Wagering terms
Straight Wagers
WIN:
You pick the horse that finishes first ($2 minimum wager)
"$2 to Win on #4" Cost: $2
PLACE:
You pick the horse that finishes first or second ($2 minimum wager)
"$2 to place on #5" Cost: $2
SHOW:
You pick the horse that finishes first, second, or third ($2 minimum wager)
"$2 to Show on #1" Cost: $2
Exotic Wagers
Daily Double:
You pick the winner of two consecutive races. ($2 minimum wager)
$2 Daily Double on #3, #5" Cost: $2
Exacta:
You pick the first two horses to cross the finish line in exact
order in a single race. ($2 minimum wager)
"$2 Exacta on #4, #7" Cost: $2
Exacta Box: (Also called a quinella)
You pick the first two horses to cross the finish line in either
order in a single race. ($1 minimum wager)
"$1 Exacta Box #2, #6" Cost: $2
Trifecta:
You pick the first three horses to cross the finish line in exact
order in a single race. ($2 minimum wager)
"$1 Trifecta #2, #6, #7" Cost: $2
Trifecta Box:
You pick the first three horses to cross the finish line in any
order in a single race. ($1 minimum wager)
"$1 Trifecta Box #2, #6, #7" Cost: $6
General Definitions
Across The Board:
To place equal bets, to win, place and show, on one horse.
Allowance Race:
A race which has eligibility conditions to determine the horses
that may enter and is not a claimer.
Also Eligible:
A horse who is an alternate starter, who will be allowed in the
race if a starter is scratched.
Also-Ran:
A horse which finished back in the pack.
Apprentice:
Rookie jockey.
Backside:
Location of stables.
Bay:
Brown or tan horse with black "points" - mane,lower legs,
and tail.
Bear Out:
To drift toward the outside of the track.
Bleeder:
Horse that bleeds during heavy exertion, usually from small vessels or
capillaries in respiratory system.
Blinkers:
A common piece of racing equipment that contains eye cups which limit a
horse's vision and prevent it from shying from objects or other horses.
Bloodline:
Pedigree of a horse.
Blow Out:
Workout before a race to limber up a horse.
Bolt:
A sharp left- or right-hand movement by a horse.
Break:
To leave the gate at the start of a race. Also, a harness horse
changing to a different gate than the one specified in the race in which they are
competing.
Break Maiden:
When a horse wins his first race. Until that first win, a horse
is a maiden.
Breed:
An equine group whose members have been selectively bred for
consistent characteristics over a period of time and with pedigrees recorded in a stud
book.
Breeze:
To run easily, under a hold, without much encouragement.
A common plan for a morning workout.
Broodmare:
Female horse used for breeding purposes.
Broodmare Sire:
The sire of the dam of a horse.
Bug:
Apprentice Jockey who is allowed a reduced weight as they gain
experience.
Chestnut:
Red to golden yellow horse with red main and tail.
Claiming Race:
A race in which any horse may be purchased at a predetermined price.
Colt:
Ungelded male horse under five years of age.
Conformation:
The shape and correctness of the anatomy of a horse.
Dam:
The female parent of a horse.
Dead Heat:
Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire.
Derby:
Stakes race for three year olds.
Driver:
A person driving a harness horse in a race.
Driving:
Strong urging by the rider.
Fast Track:
Track condition with footing at its best. Dry and even.
Favorite:
Horse having the most money wagered on it to win.
Filly:
Female horse under five years old that has not been bred.
Foal:
A horse under one year old.
Furlong:
A distance equal to 1/8th of a mile.
Gait:
Used to describe the manner in which a horse moves.
Gallop:
A fast gate in which all four feet are off the ground at once.
Gelding:
Castrated male horse.
Groom:
A person who cares for a horse in the stables.
Hand:
Unit of measurement for a horse's height, each of which is 4 inches.
Handicap Race:
A race in which weights have been assigned by the racing secretary after
evaluating entrant's past races.
Handicapping:
The art of evaluating a horse's past performance to determine the
outcome of a race.
Handily:
Working or racing with moderate effort; not under the whip.
Horse:
Ungelded male horse five years old or older.
Hot Walk:
Cooling down a horse by walking by hand or on a machine after a race or
workout.
Jockey:
Rider of a horse in a race.
Juvenile:
A two year old horse.
Length:
About eight feet, the length of a horse from nose to tail. At
racing speeds a horse travels about 5 lenghts a second. Thus timing is often in 1/5
seconds.
Longshot:
Entry not well regarded by bettors, resulting in the possibility of
longer odds and higher payoffs.
Maiden Race:
A race for horses which have never won a race.
Mare:
Female horse five years old or older, or younger if bred.
Match Race:
A race between just two horses.
Morning Line:
An estimate of the final race odds, as determined by the track's
handicapper.
Mudder:
A horse which races well on a muddy track.
Muddy Track:
Track condition where there is substantial water in the track
making footing less than ideal.
Nose:
Smallest winning margin at the finish.
Official:
Final results of a race have been confirmed by the stewards.
Pace:
Relative speed of the leaders of a race at various stages during
the race.
Pacer:
A harness racing gait in which the legs on one side of the horse
move together.
Paddock:
Area where the horses are saddled and paraded before post time.
Also a small fenced in field for horses to be turned out in.
Pari-mutuel:
The form of wagering whereby players wager against each other, not
against the "house".
Parked Out:
Term for a harness horse which is not able to race near the inside
rail due to the position of other horses.
Pedigree:
The details of a horse's ancestry. Often shown as a family tree.
Photo Finish:
A finish between two or more horses which is so close a still photograph
must be used to determine the order of finish.
Pole:
Distance marks placed around the track, usually every 1/16th of a mile.
Post Parade:
When the horses leave the paddock and go toward the starting gate.
Post Time:
The designated time for a race to begin.
Purse:
The total prize money awarded in a race - usually among the top
five.
Recall:
When the first attempt at starting in a harness race is nullified by the
official in charge of the start.
Roan:
Horse with a red and white hair mixture. Usually with age they
turn mostly gray.
Scratch:
A horse is withdrawn from a race.
Silks:
Jacket representing the owner of a horse which is worn by the
jockey.
Simulcast:
Simultaneous broadcast of a race to betting facilities away from the
live track.
Sire:
The male parent of a horse.
Stakes Race:
Highest class of race, reserved for the best horses. Owners
have to pay an entry fee or "stake" for these races.
Stallion:
Ungelded male horse used specifically for breeding.
Standardbred:
A breed of horse which participates in harness racing.
Starting Gate:
A mechanical device which allows each horse to begin a race at the same
time.
Steeplechase:
A race over a course with artificial obstacles.
Stewards:
The highest level officials overseeing the races who work to maintain
the integrity of the sport.
Stick:
A jockey's whip.
Stretch:
The straight portions of a race track.
Stud Book:
A official record of the pedigrees of purebred horses.
Sulky:
A two wheeled cart carrying the driver and pulled by a horse in
harness racing.
Tack:
Equipment used for riding and driving a horse.
Thoroughbred:
A horse specifically bred for racing that can trace their lineage
back to three original sires. These sires are: Darley Arabian, Godolphin
Arabian, Byerley Turk.
Trainer:
Person in charge of conditioning horses in preparation for races.
Trotter:
In harness racing, horses which move with a diagonal gait.
Yearling:
A horse which is one year old.
