D
Daily Double
Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second
Dam
Mother of a Thoroughbred
Damsire or Broodmare Sire
The sire of a broodmare
Dead Heat
Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire
Dead Track
Racing surface lacking resiliency
Declared
In U.S. a horse withdrawn from a stake in advance of scratch time, in Europe a horse confirmed to start in a race
Diploma or Earning a Diploma
Breaking a maiden, winning for the first time
Disqualification
Change of order of finish by officials for an infraction of the rules
Distaff or Distaff Race
Female or a race for fillies, mares, or both
Distanced
Well beaten, finishing a great distance behind the winner
Dogs
Wooden barrier or rubber traffic cones placed a certain distance out from the inner rail, to prevent horses during workout period, when track is wet, muddy, soft yielding or heavy, from churning the footing along the rail
Dosage Diagram
A diagram showing the number and placement of chefs-de-race in a horse's pedigree
Dosage Index
Mathematical reduction of the Dosage Diagram to a number reflecting a horse's potential for speed or stamina
DQ
Disqualified
Driving
Strong urging by rider
Dropdown
A horse meeting a lower class of rival than he had been running against
Dwelt
Tardy in breaking from the gate
E
Eased
Chart caller's assessment of a horse that is being deliberately slowed by the jockey to prevent injury or harm to the horse
Easily
Running or winning without being pressed by rider or opposition
Eighth
A furlong, 220 yards, 660 feet
Eligble
Qualified to start in a race, according to conditions
Engagement
Stake nomination or riding commitment
Entry
Two or more horses owned by the same stable or in some cases trained by the same trainer and thus running as a single betting unit
Equipment
Whip, blinkers, etc. Gear carried by a horse in a race
Equlivent Odds
Mutuel price horses pay for each $1 bet
Evenly
Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race
Exacta or Perfecta
A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked
Excused
Withdrawal from a race, sometimes on a veterinarian's recommendation, with consent of stewards
Exercise Rider
Male or female rider who is aboard a horse in the mornings
Extended
Forced to run at top speed
Extra Weight or Added Weight
More weight than conditions of race require
F
Faltered
Used for a horse that was in contention early and drops back in the late stages, more drastic than weakened but less drastic than stopped
False Favorite
Horse who is bet down to favoritism when others would appear to outclass him on form
Farrier
Blacksmith
Fast Track
Footing at best, dry, fast and even
Fees
Amount paid to rider or the cost of nominating, entering or starting a horse in a stakes race
Fence
Sometimes called outside rail, more properly the barrier between the front of the stands and the racing strip
Field
The horses in a race
Field Horse or Mutuel Field
Two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than positions on the totalisator board can accommodate
Filly
Female horse up to and including the age of 4
Firing
Applying a searing instrument, hot iron or electric needle to an injured portion of the leg to promote healing of injury or infirmity
Firm
A condition of a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track
First Turn
Bend in the track beyond the starting point
Flag
Signal held by man stationed a short distance in front of the gate at exact starting point of race. Official timing starts when flag is dropped to denote proper start
Flat Race
Contested on level ground as opposed to hurdle race or steeplechase
Flatten Out
When a horse drops his head almost on straight line with body, may indicate exhaustion
Float
Piece of track equipment dragged over racing strip to squeeze off surface water
Foal
Newly born Thoroughbred, or until weaned, male or female
Founder
Laminitis
Four Furlongs
Half a mile, 880 yards or 2,640 feet
Fractional Time
Intermediate time recorded in a race, as at the quarter, half and three-quarters
Fresh or Freshened
A rested horse
Free Handicap
A race in which no nomination fees
Front Runner
A horse who usually leads, or tries to lead the field for as far as he can
Furlong
One-eighth of a mile, 220 yards or 660 feet
Furosemide
Generic term for a medication for the treatment of bleeders, most common trade name is Lasix
G
Gait
The ways in which a horse can move-walk, trot, canter, gallop and run
Gallop
A type of gait, a fast canter, also to ride a horse at that gait
Gate
Starting mechanism
Gelding
Castrated male horse
Get
Progeny of sire
Good Bottom
Track that is firm under the surface, which may be sloppy or wet
Good Track
Condition between fast and slow
Grab a Quarter
To strike the side of a front foot with a hind foot, this is racetrack jargon that would be expressed more clearly by saying that the horse overstepped or overreached and cut himself, reserve grabbed a quarter for direct quotes
