A
Across
the board: A win, place and show bet on a horse.
Allowance: A race other than a claiming event for
which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions.
Apprentice: A jockey who has ridden for less than a
year and who receives weight allowances.
B
Backside: The racetrack's barn area.
Bay:
A color ranging from tan to dark chestnut with black
mane, tail and points.
Beyer
speed rating: A measure of performance popularized
by Andy Beyer of The Washington Post.
Bounce: An exceptionally poor performance on the
heels of an exceptionally good one.
Broodmare: Female horse used for breeding.
Broodmare sire: A sire whose female offspring become
producers of exceptional performers.
Bullet: Fastest workout of the day at a particular
distance.
C
Call
to the post: A special call played on a Bugle used
to signal the horses to the starting gate.
Chestnut: A color ranging from light gold to deep
red. Also, a small, horny growth on the inside of a
horse's front legs.
Claiming race: A race in which the horses are for
sale at a price specified before the race. Claims are
made before the race and the new owner assumes
possession immediately following the race.
Colt:
An ungelded male horse 4 years old or younger.
D
Dam:
The mother of a horse.
Distaff: A race for female horses.
Driving: Strong urging by jockey.
E
Early
foot: Good speed at the start of a race.
Entry:
Two or more horses representing the same owner or
trained by the same person and running together as a
single betting entity.
F
Filly:
A female horse less than 5 years old.
Furlong: An eighth of a mile.
G
Gelding: A neutered male horse.
H
Handicapping: This is the study of factors in the
past performances which determine the relative qualities
and abilities of horses in a race.
Handle: Money wagered.
I
Inquiry: Official investigation of rule infractions.
J
Juvenile: Two-year-old horse.
L
Lasix:
Diuretic medication given to horses which bleed.
M
Maiden: A horse that hasn't won a flat racein any
country.
Mare:
A female horse 5 years old or older.
Morning line: The starting odds set by thetrack
handicapper.
O
Off
track: A track that is not fast.
Overlay: A horse whose odds are greater than
itspotential to win.
P
Paddock: Structure or area where horses are saddled
and kept before going to the track.
Pari-mutuel: System of wagering where all the money
is returned to the wagerers after deduction of track and
state percentages.
R
Roan:
Horse with white hairs mingledthroughout its coat.
S
Silks:
Jacket and cap worn by jockeys.
Sire:
Father of a foal.
Stallion: Uncastrated male horse.
Stud:
Stallion.
T
Turf
course: Grass covered race course.
U
Underlay: Horse whose odds are more promising than
his potential to win.
V
Valet:
A person who helps jockeys keep their wardrobe and
equipment in order.
Wxyz
Weight: The assigned weight for a horse, including
the jockey, equipment and lead weights if needed.
Workout: Exercise session at a predetermined
distance.
Yearling: A horse that is one year old. The
universal birthdate of horses is January 1.
