Glossary P–Y

P

Pacemaker

A horse that is entered in a race with the intention that it will set the pace for another horse with the same connections.

Paddock

Area of the racecourse incorporating the parade ring (where horses are paraded prior to the race) and winner’s enclosure. Connections of the horses gather in the centre of the paddock before each race and jockeys mount before taking the horses out onto the racecourse.

Parade

Before major races, the horses often line up in racecard order (numerical order) and led in front of the grandstands to allow racegoers to see them. At the end of the parade the horses are released to canter down to the start.

Patent

Multiple bet consisting of seven bets involving three selections in different events. A single on each selection, plus three doubles and one treble. One successful selection guarantees a return.

Pattern

The grading system for the most important races, introduced on the Flat in 1971 and later for jumps racing. The top races on the Flat are Group 1, followed by Group 2 and Group 3 (the next highest category is Listed, which, while not technically part of the Pattern, combine with Group races under the heading of black-type races). The jumps Pattern has a similar structure, except that the races are termed Grade 1/2/3, rather than Group 1/2/3.

Penalised horses

Horses that have incurred a weight penalty as a result of previous successes.

Penalty

Additional weight carried by a horse on account of previous wins. In a handicap, a penalty is added to a horse’s original weight if it has won in between being entered for the race and running in it, as the handicapper has not had the opportunity to re-assess that horse’s handicap rating. A penalty (commonly 6lb) is shown after the horse’s name on Racing Post racecards – e.g. Horse name (ex6).

Photo finish

In a close race, where the placings cannot be determined easily, the result is determined by the judge by examination of a photograph taken by a camera on the finishing line.

Placepot

Similar rules to the Jackpot, but your selections have only to be placed.

Pulled up

A horse that drops out of a race and does not finish.

Pulling

When a horse is unsettled during the early part of a race and uses too much energy, fighting the jockey by pulling against the bridle.

Punter

A person who gambles or lays a bet.

Pushed out

When a horse is ridden vigorously, but without full effort by the jockey.

Q

Quarters

The hind parts of a horse, specifically between flank and tail.

R

Rails (racecourse)

White plastic rails are used to mark out the track on a racecourse. The stands rails are those nearest the grandstand and the far rails are those on the opposite side of the track from the grandstand. A horse referred to as being ‘on the rails’ or ‘against the rails’ is running close to the rails, which often helps a horse to keep a straight line in a race finish. A horse that has ‘grabbed the rail’ is one whose rider has maneuvered to a position close to the rail.

Rails (betting)

This refers to the fence separating the Members area on a racecourse from the Tattersalls area. Bookmakers are not allowed in the Members area, but some bookmakers are allowed to set up their pitches on the Tattersalls side of the rails, allowing them to accept bets. Rails bookmakers are the top end of the racecourse betting market, usually dealing with credit customers.

Rating

A measure of the ability of a horse on a scale starting at zero and going into three figures. Flat Jump racing use different scales; the highest-rated Flat horse is usually in the 130s and the top-rated jumper in the 180s.

Return

Total amount received for a winning bet (winnings plus stake) OR the result/final odds for a race e.g. the winner was returned at 4-1.

Right-handed track

Racecourse where horses run clockwise.

Rule 4

Tattersalls Rule 4 (c): One of the most commonly invoked betting rules, dealing with deductions from winning bets in the event of any withdrawn runner(s) from a race. The rule applies to winning bets struck at prices (e.g. morning prices) laid before a withdrawal (other than ante-post bets, which are unaffected by Rule 4 (c)) and to starting-price bets where, after a late withdrawal, there is insufficient time to re-form the market. The rate of deductions is in proportion to the odds of the non-runner(s) at the time of the withdrawal.

Racecard

Programme for the day’s racing, showing the times, runners and riders for each race. 

S

Sure thing

A horse that is regarded as having little chance of losing.

Sprinter

A horse that specialises in running over the shortest distances (five and six furlongs) on the Flat.

Sprint races

Flat races run over a distance of five or six furlongs.

Stallion

Male breeding horse.

Stalls handler

Member of a team employed to load horses into the stalls for Flat races and to move the stalls to the correct position for the start of each race.

Starter

Racecourse official responsible for starting a horse race.

