Horse Racing Betting Terms

admin  4/2/2022
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Horse Racing Betting Terms

Betting Terms and Jargon Buster. The betting world can be a confusing place, especially with all the betting terms flying around. This handy jargon-buster guide can help you better understand some of the common betting terms. Everything you needed to know about Horse Racing. ACROSS THE BOARD A Win, Place and Show bet on a horse. If your selection wins, you collect on all three bets. If your selection runs second, you collect on Place and Show bets. If your selection runs third, you collect the Show bet. Your total wager will be three times the individual bet. Across the board: A bet on one horse to win, place, and show. Allowance or Allowance Race: A non-claiming event in which the racing secretary conditions weight allowances based on previous purse.

Abandoned
A race meeting which has been cancelled because a club did not receive sufficient nominations to be able to stage it, or because of bad weather which made racing on the track unsafe. All bets placed on abandoned races are fully refunded.
Acceptor
A runner officially listed to start in a race.
Accumulator
(Also, Parlay) A multiple bet. A kind of 'let-it-ride' bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the accumulator.
Across The Board
(See 'Place') A bet on a horse to win, place or show. Three wagers combined in one. If the horse wins, the player wins all three wagers, if second, two, and if third, one.
Age
All thoroughbreds count January 1 as their birth date.
Ajax
UK slang term for 'Betting Tax'.
All-age Race
A race for two-year-olds and up.
All Out
A horse who is trying to the best of his ability.
Allowances
Reductions in weights to be carried allowed because of certain conditions such as; an apprentice jockey is on a horse, a female horse racing against males, or three-year-olds racing against older horses.
All Weather Racing
Racing that takes place on an artificial surface.
Also Ran
Any selection not finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a race or event.
Ante Post
(Also, Futures) Bets placed in advance predicting the outcome of a future event. Ante-post prices are those on major sporting events, usually prior to the day of the event itself. In return for the chance of better odds, punters risk the fact that stakes are not returned if their selection pulls out or is cancelled.
Apprentice
A trainee jockey. An apprentice will usually ride only flat races.
Approximates
The approximate price a horse is quoted at before a race begins. Bookmakers use these approximates as a guide to set their boards.
Arbitrage
Where a variation in odds available allows a punter to back both sides and guarantee a win.
ART
Artificial Turf.
ATS
Against The Spread.
AWT
All weather track.
Baby Race
A race for two-year-olds.
Back
To bet or wager.
Backed
A 'backed' horse is one on which lots of bets have been placed.
Backed-In
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.
Back Marker
In a standing start event, which is handicapped, the horse who is given the biggest handicap is known as the backmarker.
Backstretch
The straight way on the far side of the track.
Back Straight
The straight length of the track farthest away from the spectators and the winning post.
Backward
A horse that is either too young or not fully fit.
Banker
(Also, Key) Highly expected to win. The strongest in a multiple selection in a parlay or accumulator. In permutation bets the banker is a selection that must win to guarantee any returns.
Bar Price
Refers to the odds of those runners in a race not quoted with a price during early betting shows. The bar price is the minimum odds for any of those selections not quoted.
Barrier
(Also, Tape) A starting device used in steeple chasing consisting of an elastic band stretched across the racetrack which retracts when released.
Barrier Draw
The ballot held by the race club to decide which starting stall each runner will occupy.
Bat
(Also, Stick) A jockey's whip.
Beard
(US) - A friend or acquaintance or other contact who is used to placing bets so that the bookmakers will not know the identity of the actual bettor. Many top handicappers and persons occupying sensitive positions use this method of wagering.
Bearing In
(Out) - Failing to maintain a straight course, veering to the left or right. Can be caused by injury, fatigue, outside distraction, or poor riding.
Beeswax
UK slang term for betting tax. Also known as 'Bees' or 'Ajax'.
Bell Lap
In harness racing, the last lap of a race, signified by the ringing of the bell.
Bet
A transaction in which monies are deposited or guaranteed.
Betting Board
A board used by the bookmaker to display the odds of the horses engaged in a race.
Betting Ring
The main area at a racecourse where the bookmakers operate.
Betting Tax
Tax on a Bookmaker's turnover. In the UK this is a 'Duty' levied on every Pound wagered. Common methods of recouping this by the punter are to deduct tax from returns (winnings) or to pay tax with the stake/wager. In the latter case, no tax is deducted from the punter's winnings.
Bettor
(US) - Someone who places or has a bet. A 'Punter' in the UK.
Beyer Number
A handicapping tool, popularized by author Andrew Beyer, assigning a numerical value to each race run by a horse based on final time and track condition. This enables different horses running at different racetracks to be objectively compared.
Bismarck
A favourite which the bookmakers do not expect to win.
Blanket Finish
When the horses finish so close to the winning line you could theoretically put a single blanket across them.
Blind Bet
A bet made by a racetrack bookmaker on another horse to divert other bookmakers' attention away from his sizeable betting on his/her main horse thus to avoid a shortening of the odds on the main horse.