Graduate
Winning first time horse or rider, also graduate of the claiming ranks a horse that has moved up to allowance, stakes or handicap racing
Grand Dam or Second Dam
Grandmother of a horse
Grand Sire
Grandfather of a horse, sire of the horse's dam
Gray
A mixture of white and black hairs
Groom
A person who cares for a horse in a stable
Group Race
European equivalent to North American graded races
H
Half
Half a mile, four furlongs, 880 yards or 2,640 feet
Half Brother and Half Sister
Horses out of the same dam but by different sires
Halter
Like a bridle, but lacing a bit, used in handling horses around the stable and when not being ridden
Halter To
To claim a horse
Hand
Four inches, the unit used in measuring height of horses from withers to ground
Handicap
Race for which a handicapper assigns weights to be carried, also to handicap a race and to make selections on the basis of the past performances
Handicapper
One who assigns weights for handicap race, also one who makes selections based on past performances
Handicapping
One who assigns weights for a handicap race, also one who makes selctions based on past performances
Handily
Working or racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing
Handle
Amount of money wagered in the pari-mutuel on a race, a program, a meeting or a year
Hand Ride
Urging a horse with the hands and not using the whip
Hardboot
Kentucky horsemen
Head
A margin between horses, one horse leading another by the length of his head
Head of the Stretch
Beginning of the straight run home
Heavy
Condition of track similar to, but even slower than, muddy
Heavyweight Handicap
Race in which the top weight is assigned no less than 140 pounds
Homebred
A horse bred by his owner
Horse
Broadly any Thoroughbred regardless of sex, specifically an entire male 5 years old or older
Horsing
Mare in heat
Hotwalker
Person who walks horses to cool them out after workout or races
Hung
Horse tiring, but holding position
Hurdle Race
Contest over obstacles, a jumping race over lower fences than steeplechase races
I
Icing
Standing a horse in a bucket of ice or applying ice packs to the legs to encourage circulation
In Foal
Pregnant mare
In the Money
Finishing first, second or third
Infield
Area within the inner rail of the racetrack
Infield Racing
Turf racing
In Hand
Running under moderate control, at less than best pace
Impost
Weight carried or assigned
Inter State Wagering
Wagering on a simulcast of a race from another state
Inter Track Wagering
Wagering on a simulcast of a race from another track within the state
Inquiry
Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules, also a sign flashed by officials on tote board on such occasions
Irons
Stirrups
J
Jockey Fee
Sum paid to a rider
Jog
Slow, easy gait
Jumper
Steeplechase or hurdle horse
Juvenile
Two-year-old horse
L
Laminitis
Inflammation under horny wall of foot
Lasix
Furosemide
Late Double
A second daily double offered on the latter part of the program
Lead
Strap attached to halter to lead a horse
Lead or Lead Pad
Weights carried to make up the difference when a rider weighs less than the poundage a horse is assigned to carry
Lead Pony
Horse or pony who heads parade of field from paddock to starting gate, also a horse or pony who accompanies a starter to post
Leaky Roof Circuit
Minor tracks
Leg Up
To help a jockey mount his horse, also a jockey having a mount or to strengthen a horse's legs through exercise
Length
Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet, also distance between horses in a race
Listed Race
A European race just below a group race in quality
Lock
Slang for a sure thing winner
Lug In or Out
Action of a tiring horse, bearing in or out
Lunge
Horse rearing or plunging
M
Madien
A horse who has not won a race also applied to non winning rider
Maiden Race
A race for non winners
Make a Run
Charge by a horse in a race
Mare
Female horse 5 years old or older also a female of any age who has been bred
Mash
Moist mixture, hot or cold, of grain and other feed given to horses
Medication List
A list kept by the track veterinarian and published by the track and Daily Racing Form (when provided by track officials) showing which horses have been treated with phenylbutazone and/or furosemide
Middle Distance
Broadly from one mile to less than a mile and an eighth
Minus Pool
A mutuel pool caused when one horse is so heavily played that, after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet, the racing association usually makes up the difference
Money Rider
A rider who excels in rich races
Morning Glory
Horse who performs well in morning workouts but fails to reproduce that form in races
Morning Line
Approximate odds quoted before wagering determines exact odds
