Glossary

Glossary of Terms Used In Horse Racing

• Across The Board
  A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets.
• Added Money
  Money added to the purse of a race by the racing association (or sometimes by a breeding or other fund) to the amount paid by owners in nomination, eligibility, entry and starting fees.
• Age
  All northern hemisphere thoroughbreds celebrate their birthday on January 1.
• Allowance Race
  A race other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine the weights.
• Also Eligible
  A horse officially entered, but not permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number.
• Also Ran
  A horse who finished out of the money in a race.
• A Other Than
  In an allowance race this means, “A race other than”… Usually other than maiden, claiming, starter or hunt meet.
• Apprentice
  Rider who has not ridden a certain number of winners within a specified period of time. Also known as a bug boy.
• Apprentice Allowance
  Weight concession given to an apprentice rider: usually 10 pounds until the fifth winner, seven pounds until the 35th winner and five pounds for one calendar year from the 35th winner.
• Backstretch
  The stable area on a race track.
• Blacksmith
  A person who puts shoes on horse’s feet (also known as a farrier).
• Black Type
  Designation for a stakes winner or stakes-placed horse in sales catalogs.
• Breeze (breezing)
  Working a horse at a moderate speed, less effort than handily.
• Broodmare
  A female horse in foal or used for breeding.
• Claiming Race
  A race in which each horse that starts can be claimed (purchased) for a predetermined amount of money. Horses must start the race to be claimed but not necessarily finish. Immediately the staring gate opens, the horse is for sale.
• Class
  The level of quality and difficulty of a particular race. A horse’s class is its ability to be competitive with good horses.
• Classic
  A race for three-year-olds, such as a Derby or Oaks, that has a long standing tradition behind it. The American classics are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
• Condition Book
  Book issued by the racing secretary and officers of each track. The book explains in detail rules and regulations regarding eligibility for entering races. Each day’s racing conditions are spelled out for the program of the day.
• Closer
  A horse that in the early stages of a race lays off the pace, then in the closing stages or late in the race, comes from behind.
• Colt
  A male thoroughbred 4 years old and under that has not been gelded (castrated).
• Conditions
  Parameters within which a horse may be eligible for a certain race.
• Conformation
  The correctness of a horse’s bone structure, musculature, and its body proportions in relation to each other. Undesirable conformation in a thoroughbred can limit its ability to perform well.
• Dam
  The mother of a horse.
• Farrier
  A person who puts shoes on a horse’s feet (also known as a blacksmith).
• Fast
  The condition of a dirt track when it is dry and even.
• Field
  The horses competing in a race.
• Filly
  A female thoroughbred that has not been bred, 4 years old and under.
• Firm
  The conditionon of a turf track when it is dry and not allowing the horses’ feet to cut in.
• Foal
  A young horse in the first year of its life.
• Fractions
  Intervals of time taken in a race. Usually 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 5/8 mile, 3/4 mile, and 1 mile to the finish.
• Furlong
  One-eighth of a mile.
• Gelding
  A castrated male horse.
• Good
  The condition of either a dirt or turf track when it has some moisture but maintains an even, firm surface.
• Handily
  Working in the morning with maximum effort, compared with a horse galloping well within itself, with little exertion from the rider.
• Hauling
  Transporting the horse between locations.
• Horse
  an ungelded male five-years-old or older.
• In foal
  A broodmare that is pregnant.
• Length
  A distance equal to 1/5 of a second and the length of a horse’s body.
• Listed Race
  A European race just below a group race in quality.
• Maiden
  A race horse who has never won a race.
• Mare
  A female horse 5 years or older, or a younger female who has been bred.
• Muddy
  The condition of a dirt track when it is soaked with water.
• NW1x
  This allowance condition means, “Never Won One Race Other Than”… Usually other than maiden, claiming, starter or hunt meet.
• Optional Claimer
  A race in which a thoroughbred may enter either under the Allowance conditions stated or for the published claiming price.
• Place
  The horse that finishes second in a race.
• Purse
  The amount of money distributed among the top finishers in a race.
• Route
  A race run over a mile or longer.
• Show
  The horse that finishes third in a race.
• Sire
  The father of a horse.
• Sloppy
  The condition of a dirt track when it has become extremely saturated and may have standing water on the surface.
• Soft
  The condition of a turf track when it has absorbed sufficient water to make the surface spongy.
• Sound
  A horse is deemed in good physical condition to run.
• Soundness
  The physical condition of a horse.
• Speed Horse
  A horse that prefers racing ahead of the other runners at a fast early pace.
• Sprint
  A race over a distance less than a mile.
• Stakes Race
  The most prestigious races for a large purse. Added money race that may require nomination, entry and starting fees.
• Stallion
  A full male horse used for breeding.
• Stalker
  A thoroughbred that races off of the pace.
• Starter Allowance
  An allowance race in which a thoroughbred may enter only if it has run in a recent claiming race at or below a designated claiming price.
• Tag
  The price a horse may be claimed for in a claiming race.
• Turf Race
  A race on the grass or turf.
• Variant
  The difference from average time for races of the same distance by the same class horses at the same track on different days, due to weather and track condition.
• Weanling
  A foal that is less than 1 year old and no longer nursing from its mother.
• “x”
  You will see an “x” in the conditions listed on the racing form. This abbreviates a condition which is too long to write out due to limitations space on the form.
• Yearling
  A one year old horse.
• Yielding
  The condition of a turf track when it has absorbed sufficient water to make the surface very soft.