match Race: A race between just two horses.
Morning Line: An estimate of the final race odds, as determined by the track's handicapper.
Mudder:A horse which races well on a muddy track.
Muddy Track: Track condition where there is substantial water in the track making footing less than ideal.
Nose: Smallest winning margin at the finish.
Official: Final results of a race have been confirmed by the stewards.
Pace: Relative speed of the leaders of a race at various stages during the race.
Pacer: A harness racing gait in which the legs on one side of the horse move together.
Paddock: Area where the horses are saddled and paraded before post time. Also a small fenced in field for horses to be turned out in.
Pari-mutuel: The form of wagering whereby players wager against each other, not against the "house".
Parked Out: Term for a harness horse which is not able to race near the inside rail due to the position of other horses.
Pedigree: The details of a horse's ancestry. Often shown as a family tree.
Photo Finish: A finish between two or more horses which is so close a still photograph must be used to determine the order of finish.
Pole: Distance marks placed around the track, usually every 1/16th of a mile. Post Parade:When the horses leave the paddock and go toward the starting gate.
Post Time: The designated time for a race to begin.
Purse: The total prize money awarded in a race - usually among the top five.
Recall: When the first attempt at starting in a harness race is nullified by the official in charge of the start.
Roan: Horse with a red and white hair mixture. Usually with age they turn mostly gray.
Scratch: A horse is withdrawn from a race.
Silks: Jacket representing the owner of a horse which is worn by the jockey.
Simulcast: Simultaneous broadcast of a race to betting facilities away from the live track.
Sire: The male parent of a horse.
Stakes Race: Highest class of race, reserved for the best horses. Owners have to pay an entry fee or "stake" for these races.
Stallion: Ungelded male horse used specifically for breeding.
Standardbred: A breed of horse which participates in harness racing.
Starting Gate: A mechanical device which allows each horse to begin a race at the same time.
Steeplechase: A race over a course with artificial obstacles.
Stewards: The highest level officials overseeing the races who work to maintain the integrity of the sport.
Stick:A jockey's whip.
Stretch: The straight portions of a race track.
Stud Book: A official record of the pedigrees of purebred horses.
Sulky: A two wheeled cart carrying the driver and pulled by a horse in harness racing.
Tack: Equipment used for riding and driving a horse.
Thoroughbred: A horse specifically bred for racing that can trace their lineage back to three original sires. These sires are: Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian, Byerley Turk.
Trainer: Person in charge of conditioning horses in preparation for races.
Trotter: In harness racing, horses which move with a diagonal gait.
Yearling:A horse which is one year old.
Across The Board: To place equal bets, to win, place and show, on one horse.
Allowance Race: A race which has eligibility situation to determine the horses that may enter and is not a claimer.
Also Eligible: A horse who is an alternate starter, who will be allowed in the race if a starter is hurt.
Also-Ran: A horse which finished back in the pack. Apprentice: Rookie jockey.
Backside: Location of stables.
Bay: Brown or tan horse with black "points" - mane,lower legs, and tail.
Bear Out: To drift toward the outside of the track.
Bleeder: Horse that bleeds during heavy exertion, usually from small vessels or capillaries in respiratory system.
Blinkers: A ordinary piece of racing equipment that contains eye cups which limit a horse's vision and prevent it from shying from objects or other horses.
Bloodline: Pedigree.
Blow Out: Workout before a race to limber up a horse.
Bolt: A sharp left- or right-hand movement by a horse.
Break: To leave the gate at the start of a race. Also, a harness horse changing to a different gate than the one specified in the race in which they are competing.
Break Maiden: When a horse wins his first race. Until that first win, a horse is a maiden.
Breed: An equine group whose members have been selectively bred for consistent characteristics over a period of time and with pedigrees recorded in a stud book.
Breeze: To run easily, under a hold, without much encouragement.
Broodmare: Female horse used for breeding purposes.
Broodmare Sire: The sire of the dam of a horse.
Bug: Apprentice Jockey who is allowed a reduced weight as they gain experience.
Chestnut: Red to golden yellow horse with red main and tail.
Claiming Race: A race in which any horse may be bought at a predetermined price.
Colt: Ungelded male horse under five years of age.
