The sport of kings can bring with it a difficult vocabulary with horse racing terms difficult to grasp. Let us breakdown some of the trickier horse racing jargon for punters to get a grips with an understand better.

Horse Racing Terms Explained

 

Horse Racing is one of the most popular and prestigious sports in the world, though it can also be incredibly complicated for beginners to understand horse racing terms. With hundreds of years of history, it’s perhaps no surprise that there is a whole host of specialised jargon in the sport. Pretty much everything has its own term, from the types of horse races to all of the different equipment that’s used, as well as the different people that take part behind the scenes.

 

Thankfully it doesn’t take too long to get familiarised with the sport of kings and it’s possible to pick up the horse racing terms fairly quickly if you’re watching it on a regular basis. With so much horse racing jargon and terminology to decipher, we’ve put together this in-depth A to Z glossary of horse racing terms for you below.

 

Horse racing terms glossary

 

A

 

Abandoned – When a race meeting has to be cancelled due to bad weather, it is abandoned by the Clerk of the Course. All bets placed on an abandoned race will be refunded.

Accumulator – Lots of straight multiples have their own slang names, but an accumulator is a straight multiple bet on two or more selections. Your stake and winnings roll onto the next selection if your first pick is successful, and so on. All selections have to win to get you a return.

Age – One of the most self explanatory horse racing terms. This is the age of the horse. All horses born in the Northern Hemisphere have their birthdays on 1st January.

All-weather – This is a type of racing surface which is designed to handle all weather conditions. There are three types of all-weather surface (tapeta, polytrack and fibresand), while there are seven racecourses in the UK and Ireland with all-weather tracks; Chelmsford, Kempton, Lingfield, Newcastle, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Dundalk.

Allowance – An allowance is a concession of weight that a horse receives due to either their inexperience or the inexperience of their rider. Inexperienced riders can receive 3lbs, 5lbs or 7lbs allowances on the Flat depending on the number of rides they have had, while conditional riders over the jumps can claim up to 10lbs if meeting certain conditions. Meanwhile, two-year-old and three-year-old Flat runners can potentially receive a weight allowance if facing older rivals.

Also-ran – A horse who finishes down the field in the race, which generally means either finishing outside of the first nine places or not receiving any prize money.

Amateur – A non-professional jockey. Amateur riders do not receive a fee and can be identified by a prefix such as ‘Mr, Mrs, Miss’ etc. There are some races which are for amateur riders only.

Ante-post – A bet which is placed on a horse race before the final declarations are made. Ante-post bets can be placed a long way in advance of the race itself (sometimes more than a year) and you often get inflated prices, as you generally don’t receive a refund if that horse doesn’t line up.

Apprentice – A jockey between 16-25 who is learning their trade on the Flat and is connected to a licenced trainer. Apprentices receive an allowance of 3lbs, 5lbs or 7lbs based on the number of rides that they have had.

At the post – A phrase which signifies when all of the runners are at the start of the race.

 

B

 

Backward – A term used to describe a young horse who is inexperienced and requires time to mature before they can show their best. 

Best turned out – An award handed out at the racecourse for the horse who looks the best in the parade ring. The winning groom usually gets a small cash prize for this.

Bit – A metal bar which is attached to the bridle and sits in the horse’s mouth.

Black type – A horse racing terms which is used by the breeding industry to describe a horse who has won or been placed in a pattern or a Listed race during their career. This part of a horse’s record is bolded within their pedigree charts.

Blanket finish – A close finish involving several horses.

Blinkers – Equipment used to help a horse focus during races. They limit a horse’s field of vision on either side, to encourage them to look straight ahead.

Bookmaker – A person who is licensed to take bets, either on or off the racecourse.

Boxed in – A term which is used to describe a horse which can’t get a clear run in a race. It generally means they are short of room, usually due to having rival horses near to them.

Breeze-up – A sale in which unraced two-year-olds are ridden on the racecourse. It offers prospective buyers a chance to see the young horse in action on the track.

Bridle – A piece of equipment (tack) which fits over the horse’s head and is connected to the reins.

