Horse Racing Glossary

Across the board
A bet on a horse to win, place, and show.

Action
1. The way a horse moves.
2. A term for betting activity.

Added money
Funds added by organizers to a race purse beyond entry fees.

Age
All Thoroughbreds officially turn one year older on January 1.

Agent
A person authorized to handle business or make deals for a jockey, owner, or breeder, such as buying or selling horses.

Airing
When a horse isn’t running at full effort or top speed during a race.

All-Age Race
A race open to horses aged two years and older.

Allowance race
A race with set conditions determining how much weight horses carry.

Also-eligible
A horse entered but not allowed to run unless another is scratched.

Apprentice (Bug)
A jockey who hasn't reached a set number of wins and receives a weight allowance.

Baby Race
A race specifically for two-year-old horses.

Backstretch
The far side straight of the racetrack; also refers to the stable area.

Bandage
Leg wraps used for support or protection during racing or rest.

Battery
An illegal electric device used by a jockey to shock a horse for extra speed during a race; also called a "machine" or "joint."

Bay
A common horse color: brown body with black mane, tail, and legs.

Bearing in/out
When a horse drifts from a straight path during a race.

Bell
A sound signal used to start a race or, at some tracks, to signal the end of betting.

Beyer number
A speed rating assigned to horses to compare performance across tracks.

Bit
The metal mouthpiece of a bridle used for guiding a horse.

Bleeder
A horse that bleeds from the lungs during exercise (EIPH), often treated with Lasix.

Blinkers
Headgear to restrict a horse’s side vision and maintain focus.

Board (Tote Board)
Displays betting odds, pools, and race results.

Bolt
Sudden veering off-course, usually toward the outer rail.

Boxed in
A horse unable to move forward due to surrounding horses.

Break maiden
When a horse or jockey wins for the first time.

Breeders' Cup
A prestigious year-end championship series of Thoroughbred races.

Claiming race
A race in which all horses can be purchased for a set price before the race.

Chalk
The race favorite, or horse with the lowest betting odds.

Closer
A horse that finishes strongly after starting behind.

Colt
A male horse, 4 years old or younger, that hasn’t been gelded.

Conformation
The physical build and proportions of a horse.

Connections
People involved with a horse—owner, trainer, jockey.

Cool Out
Walking a horse after exercise to help it recover.

Crop
1. A jockey’s whip.
2. A group of foals born in the same year.

Cuppy (track)
A dry, loose track surface that gives way underfoot.

Daily double
A bet picking the winners of two consecutive races.

Daily Racing
Form A publication with race stats, past performances, and expert insights for handicapping.

Dam
The mother of a horse.

Dark bay or brown
A nearly black coat with lighter areas around muzzle or flanks.

Dead Heat
A tie between two or more horses at the finish line.

Disqualification
When a horse is moved down in placement due to a rule infraction.

Exacta
A bet where you must pick the first two finishers in the exact order.

Eased
When a jockey pulls up a horse gently during a race, often due to injury or fatigue.

Earmuffs
Headgear that covers a horse’s ears to block out distracting sounds.

Eclipse Award
Annual awards for the best horses, trainers, jockeys, and more in U.S. racing.

Entry
Two or more horses from the same owner/trainer racing as one betting unit.

Favorite
The horse most expected to win a race.

False Favorite
A horse favored to win but actually outclassed by others.

Farrier
A specialist who trims and shoes horses’ hooves (horseshoer).

Fast (Track)
A dry, even, and firm racing surface—ideal for fast times.

Field
All the horses entered to run in a race.

Foal(ed)
1. A horse of either sex in its first year of life.
2. As a verb, to give birth.
3. Can also denote the offspring of either a male or female parent.

Furlong
1/8 of a mile; a common race distance unit.

Gait
The natural way a horse moves its legs: walk, trot, canter, gallop. Thoroughbreds race at a gallop.

Gate
The starting gate where horses line up before a race begins.

Gelding
A castrated male horse.

Graded
Race A top-level stakes race ranked I, II, or III, with Grade I being the highest quality.

Groom
Person who cares for horses at the stable.

Hand
A unit of measurement for horse height. One hand = 4 inches. Horses are measured from the shoulder to the ground, e.g., 15.2 hands.

Handicap race
A race where horses carry different weights to equalize chances.