Muddy Track
Deep condition of racetrack after being soaked with water
Mudder
Horse who races well on muddy tracks
Mudlark
Superior mudder
Muzzle
Nose and lips of a horse, also a guard placed over a horse's mouth to prevent him from biting or eating
N
Navicular Disease
Corrosive ulcer on the navicular bone, usually in the fore feet
Near Side
Left side of a horse, side on which he is mounted
Neck
Unit of measurement, about the length of a horse's neck or a quarter of a length
Nerved
Operation that severs vital nerve to enable horses to race without pain, illegal in most jurisdictions
Nod
Lowering of head, winning in that manner
Nom de Course
Assumed name of owner or racing partnership
Nose or Short Head
Smallest advantage a horse can win by
O
Oaks
A classic stakes event for 3 year old fillies
Objection
Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official, if lodged by official, it is called an inquiry
Odds On
Odds of less than even money, in England it is simply called on, thus a horse 5-4 on is actually at odds of 4-5
Official
Sign displayed when result is confirmed, also racing official
Off Side
Right side of horse
Off Track
An off track refers to a wet racing surface
Off Track Betting
Wagering on horses at legalized betting offices run usually by the state or the tracks, or in New York by independent corporations chartered by the state, with wagers commingled with on-track betting pools
On the Bit
When a horse is eager to run
On the Board
Finishing among the first four
On the Nose
Betting a horse to win only
Osslets
Bony growth on the fetlock or ankle joint resulting in inflammation of the enveloping membrane of the bone
Over Reaching
Toe of hind shoe striking forelegs on heel, or back of coronet
Overland
Racing wide throughout, outside of other horses
Overlay
A horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances
Overnight Line
Prices quoted night before the race
Overnight Race
A race in which entries close a specific number of hours before running, such as 48 hours, as opposed to a stakes race for which nominations close weeks and sometimes months in advance
Oveweight
Surplus weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the required weight
P
Paddock
Structure or area where horses are saddled and kept before post time
Paddock Judge
Official in charge of paddock and saddling routine
Parimutuel
A form of wagering that originated in France in which all money bet is divided up among those who have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made
Past Performances
A compilation in Daily Racing Form of a horse's record, including all pertinent data, as a basis for handicapping
Patrol Judges
Officials who observe progress of race from various vantage points around the track
Penalties
Extra weight a horse must carry, especially in a handicap
Photo Finish
A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish
Pick Six
A type of wager in which the winners of all the included races must be selected
Pill
Small numbered ball drawn to decide post positions
Pinched Back
Horse in close quarters and forced back
Pinhooker or Pinhook
To buy a horse at auction fo r the purpose of reselling him later
Place
Second position at finish
Place Bet
Wager on a horse to finish first or second
Placing Judges
Officials who determine the order in which horses reach the finish line
Platter
Claiming horse, also a farrier
Plates or Racing Plates
Shoes horses wear in races
Pocket
Running in a position with horses in front and alongside
Pole
Markers at measured distances around the track, marking the distance from the finish
Post
Starting point or position in starting gate
Pool
Mutuel pool, total sum bet on a race or even, such as the win pool, daily double pool or exacta pool
Post Parade
Horses going from paddock to starting gate past the stands
Post Position
Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts
Post Time
Designated time from race to start
Preferred List
Horses with prior rights to starting for various reasons
Prep or Prep Race
A workout or a race to prepare a horse for a future engagement
Prop
Refusing to break with field from gate, standing flat-footed also, when a horse suddenly stops running a full speed by extending his forefeet as brakes
Public Trainer
One whose services are not exclusively engaged by a single stable and who accepts horses from a number of owners
Purse
A prize of money to which owners do not contribute
Q
Quarter
One-quarter of a mile, 440 yards or 1,320 feet
Quarter Crack
Crack in wall of hoof running downwards from coronet
Quarter Horse
Breed of horse especially fast for a quarter of a mile, from which its name is derived
Quarter Pole
Marker one-quarter mile from the finish
Quinella
Wager in which first two finishers must be picked, but payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second