Broodmare – A female horse which doesn’t race or no longer races and is kept at stud to breed.

Brought down – A horse which falls during a race due to being impeded by another horse.

Bumper – A race for inexperienced jump or National Hunt horses. They are usually run over two miles without any hurdles or fences and are used to give horses experience.

 

C

 

Chase – A jumps race which is run over fences.

Chaser – A horse which takes place in steeplechase races, over the larger fences.

Cheekpieces – A piece of equipment that’s used to help the horse concentrate during races. Similar to blinkers, they are pieces of sheepskin placed on either side of the bridle and obscure the horse’s peripheral vision (encourages them to look forward).

Claiming race – A low level race in which each horse taking part is able to be purchased or ‘claimed’ before the contest. Each claiming race has a set price for each horse taking part, which then rises or falls depending on whether they carry more or less weight.

Classic – Prestigious Flat races which are held exclusively for three-year-old horses. There are five Classic races in the UK, which are the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and Epsom Oaks and the St Leger at Doncaster. The winner of each race generally becomes a valuable breeding prospect for the future and a host of countries have their own versions or variations of these races, including Ireland, France, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

Clerk of the Course – An official at each racecourse who is responsible for the management of the racecourse and its track.

Clerk of the Scales – An official at the racecourse who is responsible for weighing each jockey before and after each race and to ensure each horse carries the correct weight.

Closer – A tactical term which describes horse who tend to leave it late to make their challenge, by ‘closing in’ on the leaders.

Co-Favourite – A term which describes when there are three or more favourites for a race and tends to be in races with a large amount of runners, like the Grand National.

Colours – An informal term used to describe the silks worn by each jockey in a race.

Colt – An ungelded male horse that is four or younger.

Conditional jockey – An inexperienced jump jockey who is licensed to a certain trainer and receives a weight allowance. They must be under the age of 26 and their allowance will depend on the number of winners they have ridden.

Conditions race – A race in which the weight that each horse carries is not determined by their handicap mark, but by the conditions of the race. These conditions can be based on things like age, sex, or whether they have won previously or have won at a higher level. 

Connections – A term to describe the people involved with each horse. This can include the owners, the trainer, the jockey and the staff at the trainer’s yard.

Course specialist – A term which pinpoints a horse with a good record at a certain track. For example, a course specialist at Lingfield Park.

 

D

 

Dam – The mother of a horse.

Dead heat – A term to describe when there is nothing to separate two or more horses in a photo finish for a position. The prize is split between them and a dead heat is called. If you have placed a bet on a horse to win and they win in a dead heat, half of your stake is applied at the full SP with the other half being counted as a loser.

Declared – A formal confirmation from the trainer that a horse is an intended runner in a race. This happens at the final declarations stage, which is normally 24 or 48 hours before.

Disqualified – A horse which is disqualified by the stewards due to an infringement of the rules.

Distance – A term to describe how far the race in question is held over. In the UK and Ireland, races are measured in miles, furlongs and yards.

Draw – The position in the starting stalls which is allocated to each horse in Flat races. This process is done at random (usually the day before the race) and horses with favourable positions are said to be ‘well drawn’.

Drifter – A horse which is uneasy in the market. Their starting price is said to ‘drift’ out in the betting.

 

E

 

Each-way – A popular bet which you can place on a horse. It is essentially two bets in one, with one bet being on the horse to win and the other on the horse to place. The horse must win for an each-way bet to pay out in full.

Evens – A betting price of 1-1, which essentially means you win what you place. For example, a £5 win bet at evens would return £10.

Exacta – A popular bet which requires you to choose the winner and the runner-up of a race in that exact order for you to win.

 

F

 

Favourite – The horse at the top of the betting market. 

Fences – Obstacles which are used in steeplechases. There are different types of fences, including a plain fence, an open ditch fence and a water jump.

Filly – A female horse which is four years old or younger.

Fixed odds betting – A term to describe placing a certain amount of money to win a fixed amount based on the odds of the horse.

Flat races – Horse racing terms which refer to the races which are run without any obstacles.