Starting price

Often abbreviated to SP. The starting prices are the final odds prevailing at the time the race starts and are used to determine the payout to winning punters, unless a punter took a specified price at the time of placing the bet.

Stayer

A horse that specialises in racing over long distances (two miles and above) on the Flat.

Staying chaser

A horse that races over three miles or more over fences.

Staying on

When a horse is finishing strongly in a race, possibly a sign of good stamina reserves.

Staying races

Flat races run over a distance of two miles or more.

Steeplechasing

A race over fences, open ditches and water jumps, run over distances from two miles up to four and a half miles.

Steward

One of the officials in overall charge of a race meeting, including disciplinary procedures. The stewards can hold inquiries into possible infringements of the rules of racing, or hear objections to the race result from beaten jockeys. Usually there are three stewards at each race meeting, assisted by a stipendiary steward. The stewards are appointed by the racecourse, subject to approval by the BHA, and are often prominent local figures (much like magistrates).

Stewards’ Enquiry

A hearing held by the stewards into a race to determine whether the rules of racing have been broken.

Stewards’ room

On a racecourse, where stewards hold inquiries. A race is said to have been ‘decided in the stewards’ room’ if the placings are altered by the stewards due to a transgression of the rules of racing.

Stick

A jockey’s whip

Stipendiary Steward

Also known as a Stipe. Unlike raceday stewards, Stipes are professionals employed by the BHA and one is sent to each meeting to assist the stewards and advise on the rules of racing. The raceday stewards, not the Stipe, are responsible for decision-making, but the Stipe’s knowledge is often invaluable e.g. in setting an appropriate level of punishment if a jockey or trainer is found guilty of an infringement of the rules of racing.

Straight forecast

A bet where the aim is to select both the winner and runner-up in a race in the correct order.

String

All the horses in a particular training stable.

Stud

A farm where horses are mated. Usually home to one or more stallions.

Supplementary entry

Major races such as the Derby, which have an early initial entry date and several forfeit stages, often allow additional entries to be made in the week leading up to the race, subject to a substantial fee. A horse entered at this stage is known as a supplementary entry and the fee payable is known as the supplementary entry fee. Supplementary entries mean that a major race can have the best possible field, as a horse may not be deemed worthy of a Derby entry as a yearling (possibly on account of its pedigree or because the owner is not among the echelon of the super-rich) but then shows unexpected ability once its racing career has started.

Schooling

Training a horse for jumping.

Second string

The stable’s second choice from two or more runners in a race.

Selling plate/selling race

Low-class race in which the winner is offered at auction afterwards; other horses in the race may be claimed for a fixed sum. If the winning stable buys back its own horse it is said to be ‘bought in’. The racecourse receives a percentage of the selling price of each horse.

Selling plater

A horse that is entered in a selling plate because it is not expected to win in any higher grade, or because it can do well against moderate opposition, which may result in a betting coup.

Shortening odds

Bookmaker’s reduction of the odds on a particular horse.

Short Price

Low odds, meaning a punter will get little return for their initial outlay.

Silks

See ‘Colours’.

Silver ring

A racecourse enclosure, usually the one with the lowest admission price.

Single

The simplest and most popular bet, normally a win bet on one horse in one race.

Sire

Father of a horse.

Soft (going)

Condition of a turf course where rain has left the ground ‘soft’ (official going description).

SP

Short for starting price.

Spread a plate

When a horse damages or loses a horseshoe before a race, it is said to have ‘spread a plate’. The horse has to be re-shod by a farrier, often delaying the start of the race.

Springer

A horse whose price shortens dramatically.

T

Tattersalls (racecourse enclosure)

The enclosure next in status to Members. Those choosing this enclosure have access to the main betting area and the paddock.

Thoroughbred

A breed of horse used for racing

Tic-tac

The sign language used by bookmakers to communicate changes in betting odds on the racecourse. Tic-tacs wear white gloves and signal the odds using their hands and arms.

Tongue tie

Strip of material tied around a horse’s tongue and lower jaw to keep it from swallowing its tongue, which can clog its air passage. A horse wearing a tongue tie is denoted on a racecard by a small t next to the horse’s weight (t1 indicates that the horse is wearing a tongue tie in a race for the first time).

Tote (company)

Government-owned pool betting company, established in 1929, principally offering tote odds but also fixed odds. Contributes a large sum to racing each year. Full name: The Horserace Totalisator Board.

