Horse Racing Terms
This glossary is supposed to be readable and sensible. If it is not or (worse yet) contains an error, please send additions and corrections to Patrick
A
Allowance
Is the weight concession the horse is given to compensate for its rider's inexperience
All Weather Racing
Flat racing which takes place on an artificial surface
Amateur (rider)
On racecards, their names are prefixed by Mr, Mrs, Captain, etc, to indicate their amateur status
Ante-Post
betting (usually on the most important races) days, weeks and even months before the race is due to take place
Apprentice
a young jockey tied by annually renewed contract to a licensed trainer while he or she is learning the business of race-ridingon the flat
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B
Bankroll
Also known as 'roll' or 'wad' (colloq.) This is gambling money or risk money, as opposed to the money you live on.
Book
Running a 'book' is the act of quoting odds and accepting bets on an event. Hence the term 'Bookmaker'
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C
Case money
Emergency money
Chase
Having lost money on a bet, "chasing" is having another bet simply to try and get back the loss, usually on a random wager
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D
Distance
The length of a race: 5 furlongs is the minimum and the 4 1/2 miles of the Grand National the longest. Also, the margin by which a horse wins or is beaten by the horse in front: this ranges from a short head to 'by a distance' (more than 30 lengths); a 'length' is measured from the horse's nose to the start of its tail
Draw
for flat racing only, describes a horse's position in the starting stalls, drawn randomly the day before
Drop
Money lost
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F
Filly
Female horse up to four years old
Foal
Horse of either sex from the time of its birth until 1 January the following year. All racehorses are given the nominal birthday of January 1st. Thus a "two-year-old" born in June and one born in January of the same year are considered to be of the same age for the purposes of satisfying the conditions of some races re: weight carried. In reality, the January horse may be considered to have a significant advantage in terms of physical development at this early stage in its caree
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G
Gelding
Castrated horse
Get on
Have your bet accepted
Going
The description of conditions underfoot on the racecourse. Official Jockey Club going reports progress as follows: Heavy - soft - good to soft - good - good to firm –firm
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H
Hand
Unit of four inches in which a horse's height is measured, at the shoulder
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J
Jolly
Betting parlance for the favourite in a race - the horse with the shortest odds
Juice
(U.S) See “Vig”
Juvenile
Two-year-old horse
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L
Lay
Take a bet on, like a Bookmaker
Line Betting
It is an even-money paid bet where you take a position either side of two possible outcomes of the event. e.g. England runs vs. Australia may quote 225-230 (a bit like a spread), thats called the Line. Selling the Line means you win if they score less than 225 and Buying the line means winning if they score more than 230. This is popular in the U.S.
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M
Maiden
Horse which has not won a race
Mare
Female horse five years and over
Match Bet
A bet between two horses or people, not necessarily in competition with each other.
e.g. two golfers who will be trying to win their tournament, not beat each other or be aware that the bet exists
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O
Objection
complaint by one jockey against another regarding breach of rules during a race
Odds
The ratio to which your bet will be paid if your bet wins. e.g. 3-1 means for every £1 you bet, you will receive £3 of winnings
On tilt
Losing the ability to rationalise bets and betting wildly on every race
Overlay
This is a price offered on a particular horse that is higher than the true odds of it winning
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P
Paddock
Area of the racecourse incorporating the pre-parade ring, parade ring (where horses are paraded before each race) and winner's enclosure
Plater
Horse which usually runs in selling races
Pool
A pool is a sum of many collected as bets on a horse race. i.e. the tote
Price
Noun ~ The quoted odds for a horse to win
Verb ~ The process of giving Prices
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S
Schooled
Trained to jump
Shorten
Odds that reduce, say from 10-1 to 8-1, are said to have shortened
Sire
Father of a horse
Stewards
The panel of men and women - usually a total of four - who are responsible for ensuring adherence to the Rules of Racing
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T
Tote
"Tote" is short for Totalisator, a system introduced to Britain in 1929 to offer pool betting on racecourses
True Odds
The real odds of something happening as opposed to what the bookies offer
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V
Vig
Vig is short for the word 'vigorish'. Also referred to as 'juice' (US). The edge that one side of a bet has to make their advantage
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W
White meat
Profit
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Y
Yearling
Horse of either sex from 1 January to 31 December of the year following its birth
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