R
Rabbit
A horse that is considered to have little chance of winning a race but is entered purely to ensure a fat pace and tire out the other front-runners, softening up the competition for the benefit of an entrymate
Racing Secretary
Official who drafts conditions of races and assigns weights for handicap events
Rail Runner
Horse who prefers to run next to inside rail
Receiving Barn
Structure at which horses entered are isolated for a certain period of time before a race
Refuse
When a horse will not break from the gate, in jumping races, balking at the jump
Reserved
Held for a particular engagement or race, also held off the pace
Ridden Out
Refers to a horse that wins under a vigorous hand ride but is not being whipped
Ride Short
Using short stirrup leathers
Ridgling
A horse with one or both undescended testes
Roan
Mixture of white and red or brown hairs
Roaring
Deep, prolonged cough, generally when a horse is galloping
Rogue
Ill-tempered horse
Romp
Running or winning with utmost ease
Route
Race distance of a mile or longer
Router
Horse who performs well at distance races
Rundown
To suffer abrasions on the heels as a result of contact with the dirt and sand of the track surface
Rundown Bandages or Wraps
Bandages on the hind legs, usually with a pad inside, to keep a horse from burning or scraping his heels when he races
Run Out Bit
A special type of bit to prevent a horse from bearing out or in
S
Saddle Cloth
Cloth under the saddle on which number and sometimes horse's name denoting post position is displayed
Savage
To bite another horse or a person
Scale of Weights
Fixed imposts to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year
Schooling
Accustoming a horse to starting from the gate and to teach him racing practices, in steeplechasing more particularly to teach a horse to jump
Schooling List
List of horses required by the starter to school at the starting gate before being permitted to race
Scratch
To be taken out of a race
Second Call
A second engagement of jockey who already is listed for a mount in a race
Second Dam
Grandmother, Grand Dam
Selling Race
A claiming race
Sesamoid
Sesamoid bones are located at the back of the fetlock, the joint formed by the pastern bone and the cannon bone
Set
A group of horses working together
Set Down
A suspension, also put to a drive, or asked to run by a jockey
Seven Furlongs
Seven-eighths of a mile, 1,540 yards or 4,620 feet
Sex Allowance
Fillies and mares, according to their age and time of year, are allowed to carry three to five pounds less when meeting males
Shadow Roll
Usually a lamb's wool roll half way up the horse's face to keep him from seeing his own shadow
Shank
Rope or strap attached to a halter or bridle by which a horse is led
Shed Row
Stable area or a row of barns
Short
A horse in need of more work or racing to reach winning form
Show
Third position at the finish
Show Bet
Wager on a horse to finish in the money, third or better
Shut Off
Pocketed, unable to improve position
Silks
Jacket and cap worn by riders which designate owner of the horse
Simulcast
Televising a race to other tracks, OTB offices or other outlets for the purpose of wagering
Sire
Father of a horse
Six Furlongs
Three-quarters of a mile, 1,320 yards or 3,960 feet
Sixteenth
One-sixteenth of a mile, 110 yards or 330 feet
Sloppy
Condition of footing, wet on surface with firm bottom
Slow
Footing that is not fast, between good and heavy
Snug
Mild restraining hold by rider
Solid Horse
Contender
Sophmore
Three year old horse
Speedy Cut
Injury to knee or hock caused by a strike from the opposite foot
Spit Box
Receptacle for urine and blood taken from a horse for testing
Spit the Bit
When a horse quits running against the bit, usually because of fatigue, often said disdainfully
Stakes Placed
Finishing first, second or third in a stakes race
Stake
A race, usually a feature race, for which owner must pay up a fee to run a horse, the fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, to which the track adds more money to make up the total purse, some stakes races are by invitation and require no payment or fee
Stakes Horse
One capable of competing in such events
Stallion
Entire male horse
Stall Walker
Horse that moves about his stall and frets rather than rests
Star
Small patch of white hair on a horse's forehead, also a credit a horse receives from being forced out of an overcrowded race, giving him priority in future races
Starter Race
An allowance or handicap race restricted to horses who have started for a specific claiming price or less
Starting Gate
Mechanical device having partitions or stalls for horses in which they are confined until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race
State Bred
A horse bred in a particular state and thus eligible to compete in special races restricted to state breds