Conformation: The shape and correctness of the anatomy of a horse.
Dam: The female parent of a horse.
Dead Heat: Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire.
Derby: Stakes race for three year olds.
Driver: A person driving a harness horse in a race.
Driving: Strong urging by the rider.
Fast Track: Track condition with footing at its best. Dry and even.
Favorite: Horse having the most money wagered on it to win.
Filly: Female horse under five years old that has not been bred.
Foal: A horse under one year old.
Furlong: A distance equal to 1/8th of a mile.
Gait: Used to describe the manner in which a horse moves.
Gallop: A fast gate in which all four feet are off the ground at once.
Gelding: Castrated male horse.
Groom: A person who cares for a horse in the stables.
Hand: Unit of dimension for a horse's height, each of which is 4 inches.
Handicap Race: A race in which weights have been assigned by the racing secretary after evaluating entrant's past races.
Handicapping: The art of evaluating a horse's past performance to determine the outcome of a race.
Handily: Working or racing with moderate effort; not under the whip.
Horse: Ungelded male horse five years old or older.
Hot Walk: Cooling down a horse by walking by hand or on a machine after a race or workout. Jockey: Rider of a horse in a race.
Juvenile: A two year old horse.
Length: About eight feet, the length of a horse from nose to tail. At racing speeds a horse travels about 5 lenghts a second. Thus timing is often in 1/5 seconds.
Longshot: Entry not well regarded by bettors, resulting in the possibility of longer odds and higher payoffs.
Maiden Race: A race for horses which have never won a race.
Mare: Female horse five years old or older, or younger if bred.
Match Race: A race between just two horses.
Morning Line: An estimate of the final race odds, as determined by the track's handicapper.
Mudder:A horse which races well on a muddy track.
Muddy Track: Track condition where there is substantial water in the track making footing less than ideal.
Nose: Smallest winning margin at the finish.
Official: Final results of a race have been confirmed by the stewards.
Pace: Relative speed of the leaders of a race at various stages during the race.
Pacer: A harness racing gait in which the legs on one side of the horse move together.
Paddock: Area where the horses are saddled and paraded before post time. Also a small fenced in field for horses to be turned out in.
Pari-mutuel: The form of wagering whereby players wager against each other, not against the "house".
Parked Out: Term for a harness horse which is not able to race near the inside rail due to the position of other horses.
Pedigree: The details of a horse's ancestry. Often shown as a family tree.
Photo Finish: A finish between two or more horses which is so close a still photograph must be used to determine the order of finish.
Pole: Distance marks placed around the track, usually every 1/16th of a mile. Post Parade:When the horses leave the paddock and go toward the starting gate.
Post Time: The designated time for a race to begin.
Purse: The total prize money awarded in a race - usually among the top five.
Recall: When the first attempt at starting in a harness race is nullified by the official in charge of the start.
Roan: Horse with a red and white hair mixture. Usually with age they turn mostly gray.
Scratch: A horse is withdrawn from a race.
Silks: Jacket representing the owner of a horse which is worn by the jockey.
Simulcast: Simultaneous broadcast of a race to betting facilities away from the live track.
Sire: The male parent of a horse.
Stakes Race: Highest class of race, reserved for the best horses. Owners have to pay an entry fee or "stake" for these races.
Stallion: Ungelded male horse used specifically for breeding.
Standardbred: A breed of horse which participates in harness racing.
Starting Gate: A mechanical device which allows each horse to begin a race at the same time.
Steeplechase: A race over a course with artificial obstacles.
Stewards: The highest level officials overseeing the races who work to maintain the integrity of the sport.
Stick:A jockey's whip.
Stretch: The straight portions of a race track.
Stud Book: A official record of the pedigrees of purebred horses.
Sulky: A two wheeled cart carrying the driver and pulled by a horse in harness racing.
Tack: Equipment used for riding and driving a horse.
Thoroughbred: A horse specifically bred for racing that can trace their lineage back to three original sires. These sires are: Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian, Byerley Turk.
Trainer: Person in charge of conditioning horses in preparation for races.
Trotter: In harness racing, horses which move with a diagonal gait.
Yearling:A horse which is one year old.