Glossary A-C

A

Abandoned

A race meeting which has been cancelled due to bad weather. All bets placed on abandoned races are fully refunded.

Accumulator Bet

A bet involving more than one horse/race. Each winning selection then goes on to the next horse (bet). All selections must be successful to win any money back.

Act (on the ground/on the track etc.)

Describes a horse’s suitability for different conditions e.g. going, racecourses etc. If a horse ‘acts on soft ground’ it means that horse has shown previous ability to handle soft ground.

Age

All thoroughbreds have their birthdays on 1 January.

Allowance

Inexperienced riders (apprentices, conditionals and amateurs) are allowed a weight concession to compensate for their lack of experience against their colleagues. The ‘allowance’ is usually 3lb, 5lb or 7lb, with it decreasing as the young jockey rides more winners.

All-Weather (AWT)

An artificial racing surface. There are five all-weather racetracks in Britain (Chelmsford, Kempton, Lingfield, Southwell, Wolverhampton) and one in Ireland (Dundalk), and they stage race meetings throughout the summer and winter. There are three types of surface – Fibresand, Polytrack and Tapeta.

Also-ran

A horse that finishes ‘down the field’ in a race (i.e. out of the prizemoney).

Amateur

A non-professional jockey who does not receive a fee for riding in a race, denoted on the racecard by the prefix Mr, Mrs, Miss, Captain etc. Some races are restricted to amateurs-only.

Antepost

For many major races you can place your bet well in advance of the day. In the case of the Classics or big National Hunt races such as the Grand National this could be a year or more before the race takes place. The price of the horse you bet on is usually bigger than you would expect to see on the day as it reflects the fact the horse is not guaranteed to line up in the race. You can place an antepost bet until the final declaration stage of the race.

Apprentice

A trainee Flat jockey connected to the stable of a licensed trainer. Apprentices have a weight allowance when they ride in races against professional jockeys and can compete for the annual Apprentice title, given to the winner of the most races during the season.

At the post

When all the horses have arrived at the start before a race, they are said to be ‘at the post’.

Auction maiden

For two-year-olds sold at public auction as yearlings or two-year-olds, for a price not exceeding a specified figure.

B

Breeze-Up

Type of auction, usually for two-year-olds, at which the horses for sale run for a short distance to allow prospective buyers to assess them.

Bridle

The equipment on a horse’s head used to control it.

Bridle, won on the

Won easily, without being hard ridden or challenged by other horses.

Broke down

When a horse sustains an injury during a race.

Broodmare

Mare kept at stud for breeding, and not usually raced, although likely to have done so when younger.

Brought down

A horse that falls during a race when impeded by another horse.

Bumper

A Flat race run under Jump Rules, used to educate young prospective jumps horses before they tackle hurdles or fences. Officially called National Hunt Flat Race.

Bumping

Interference during a race where one horse collides with another. Often results in a Stewards’ Enquiry, particularly when interference takes place in the closing stages of the race

Burlington Bertie

The tic-tac bookmaking term for 100-30.

Bismarck

Betting term used to describe a favourite that bookmakers expect to lose and are therefore happy to lay.

Bit

Metal part of the bridle that sits in a horse’s mouth. The reins are then attached to the bit and used by the jockey to control the horse.

Black (horse colour)

The horse is a uniform black colour (except possible white markings on its head and lower legs).

Black type

Term used by the bloodstock industry to denote a horse that has won or been placed in a Pattern/Listed race. Horses ‘going for black type’ are attempting to win or be placed in a Pattern/Listed race to improve their breeding value.

Blanket Finish

When the horses finish so close to the winning line you could theoretically put a single blanket across them. The Judge usually calls a photo to decide the official placings.

Bleeder

A horse that tends to break blood vessels during a race.

Blinds

Another name for blinkers.

Blinkers

A form of headgear worn by the horse, consisting of a hood with cups around the eyes. They are used to limit a horse’s vision and reduce distractions, with the aim of making it concentrate. A horse wearing blinkers is denoted on a racecard by a small b next to the horse’s weight (b1 indicates that the horse is wearing blinkers in a race for the first time).

Bloodstock sales

The sale of horses at auction.

Blowout

A short workout, usually a day or two before a race, designed to clear the horse’s airways before the race.

Board prices

The generally available odds displayed on the boards of on-course bookmakers. It is from these that the starting price (SP) is derived. ‘Taking the board price’ means taking the last price shown against your selection at the time you strike the bet.