Foal – A horse younger than one. As mentioned in one of the previous horse racings terms, each horse born in the Northern Hemisphere has their birthday on 1st January.

Form – A history of the performances of a horse in its races so far. This is numerical, with each number representing the position they finished in each race from 1-9, with a 0 indicating that they finished in tenth place or higher. This can also include letters, to indicate things like falls or whether a horse was pulled-up.

Front-runner – A horse who tends to race from the front and stay there as long as possible.

Full-brother/Full-sister – Two horses that share the same mother and father.

Furlong – A measurement for distance used in racing. A furlong is roughly 200 metres, with eight furlongs making up a mile.

 

G

 

Gelding – A castrated male horse. The vast majority of horses that contest jump races will be gelded, while geldings also race on the Flat. A horse can be given a gelding operation to help them focus if they are particularly boisterous in the parade ring or during their races.

Going – A horse racing terms which describes the ground on the track. This ranges from firm (very fast) to heavy (very slow) in the UK and Ireland.

Going down – A term which denotes that the horses have left the parade ring and are heading to the starting point of the race.

Going stick – A device used by the Clerk of the Course to determine the going on the racecourse.

Groom – A member of staff at a racing yard, who looks after the horse each day. They are responsible for making sure the horse is healthy and look after them both before and after the race.

Group or Graded race – The top level of racing. There are three levels within both, with Group 1 and Grade 1 races being the most prestigious. Group races are held on the Flat in the UK and Ireland, with Graded races held over the jumps. If you follow US racing, their top races on the Flat are Graded contests.

Guineas – The traditional currency used in racing, which is valued at £1.05. The vast majority of horse sales are still published in guineas.

 

H

 

Hacked up – A horse which has won a race easily.

Half-brother or half-sister – Two horses which share the same dam, but have different fathers.

Hand – A traditional unit of measurement used for a horse’s height. One hand is roughly four inches and to measure a horse, you start at the shoulder and move down.

Handicap – A race in which the weight carried by each horse is determined by their ability. Each horse is given an official rating, which will move up and down depending on how they perform.

Handicapper – The officials responsible for setting a horse’s official mark. In the UK, the handicappers are employed by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Headquarters – A traditional term for Newmarket Racecourse.

Home straight – A term which denotes the closing stages of a race.

Horse – An entire horse (non-gelded) which is five or older.

Hood – A piece of equipment used to focus a horse. A hood covers a horse’s ears and helps to muffle the sounds of a raceday.

Hurdler – A horse which takes part in hurdle races.

Hurdles – The smaller obstacles used in jump racing, which are often used as a platform to chasing. This is one of the horse racing terms which is interchangeable and can also be referred to as ‘flights’ or ‘timber’.

 

I

 

Inspection – A check of the racecourse either before or during racing that is performed by the Clerk of the Course, to ensure that the ground is safe to race on.

In-running – Anything which happens during a race. This can refer to placing bets on a horse in-running or comments about how a certain race panned out.

 

J

 

Jocked off – A term used to describe when a jockey has been taken off a regular ride or a horse they have been booked to ride, often in favour of a more experienced rival in a big or prestigious race.

Joint favourite – If two horses are together at the top of a betting market, they are said to be joint favourites.

Judge – A racecourse official who is responsible for declaring the finishing order of a race and the distance between each horse.

Jump races – One of the horse racing terms, which is also known as National Hunt racing. Horses are generally required to jump obstacles in jump races – such as a fence or a hurdle – though there are also Flat races for inexperienced horses (bumpers).

Juvenile – Another one of the self explanatory horse racing terms. A two-year-old horse.

Juvenile hurdler – The youngest category of hurdler. Juvenile hurdlers are three and four-year-olds, depending on the time of the season.

 

K

 

L

 

Lay – Horse racing terms which describes betting against a horse on betting exchanges. You are effectively acting as the bookmaker, as you are ‘laying’ the bet with someone else. Your bet is a loser if that horse goes on to win.

Length – A measurement used for distances both during and in the finish of races. It is the length of a horse from its nose to the start of its tail.