Tote (betting)

Introduced in Britain in 1929 to offer pool betting on racecourses. All the stakes on a particular bet are pooled, before a deduction is made to cover the Tote’s costs and contribution to racing. The remainder of the pool is divided by the number of winning units to give a dividend that is declared inclusive of a £1 stake. Odds fluctuate according to the pattern of betting and betting ceases when the race starts.

Trainer

The person responsible for looking after a horse and preparing it to race. A trainer must hold a license or permit to be entitled to train.

Treble

A three-leg accumulator. All three selections must be successful to get a return; the winnings from the first selection automatically go on to the second and then on to the third.

Trip

Another term for the distance of a race. When a horse has the stamina for a certain distance, it is said to ‘stay/get the trip’

Triple Crown

In Britain, for colts the Triple Crown comprises the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger; for fillies, the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger. Winning all three races is a rare feat, last achieved by a colt (Nijinsky) in 1970 and by a filly (Oh So Sharp) in 1985. The American Triple Crown comprises the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

Trixie

Multiple bet consisting of four bets involving three selections in different events. The bet includes three doubles and one treble. A minimum of two selections must be successful to get a return.

Turned out

1) Racecourses often have a ‘best turned out’ award for the horse judged to have been best presented in the paddock. 2) A racehorse that is taking a break from racing/training and is out in the fields is said to have been ‘turned out’.

Turn of foot

A horse’s ability to accelerate in the closing stages of a race. A horse with a ‘good turn of foot’ has good finishing speed.

Two-year-old

Every horse officially turns two on January 1, at the start of the second full calendar year following its birth e.g. a horse born in 2008 will turn two on January 1,2010. Two-year-old horses are also known as juveniles, and this is the first age at which horses are allowed to compete on the Flat (the youngest racing age over jumps is three years old).

U

Under starters orders/under orders

The moment a race is about to begin. Once the horses are in the stalls for a Flat race, or have lined up at the start for a jumps race, they are said to be ‘under starter’s orders’ as the jockeys are waiting for the starter’s signal to begin the race.

Unfancied

Not expected to win.

V

Valet

A person employed to prepare a jockey’s equipment in the weighing room.

Visor

Similar to blinkers, but with a slit in each eye cup to allow some lateral vision. A horse wearing a visor is denoted on a racecard by a small v next to the horse’s weight (v1 indicates that the horse is wearing a visor in a race for the first time).

W

Weighed in

The official declaration ratifying a race result.

Weighing in/out

Each jockey (wearing his racing kit and carrying his saddle) must stand on official weighing scales before and after the race, so that the Clerk of the Scales can check that the jockey is carrying the correct weight allotted to his horse. If a jockey is above the allotted weight before the race, his horse can still compete but must carry overweight. When the weights carried by the winner and placed horses have been verified after the race, there will be an announcement that they have ‘weighed in’. This confirms the race result and at this point bookmakers will pay out on successful bets.

Weight cloth

A cloth with pockets for lead weights placed under the saddle to ensure that a horse carries its allotted weight.

Weight for age

A graduated scale that shows how horses of differing ages progress month by month during the racing season, the differences being expressed in terms of weight. This allows horses of differing ages to compete against each other on a fair basis, based on their age and maturity, in what are known as weight-for-age races.

Weights

Lead placed in a weight cloth. When these weights are added to the jockey’s weight and other equipment, the total weight should equal the weight allotted to the jockey’s horse in a race.

Well in

When a horse is considered to be favoured by the weights in a race, it is said to be ‘well in’.

Win bet/only

A single bet on a horse to finish first. Win only markets signify that no each-way betting is available.

Whip

Or stick. Used by jockey as an aid to encourage or steer and balance the horse.

Work rider

A stable employee, not necessarily a licensed jockey, who rides horses in training on the gallops.

Walkover

A race involving only one horse. The horse and its jockey must past the winning post to be declared the winner.

Y

Yankee

Multiple bet consisting of 11 bets (six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold) on four selections in different events. At least two selections must be successful to get a return.

Yard

A trainer’s premises from where racehorses are trained.

Yearling

A foal from January 1 to December 31 of the year following its birth.

Yielding

Irish term to describe racecourse going that is soft.