Book

A record of the bets made on a particular race or other sporting event. A bookmaker ‘makes a book’ by determining the likelihood of each possible outcome in a race and presenting this in the form of odds or prices. The book is adjusted according to the amount of money and bets struck on each possible outcome.

Bookmaker

A person/company licensed to accept bets. Also known as a bookie.

Bottle

The tic-tac bookmaking term for 2-1.

Boxed in

A horse that cannot overtake another horse because it is blocked by other horses.

Boxwalker

A horse that constantly walks around its stable and doesn’t settle.

Break (a horse) in

Teaching a young horse to accept riding equipment and carry a rider.

Breather

Restraining or easing off on a horse for a short distance to permit him to fill his lungs during the race.

Breeder

Someone that breeds racehorses. They own the dam (mother) at time foal is born.

Breeze

Galloping a horse at a moderate speed.

Backed / Backed-In

A ‘backed’ horse is one on which lots of bets have been placed. A horse which is backed-in means that bettors have outlaid a lot of money on that horse, with the result being a decrease in the odds offered

Backstretch / Back Straight

The straight length of the track on the far side of the course from the stands

Backward

A horse that is either too young or not fully fit.

Banker

The horse expected to win – usually a short priced favourite. The strongest selection in a multiple selection.

Bar

Term used when describing bookmakers’ prices. e.g. ‘4-1 bar two’ means that you can obtain at least 4-1 about any horse except for the first two in betting.

Bay

Horse colour – any brown horse with a black mane/tail and legs.

Betting market

A market is created, according to demand, by the prices offered for each runner by bookmakers.

Betting Ring

The main area at a racecourse where the bookmakers operate.

C

Colours

Jacket (‘silks’) worn by jockey to identify a horse. A horse runs in its owner’s colours which are registered with Weatherbys. The colours to be worn by each jockey are shown on racecards.

Colt

Ungelded (entire) male horse below five years of age.

Combination bet (accumulator)

A bet involving more than one horse with the winnings from each selection going on to the next horse. All selections must be successful to get a return. Combination bets must be placed with the same bookmaker.

Conditional jockey

A Jump jockey, under 26, who receives a weight allowance for inexperience until he has ridden a certain number of winners. A conditional jockey is licensed to a specific trainer. Some races are restricted to conditionals-only.

Conditions race

A race in which horses are allotted extra weight according to factors including sex, age, whether they are a previous winner etc. This is a better-class race for horses just below Group or Listed level.

Conformation

A horse’s build and general physical structure; the way he is put together.

Connections

People associated with a horse, such as the owner and trainer.

Course specialist

A horse that is proven at a track in previous races.

Covered up

When a jockey keeps a horse behind other runners to prevent it running too freely in the early stages of a race.

Covering

The mating of horses.

Cut in the ground

A description of the ground condition where the racing surface has been softened by rain.

Cockle

The tic-tac bookmaking term for 10-1.

Co-favourite

A horse that shares its position at the head of the betting market with at least two other horses.

Carpet

The tic-tac bookmaking term for 3-1. Double carpet is 33-1.

Chaser

A horse that takes part in steeplechase races.

Checked

When a horse’s run during a race is momentarily blocked by another horse or horses.

Cheekpieces

Strips of sheepskin that are attached to the side of a horse’s bridle. They partially obscure a horse’s rear vision, with the aim of getting the horse to concentrate on racing. Horses wearing cheekpieces are denoted on a racecard by a small p next to the horse’s weight.

Chestnut

Horse colour varying from light, washy yellow to dark liver orange, and in between are red, gold and liver shades.

Chute

Extension of racecourse, usually at the top of the home straight, to allow straight run from the start.

Claimer (jockey)

An apprentice Flat jockey.

Claiming race / Claimer

A race in which each horse’s weight is determined by the price placed on them by connections. The lower the claiming price, the lower the weight. Horses can be ‘claimed’ (bought) by other owners/trainers for the specified price after the race.

Classic

Group of historic major races for three-year-olds in the Flat season. In Britain the five Classics are (in running order) the 2,000 Guineas, the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks, the Derby and the St Leger – most European countries have their own versions of these Classics. A Classic contender is a horse being aimed at one of these races or is regarded as having the potential to compete at that level.

Clerk of the Course

Racecourse official responsible for the overall racecourse management, including the preparation of the racing surface.

Clerk of the Scales

Racecourse official whose chief duty is to weigh the riders before and after a race to ensure proper weight is carried.