Level weights – A race in which each horse carries the same weight. This is generally in the very highest class of races on the Flat and over the jumps, though there can still be some concessions for things like age and sex.

Levy – A key funding point for British horse racing. It is a surcharge on profits collected from bookmakers and goes into funding the sport.

Listed race – A high quality standard of race, which is just below Group and Graded races. It is seen as the stepping stone between handicaps and the pattern.

Longshot – A term to describe a horse who is unfancied in the betting market.

 

M

 

Maiden – A horse who has yet to win a race. There are races held for horses who are yet to win, known as maiden races.

Mare – A female horse aged five or older.

Mark – A term for a horse’s official rating, or handicap mark. This determines how much weight the horse will carry in handicap races.

Mile – A unit of measurement used in horse racing. A mile (1600 metres) is made up of eight furlongs.

Minimum trip – The minimum distance that a race is held over. In the UK and Ireland, the minimum distance for Flat races is five furlongs and for jump races is (roughly) two miles.

 

N

 

Nap – A punter’s best bet on the day or at a particular meeting.

National Hunt – As mentioned in previous horse racing terms, this is the traditional name for jump racing.

Neck – A unit of measurement used in determining winning distances. It essentially means that a horse was the length of their neck ahead at the winning line.

Non-runner – A horse which was declared for a race, but is withdrawn before the start.

Non-trier – A horse which is prevented from running to their full ability by the jockey. This is a serious offence and can lead to punishments for both the jockey and trainer if found guilty.

Nose – A length of measurement used to determine winning distances. This is the smallest winning margin.

Noseband – A piece of equipment that goes over a horse’s nose to secure the bridle.

Novice stakes – Races which are for horses in their first season of that code. On the Flat, novice stakes are for two-year-olds and three-year-olds who have not won more than twice. Over the jumps, the novice chase and hurdle races are for horses who have not won a race over the code before the end of the previous season.

Nursery – A handicap race on the Flat exclusively for two-year-old horses.

 

O

 

Objection – A complaint about the result from the connections of a horse in the race. For example, the runners-up can object to the stewards if they feel the winner broke the rules of racing during the contest.

Odds – A horse’s chance of winning the race, also known as their price.

Odds against – Betting odds which are evens or higher.

Odds-on – Betting odds which are shorter than evens and mean you will win less than the amount you have staked.

Official Rating (OR) – The handicap mark given to each horse. Horses will usually be given a rating by the handicapper after three qualifying runs, though this can vary.

Off the bridle – A term to describe when a horse that isn’t travelling well in the race and has come under pressure from the jockey.

On the bridle – One of my favourite horse racing terms, which means that the horse is travelling well in the race.

One-paced – A horse which is unable to change gear or quicken at a key stage in the race, even when asked for more by their rider.

Open ditch fence – A type of fence used in steeplechases. They have a ditch at the take-off point, requiring a longer leap to clear it.

Out of the handicap – A horse which has to carry the lowest possible weight in the race, despite their handicap mark being lower than that figure. For example, if a horse was 3lbs lower than the minimum weight, they would be 3lbs out of the handicap.

Out of the money – A horse which finishes outside of the places.

Outsider – A horse with large odds in the betting market. This is hugely subjective, but could generally be considered to be anything from odds of around 20-1 or higher.

Overweight – A jockey who weighs in and is too heavy for the allotted weight that their horse has been given. They will either be replaced, or the horse will be permitted to compete carrying overweight.

 

P

 

Pacemaker – A horse that is entered into a race with the purpose of ensuring a genuinely run race. They tend to come from the same stable as a well-fancied runner and make the running.

Paddock – An area of the racecourse which consists of the parade ring and the winners’ enclosure.

Parade ring – An area of the racecourse where punters are able to view each runner before every race.

Pattern race – A Group or Graded contest. Listed races act as a stepping stone between handicap races and the pattern on both the Flat and over the jumps.

Penalty – Weight which is carried by a horse due to previous victories. A horse will pick up a penalty in a race if they have won in the time between being entered and running in it, as the handicapper hasn’t had time to adjust their rating.

