Glossary
- Across the board
- A win, place and show bet on a horse.
- Allowance
- A race other than a claiming event for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions.
- Apprentice
- A jockey who has ridden for less than a year and who receives weight allowances.
- Backside
- The racetrack's barn area.
- Bay
- A color ranging from tan to dark chestnut with black mane, tail and points.
- Beyer speed rating
- A measure of performance popularized by Andy Beyer of The Washington Post.
- Bounce
- An exceptionally poor performance on the heels of an exceptionally good one.
- Broodmare:
- Female horse used for breeding.
- Broodmare Sire
- A sire whose female offspring become producers of exceptional performers.
- Bullet
- Fastest workout of the day at a particular distance.
- Call to the post
- A special call played on a Bugle used to signal the horses to the starting gate.
- Chestnut
- A color ranging from light gold to deep red. Also, a small, horny growth on the inside of a horse's front legs.
- Claiming race
- A race in which the horses are for sale at a price specified before the race. Claims are made before the race and the new owner assumes possession immediately following the race.
- Colt
- An ungelded male horse 4 years old or younger.
- Dam
- The mother of a horse.
- Distaff
- A race for female horses.
- Driving
- Strong urging by jockey.
- Early foot
- Good speed at the start of a race.
- Entry
- Two or more horses representing the same owner or trained by the same person and running together as a single betting entity.
- Filly
- A female horse less than 5 years old.
- Furlong
- An eighth of a mile.
- Gelding
- A neutered male horse.
- Handicapping
- This is the study of factors in the past performances which determine the relative qualities and abilities of horses in a race.
- Handle
- Money wagered.
- Inquiry
- Official investigation of rule infractions.
- Juvenile
- Two-year-old horse.
- Lasix
- Diuretic medication given to horses which bleed.
- Maiden
- A horse that hasn't won a flat race in any country.
- Mare
- A female horse 5 years old or older.
- Morning line
- The starting odds set by thetrack handicapper.
- Off Track
- A track that is not fast.
- Overlay
- A horse whose odds are greater than its potential to win.
- Paddock
- Structure or area where horses are saddled and kept before going to the track.
- Pari-mutuel
- System of wagering where all the money is returned to the wagerers after deduction of track and state percentages.
- Roan
- Horse with white hairs mingled throughout its coat.
- Silks
- Jacket and cap worn by jockeys.
- Sire
- Father of a foal.
- Stallion
- Uncastrated male horse.
- Stud
- Stallion.
- Turf course:
- Grass covered race course.
- Underlay
- Horse whose odds are more promising than his potential to win.
- Valet
- A person who helps jockeys keep their wardrobe and equipment in order.
- Weight
- The assigned weight for a horse, including the jockey, equipment and lead weights if needed.
- Workout
- Exercise session at a predetermined distance.
- Yearling
- A horse that is one year old. The universal birthdate of horses is January 1.
