Racing Glossary

PADDOCK-Structure or area where horses are saddled and kept before post time.

PADDOCK JUDGE-Official in charge of paddock and saddling routine.

PARI-MUTUELS-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.

PHOTO FINISH- A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish.

PICK SIX (or more)-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.

PLACING JUDGES-Officials who determine the order in which horses reach the finish line.

PLACE-A prize for a winner less valuable than a cup.

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, 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.

PURSE-A prize of money to which owners do not contribute. 

QUARTER- One-quarter of a mile; 440 yards; 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.

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 entry mate.

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 un-descended 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- Of a horse, 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).

SADDLE CLOTH-Cloth under the saddle on which number (and sometimes horse's name) denoting post position is displayed.

SCHOOLING-Accustoming a horse to starting from the gate and to teach him racing practices. In steeple chasing, 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.

SEVEN FURLONGS-Seven-eighths of a mile; 1,540 yards; 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.

SHOW-Third position at the finish.

SHOW BET-Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better.

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.

SIX FURLONGS-Three-quarter of a mile; 1,320 yards, 3,960 feet.

SIXTEENTH-One-sixteenth of a mile; 110 yards, 330 feet.

SLOPPY-Condition of footing. Wet on surface with firm bottom.

SLOW-Footing that is not fast, between good and heavy.

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.

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 (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.

STEWARDS-Top officials of the meeting responsible for enforcing the rules.

STRETCH CALL-Position of horses at the eighth pole, usually about halfway down the stretch.

TACK- Riders' racing equipment. Also applied to stable gear.

TAKE (or TAKEOUT)- Commission deducted from mutual 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.

TELE-THEATER- 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.

TOP WEIGHT- 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 expectation 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.

UNDER CONTRACT- A trainer or rider formally signed for a specified time and compensation.

UNDERLAY- A horse racing at shorter 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.

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.

YEARLING- Thoroughbred between the first New Year's Day after being foaled and the following January 1st.

YIELDING- Condition of turf course with a great deal of moisture.