Photo finish – The technology used when the result of a race is too close to call for the naked eye. The judge will examine a photograph taken at the winning line.

Pillar-to-post – A term to describe when a horse has led from the very first moment to the last.

Placepot – A type of bet which punters can place at meetings. It involves picking a horse to place in the first six races on the card. If you are able to do this, you will win a share of the pot.

Prep race or pipe-opener – A race which is used to tune a horse up for bigger targets, or as a starting point in their season.

Polytrack – A type of surface on the all-weather. Each of Chelmsford, Kempton Park and Lingfield Park have polytrack surfaces in the UK, as well as Dundalk in Ireland.

Pulled-up – A comment which states that a horse did not complete the race, as they were brought to a halt by the jockey.

Punter – People who attend race meetings and bet on horse racing are known as punters.

Pushed out – A horse which is ridden by the jockey, but without full effort. Young horses who have the race in control will often be pushed out in the closing stages to give them experience.

 

Q

 

 

R

 

Racecard – Racing’s equivalent of a programme. This has everything you need for the race meeting you’re at, with information and form for every race scheduled.

Rails – White plastic rails which mark out the racecourse. The stand-side rails are those nearest the grandstand and the far side rails are those furthest away.

Reins – Effectively the steering wheel for a jockey, reins are part of the tack and are used to control the horse.

Rule 4 – This is one of the horse racing terms which requires an explanation. It is a deduction used by bookmakers to the price of a winner when there is one non-runner or more just before the off. If there hasn’t been time to reform the market, a Rule 4 deduction will apply to bets placed before the withdrawal, which is based on the price of the non-runners.

 

S

 

Schooling – The process of training a horse to jump hurdles and fences.

Scratch – A term which is most commonly used in America to describe when a horse has been withdrawn from a race.

Short head – The shortest winning distance in a race.

Silks – The horse racing terms ‘silks’ is the official term for the colours carried by jockeys in a race. The silks are unique to each individual owner.

Sire – The father of a horse.

Spread a plate – A term which describes when a horse has damaged or lost a shoe before a race. There is usually a short delay while the horse is re-shod by a farrier. 

Spread betting – A specialised type of betting where the amount that you can win or lose depends on the outcome of the event, such as the winning margin.

Sprinter – A horse on the Flat which is a specialist at the shortest trips, often between five and six furlongs.

Stallion – A male horse used for breeding.

Starting stalls – Horse racing terms which refer to the devices used on the Flat to ensure that all horses have an even start and the exact same distance to cover.

Stalls handler – The members of staff at each racecourse responsible for the stalls. Their duties include moving the stalls to the correct point before each race and to help load the horses.

Starting Price (SP) – The price of each horse in the betting at the start of the race.

Stayer – A horse which specialises in longer distance races. This tends to be over one mile and six furlongs and further on the Flat and over three miles or further over the jumps.

Staying on – A horse who finishes their race strongly. 

Steeplechasing – The formal term for chase races. Steeplechases are held over fences.

Stewards – Horseracing’s answer to a referee, the horse racing terms stewards are officials that serve at each race meeting. Their job is to ensure that everything meets the rules of racing and can hold enquiries if they feel anyone has breached them. 

Stewards’ Enquiry – A hearing held by the stewards after a race to determine whether any rules of racing have been broken. They most commonly occur after interference between two or more runners and will be signalled by a ‘bing-bong’ noise after the race.

String – A term to describe a group of horses from a particular yard.

Stud – A farm or facility where horses are mated for the breeding industry.

Supplementary entry – A horse who is given an entry for a major race after it has closed. Races such as the Epsom Derby will allow owners and trainers to enter their horses until the week of the race, but only for a substantial fee. This tends to occur with horses who weren’t deemed good enough for an initial entry, but have shown enough on the track to now warrant inclusion. The supplementary fee tends to get bigger as the race gets closer.

 

T

 

Tack – The equipment which goes on a horse before a race. This includes the saddle and the bridle.

