You Should Learn the terms of Racing from ‘A’ to ‘Z’ - by Greg Melikov

Horseplayers must know the language of racing in order to handicap the horses.

For example, it’s helpful to ascertain what kind of trip a thoroughbred enjoyed or endured. For bad trip handicappers, like myself, the “B,” “C” and “S” words are essential:

Bobbled: A bad step at or near the gate in which a horse appears to stumble.

Checked: A runner pulled up by his jockey for an instant because of being cut off or racing in tight quarters.

Steadied: A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually while in close quarters.

Racing jargon could fill a mini-dictionary and runs the gamut from:

“A”: Acey-deucy -- Uneven stirrups, popularized by Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro, who rode with his left (inside) iron lower than his right to achieve better balance on turns.

to:

“Z”: Zantac -- Trade name for the drug ranitidine, a medication used to treat ulcers.

So here are other terms that should prove helpful:

Across the board: When you bet a horse to finish first, second and third (win, place and show). You collect on wherever the horse finishes.

Airing: Not running at best speed in a race.

Also-ran: All horses that don’t finish in the money.

Bit – A bar in the horse’s mouth that aids in steering and controlling the animal.

Box: When you bet on all possible combination that horse can finish in exotic wagers.

Chart: A box score of a completed race.

Claiming race: A contest in which a horse can be purchased. If a horse is claimed, the new owner takes ownership after the race. Any money made from the race goes to the previous owner.

Closer: A horse that saves the best for last and typically wins when those in front get into a fast pace and run out of energy.

Exacta: A wager in which the bettor must select the top two finishers in correct order to collect.

Field: All the runners in a particular race.

Hung – A tiring horse that holds position.

In the money: Finishing first, second or third.

Maiden: A horse that has never won a race.

Morning line: What the track’s linesmaker believes the final odds of horses might be based on talent and public perception.

On the muscle: A fit horse; an eager equine pulling on the bit.

On the nose: When you bet only to win.

Overlay: When a horse goes off at a higher price that it should, usually based on past performances.

Past performances: A record of races by horses, how they finished and what happened in the contests.

Photo finish: When two or more horses cross the wire finishing too close to call. A photo is reviewed to see in what order they ran.

Post time: When a race starts.

Quarter pole: It marks one-quarter mile from the finish.

Quinella: Wager in which the first two finishers must be picked in either order.

Rabbit: A speed horse entered to set a fast pace for a stablemate that’s usually a closer.

Rail (horse): Barrier on either side of racing strip; horse that prefer to run next to inside rail.

Rank --When a horse refuses to settle under a jockey’s handling and runs in a headstrong manner without respect to pace.

Refuse: When a horse won’t break from the gate.

Reserved: Held for a particular engagement or race; held off the pace.

Ridden out: Horse that finishes a race under mild urging.

Route: Race distance of a mile or longer,

Run-out bit: Special type of bit to prevent a horse from bearing out (or in).

Saddle cloth (pad): Cotton cloth that goes under the saddle to absorb sweat that usually shows the horse’s program number; piece of felt, sheepskin or foam rubber used as a base for the saddle.

Schooling: Process of familiarizing a horse with the starting gate and teaching racing practices; may also involve being schooled in the paddock.

Scratch: To be taken out of a race before it starts. Trainers usually scratch horses due to adverse health or track conditions while the track veterinarian can do so at any time.

Shadow roll: Usually a sheepskin roll secured over bridge of a horse’s nose to keep animal from seeing shadows on the track and shying away from or jumping them.

Shut off: Unable to improve position due to being surrounded by other horses.

Simulcast: A simultaneous live television transmission of a race to other tracks, off-track betting offices or other outlets for the purpose of wagering.

Sloppy (track): Racing surface saturated with water; with standing water visible.

Soft (track): Condition of a turf course with a large amount of moisture that has horses sinking very deeply into it.

Speed figure: Handicapping tool used to assign a numerical value to a horse’s performance.

Sprint: Short race less than a mile.

Stakes: Race for which the owner usually must pay a fee to run a horse. Fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, to which the track adds more money to make up the total purse.

Stakes horse: Runner whose level of competition includes mostly stakes races.

Starter race: Allowance or handicap race restricted to horses that have started for a specific claiming price or less.

Starting gate: Partitioned mechanical device having stalls in which horses are confined until the starter releases front doors to begin the race.

State-bred: Horse bred in a particular state and eligible to compete in races restricted to state-breds.

Step up: Horse moving up in class to meet better competition.

Stretch call (runner): Position of horses at eighth pole: horse that runs fastest nearing finish line.

Superfecta: A wager in which the first four finishers must be selected in order to collect.

Taken up: Horse pulled up sharply by rider because of being in close quarters.

Tightener: Race used to give a horse a level of fitness that can’t be obtained through morning exercises alone.

Track bias: Racing surface that favors a particular running style or position.

Track condition: Racing surface that can be described as fast, good, muddy, sloppy, firm, yielding, etc.

Trifecta: A bet that must have the top three finishers in order for a payoff.

Trip: Individual horse’s race with specific reference to difficulty (or lack of difficulty) encountered during competition, whether the horse was repeatedly blocked or had an unobstructed run.

Underlay: Horse racing at shorter odds than seems warranted by past performances.

Under wraps: Runner under stout restraint in a race or workout to prevent pulling away from competition by too large a margin.

V.M.D.: Veterinary medical doctor.

Walkover: Race in which only one horse competes.

Washed out: Horse that becomes so nervous that the animal sweats profusely.

Wheel: Betting all possible combinations in an exotic wager using at least one horse as the key.

Work: To exercise a horse by galloping a pre-determined distance.

Yielding: Condition of a turf course with a great deal of moisture.

Check out BroburySports.com for all your Horse Betting needs.

You Should Learn the terms of Racing from ‘A’ to ‘Z’ - by Greg Melikov

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