Stayer
Stout-hearted horse who can race long distances
Steadied
A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually because of being in close quarters
Steps Up
A horse moving up in class to meet better runners
Stewards
Top officials of the meeting responsible for enforcing the rules
Steeplechase
A jumping race over high obstacles
Stick
A jockey's whip
Stickers
Calks on shoes which give a horse better traction in mud or on soft tracks
Stockings
White legs below the knees
Stretch
Final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish
Stretch Call
Position of horses at the eighth pole, usually about halfway down the stretch
Stretch
Runner Horse who finishes fast
Stretch Turn
Bend of track into homestretch
Stride
Manner of going, also distance covered after each foot has touched the ground once
Strip
Markings of a horse, white hairs running part way down the face
Stripe
A white marking running down a horse's face to bridge of nose or below
Stud
Male horse used for breeding also breeding farm
Stud Book
Registry and genealogical record of the breeding of Thoroughbreds maintained by The Jockey Club
Subscription
Fee paid by owner to nominate horse for a stakes race or to maintain eligibility for a stakes race
Suckling
Thoroughbred still nursing
Suspend or Suspension
Punishment for infraction of rules, offender denied privileges of racetrack for specified period of time
Swayback
Horse with a dipped backbone
T
Tack
Riders' racing equipment also applied to stable gear
Take or Take Out
Commission deducted from mutuel pools which s shared by the track 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
Tattoo
A letter and a group of numerals applied to the underside of the upper lip of each registered Thoroughbred
Teletheater
Special facility for showing simulcast races
Thrush
Inflammation of the cleft of the frog
Tight
Ready to race
Timber Topper
Jumper or steeplechase horse, more properly horses jumping over timber fences
Tongue Strap
Strap or tape bandage used to tie down a horse's tongue to prevent it from choking in a race or workout
Top Line
Thoroughbred's breeding on his sire's side
Topweight
Highest weight assigned or carried in a race
Totalisator
Machine which sells and records betting tickets and shows odds, also figures out and displays payoff figures
Tout
One who gives tips on racehorses, usually with ecpcetation of some personal reward in return, to give tips
Track Bias
A racing surface that favors a particular running style or position; horses that run on the lead or on the rail
Track Record
Fastest time at various distances recorded at a particular track
Trial
Workout
Trifecta or Triple
A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order
Trip
A horse's race
Triple Crown
In the United States, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, in England the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and St. Leger
Turf Course
Grass Course
Turn Down
A protrusion on the bottom of a horseshoe added to give traction
Twitch
A device usually consisting of a stick with a loop of rope at one end, which is placed around a horse's nose and upper lip and twisted to curb fractiousness
U
Under Contract
A trainer or rider formally signed for a specified time and compensation
Underlay
A horse racing at longer odds than he should
Under Punishment
Horse being whipped and driven
Under Wraps
Horse under stout restraint in a race or workout
Untried
Not raced or tested for speed, also a stallion who has not been bred
Unwind
Gradually withdrawing a horse from intensive training
V
Valet
Person who attends riders and keeps their wardrobe and equipment in order
W
Walk Hots
To cool a horse out after a workout or race
Walkover
Race which scratches down to only one starter who merely gallops required distance, a formal gesture required by rules of racing
Warming Up
Galloping horse on way to post
Washy
Horse breaking out in nervous sweat before race
Weanling
A foal that is less than 1-year-old that has been separated from its dam
Weaving
Swaying motion in stall, or act of threading way through field in race
Weight for Age
Fixed scale of weights to be carried by horses according to age, sex, distance of race and season of year
Whip
Instrument, usually of leather, with which rider strikes horse to increase his speed, also called bat and gad
Winded
Breathing with difficulty after workout or race
Winner Takes All
Winner receiving all the purse or stakes
Withers
The highest point of a horse's shoulder
Wobbler
A neurological disease due to compression of the spinal cord seen principally in 2 year olds and 3 year olds
Work
To exercise a horse, a workout
Y
Yearling
Thoroughbred between the first New Year's Day after being foaled and the following January 1
Yielding
Condition of turf course with a great deal of moisture