Tapeta – A type of all-weather surface. The racecourses in the UK which have a tapeta surface are Newcastle, Southwell and Wolverhampton.

Tattersalls – Horse racing terms which refer to a type of enclosure at the racecourse, which is also known as the grandstand. This enclosure will provide punters with access to the main betting area and the paddock.

Thoroughbred – Another one of the self explanatory horse racing terms. This term describes the breed of the racehorse.

Tongue tie – A piece of equipment used to help a horse focus and settle during races. It is a strip which ties around a horse’s tongue and lower jaw to stop them from swallowing their tongue, which can block their airways.

Tote – A term used to describe pool betting in the UK. Pool betting essentially means that the price of the horse will be dependent on how much money is staked on each horse, meaning the market isn’t priced up by traders beforehand. There is a company known as the Tote in the UK, but punters often describe pool betting with other operators as ‘betting on the Tote’.

Trainer – The person responsible for looking after the horse and ensuring they are fit to race. The equivalent of a football manager, the trainer will enter a horse in races and organise transportation to and from the racecourse. They will also book a jockey to ride the horse and provide race instructions. A trainer must hold a licence to permit them to train horses.

Treble – This horse racing terms is an accumulator bet consisting of exactly three selections. All three of your picks must win for the bet to land.

Triple Crown – A term to describe the three ‘Classic’ races available for three-year-old colts and fillies each year. In the UK, a colt will have won the Triple Crown if they win each of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Epsom Derby and the St Leger at Doncaster, while for fillies the accolade consists of the 1000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks and the St Leger. It is a hugely prestigious achievement in the breeding industry, with Nijinsky being the last horse to complete the feat in 1970. The American Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

Turn of foot – A term to describe when a horse speeds up or changes gear eye-catchingly well in their race. If they have a good turn of foot, they have good finishing speed.

Two-year-old – Another one of the pretty self explanatory horse racing terms. The youngest age that a horse can race at on the Flat.

 

U

 

Under starter’s orders – A term that denotes that horses are ready to start the race. Every runner is at the starting point and are waiting for the judge to let them go.

Undulating – A racecourse which doesn’t have a flat terrain.

Unfancied – A horse which has a high starting price in the betting is said to be unfancied by punters to win.

 

V

 

Visor – A piece of headgear. Like blinkers, they limit a horse’s rear vision to help them concentrate in a race, though they have a small slit in the eye cups.

 

W

 

Walkover – A race in which only one horse has been declared. They are awarded the race, but must still travel to the racecourse. They are paraded as normal though rather than run the full distance, they are only required to gallop across the line under the jockey.

Weighed in – A horse racing terms which states that each jockey has correctly weighed in with the Clerk of the Scales after the race, making the result official.

Weight for age – A scale or process which provides younger horses with a weight allowance against older rivals. It ensures that horses of differing ages can compete against each other fairly.

Weights – Pieces of lead placed in a weight cloth. Once the jockey’s weight and the weight of the equipment is calculated, lead weights are added if required to make up the weight that the horse is due to carry in the race.

Well in – A term which is used to describe a horse which is seen to be ‘ahead’ of the handicapper and is thus taking part on a favourable mark.

Whip – One of the horse racing terms we all know. This is a piece of equipment used by the jockey for safety and to steer the horse during races. It is used to encourage the horse as well as steer or balance them.

Wind operation – A routine procedure used to improve a horse’s airways and help them breathe properly during races.

Work rider – A member of staff at a racing yard who rides a horse each morning, to get them fit.

 

X

 

 

Y

 

Yankee – A popular multiple known in horse racing terms, consisting of 11 different bets across four selections. A yankee bet is made up of six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold accumulator. At least two horses must win for you to get some return on your yankee.

Yard – The premises of a trainer.

Yards – A unit of measurement used in racing. There are 220 yards in a furlong.

Yearling – A one-year-old horse.

 

Z

 

Now that you have the horse racing terms, why not take the next step and learn about how to read a horse racing form?

 

See you at the track!

 

By Nick Seddon

 

 

Please note that the information provided in this Horse Racing Terms article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.

 

 

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