Head
A very small margin by which one horse beats another, about the length of a horse’s head.

Hoof
The horse’s foot, essential for support and movement.

Helmet
Protective headgear worn by jockeys to prevent injury.

Icing
A therapy where ice or cold packs are applied to a horse’s legs to reduce swelling or inflammation.

Inquiry
When officials review a race to check for rule violations, sometimes prompted by a jockey’s objection.

In the money
Finishing a race in first, second, or third place—usually the spots that earn prize money.

Jail
When a horse is claimed (bought) in a claiming race, it must run in claiming races with a price at least 25% higher for the next 30 days. This is called being "in jail."

The Jockey Club
The main organization that registers Thoroughbred horses in North America and helps improve horse breeding and racing.

Juvenile
A two-year-old racehorse — basically, a young horse just starting its racing career.

Key Horse
A horse that you pick to include in several different bets at the same time to increase your chances of winning.

Lame
When a horse walks or runs unevenly because it hurts in one of its legs or feet.

Length
A way to measure the distance between horses in a race, about the length of a horse’s body.

Maiden
A horse that has never won a race.

Mare
A female horse that is five years old or older.

Morning line
Predicted odds set before betting opens.

Mudder
A horse that performs well on a wet track.

Near side
The left side of a horse — the side from which the horse is usually mounted.

Nose
The smallest margin a horse can win by (less than a head).

Oaks
A stakes race for three-year-old fillies (female horses).

Objection
A claim of foul lodged by a rider, patrol judge, or official after a race. When filed by an official, it is called an inquiry.

Odds-on
Betting odds that are less than even money; the favorite is expected to win.

Off side
The right side of a horse.

On the bit
When a horse is eager and responsive to the rider’s control; also called “in the bridle.”

Pace
The speed at which a race is run, often affecting tactics and outcomes.

Post parade
When horses walk in front of the stands before a race.

Post position
The stall number a horse starts from in the gate.

Purse
The total prize money offered in a race.

Rabbit
A speed horse running as an entry with another, usually a come-from-behind horse. The rabbit sets a fast pace to help its stablemate’s chances.

Racing secretary
Official responsible for drafting race conditions and assigning weights for handicap races.

Rank
A horse that refuses to settle during a race, running headstrong and ignoring pace.

Reserve
A minimum price set by the seller for a horse in a public auction.

Route
A race longer than one mile.

Saddle
A lightweight racing saddle, typically under two pounds, used in Thoroughbred racing.

Saddle Cloth
A cloth placed under the saddle to absorb sweat. It displays the horse's program number and sometimes its name.

Scale of Weights
Standardized chart of weights assigned to horses based on age, sex, race distance, and season.

Scratch
To withdraw a horse from a race before it starts. Can be due to health, track conditions, or trainer/veterinarian decision.

Shadow Roll
A noseband (usually sheepskin) that prevents a horse from seeing shadows on the track, helping it stay focused.

Show
A bet that the horse will finish in the top three.

Sire
A horse’s father.

Stakes race
A high-class race with higher entry fees and purses.

Starter
The official who releases the horses from the starting gate.

Stretch
The final straight section of the track before the finish line.

Track bias
A track condition favoring a particular running style or path.

Trainer
The person responsible for preparing a horse to race.

Trip
A horse’s experience during the race—positioning, traffic, trouble, etc.

Turf
A grass racing surface.

Underlay
A horse whose odds are shorter (lower) than its past performance justifies—considered a poor betting value.

Under Wraps
A horse being purposely restrained during a race or workout, usually to avoid winning or working too fast.

Valet
An inpidual who prepares and maintains a jockey’s equipment, such as saddles and riding gear.

Walkover
A race where only one horse is entered and competes alone.

Washed Out
A horse that is overly nervous and sweating heavily before a race. Also called washy or lathered up.

Weanling
A young horse under one year old that has been separated from its mother.

Weigh In / Weigh Out
The process where a jockey’s weight is checked before and after a race to ensure it meets the required amount.

Weight-for-age
A race where horses carry weight based on age and sex only.

Win, place, show
Finish first, second, or third—used in both race results and betting.

Wire
The finish line in a horse race.

Yearling
A horse in its second calendar year, starting January 1 of the year after it was born.

Yielding
Turf track condition with significant moisture—softer than “good,” firmer than “soft.” Horses sink into it noticeably.