Blinkers
A cup-shaped device applied over the sides of the horse's head near his eyes to limit his vision. This helps to prevent him from swerving away from distracting objects or other horses on either side of him. Blinker cups come in a variety of sizes and shapes to allow as little or as much vision as the trainer feels is appropriate.
Board
Short for 'Tote Board' on which odds, betting pools and other race information are displayed.
Bomb
(er) - A winning horse sent off at very high odds.
Book
A bookmaker's tally of amounts bet on each competitor, and odds necessary to assure him of profit.
Bookie
(U.K.) Short for bookmaker. The person or shop who accepts bets.
Bookmaker
Person who is licensed to accept bets on the result of an event based on their provision of odds to the customer. (Sportsbook US).
Bottle
UK slang, odds of 2 to 1.
Box
A wagering term denoting a combination bet whereby all possible numeric combinations are covered.
Boxed
(in) - To be trapped between other horses.
Bobble
A bad step away from the starting gate, sometimes caused by the ground breaking away from under a horse and causing him to duck his head or go to his knees.
Bolt
Sudden veering from a straight course.
Book
A collection of all the bets taken on fixed odds betting events.
Bookmaker
(Bookie) - A person registered and licensed to bet with the public.
Breakage
Those pennies that are left over in pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or dime.
Breeders' Cup
Thoroughbred racing's year-end championship. Known as Breeders' Cup Day, it consists of eight races conducted on one day at a different racetrack each year with purses and awards totalling $13 million. First run in 1984.
Bridge-Jumper
(US) - Bettor who specializes in large show bets on odd-on favourites.
Buck
(US) - A bet of US$ 100 (also known as a 'dollar bet').
Bug Boy
An apprentice rider.
Bull Ring
Small racetrack less than one mile around.
Burkington Bertie
100/30.
Buy Price
In Spread or Index betting, the higher figure quoted by an Index bookmaker.
Buy the Rack
(US) - Purchase every possible daily-double or other combination ticket.
Canadian
Also known as a Super Yankee. A Canadian is a combination bet consisting of 26 bets with 5 selections in different events. The combination bet is made up of 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five 4-folds and one 5-fold.
Card
Another term for fixture or race meeting.
Carpet
UK slang for Odds of 3 to 1 (also known as 'Tres' or 'Gimmel').
Caulk
Projection on the bottom of a shoe to give the horse better traction, especially on a wet track.
Century
GBP£ 100 (also known as a 'Ton').
Chalk
Wagering favorite in a race. Dates from the days when on-track bookmakers would write current odds on a chalkboard.
Chalk Player
Bettor who wagers on favorites.
Chase
See 'Steeplechase'.
Checked
A horse pulled up by his jockey for an instant because he is cut off or in tight quarters.
Chute
Extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run.
Client
(US) - Purchaser of betting information from horseman or other tipster.
Close
(US) - Final odds on a horse (e.g. 'closed at 5 to 1'). Confusingly equates to 'Starting Price' in the UK.
Closer
A horse that runs best in the latter part of the race (closing race), coming from off the pace.
Co-Favorites
Where three or more competitors share the status as favorite.
Colors
(Colours) - Racing silks, the jacket and cap worn by jockeys. Silks can be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner.
Colt
An ungelded (entire) male horse four-years-old or younger.
Combination Bet
Selecting any number of teams/horses to finish first and second in either order.
Conditional Jockey
Same as 'Apprentice' but also allowed to jump.
Correct Weight
Horses are allocated a weight to carry that is checked before and, for at least the placegetters, after a race. Correct weight must be signaled before bets can be paid out.
Daily Double
Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second. See 'Late Double'.
Daily Racing Form
A daily newspaper containing racing information including news, past performance data and handicapping.
Daily Triple
A wager where the bettor must select the winner of three consecutive races.
Dead Heat
A tie. Two or more horses finishing equal in a race.
Dead Track
Racing surface lacking resiliency.
Declaration Of Weights
The publication of weights allocated to each horse nominated for a race by the handicapper.
Declared
In the United States, a horse withdrawn from a stakes race in advance of scratch time. In Europe, a horse confirmed to start in a race.
Deductions
When a horse is scratched from a race after betting on that race has already started, deductions are taken out of the win and place bets at a rate in proportion to the odds of the scratched horse.
Derby
A stakes event for three-year-olds.
Dime
(US) - A bet of USD$ 1,000 (also known as a 'dime bet').
Distanced
Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner.
Dividend
The amount that a winning or placed horse returns for every $1 bet by the bettor.
Dog
(US) - The underdog in any betting proposition.
Dog Player
(US) - A bettor who mainly wagers on the underdog.
Double
Selecting the winners in two specific races.
Double Carpet
UK slang for Odds of 33 to 1, based on 'Carpet'.
Draw
Refers to a horse's placing in the starting stalls. For flat racing only. Stall numbers are drawn at random.
Drift
(Also, Ease) Odds that 'Lengthen', are said to have drifted, or be 'On The Drift'.
Driving
Strong urging by rider.
Dual Forecast
A tote bet operating in races of 3 or more declared runners in which the punter has to pick the first two to finish in either order.

Some horse racing handicappers make the mistake of assuming everyone knows how to understand them. “I like Gobbledygook and Crazy Verbs for a boxed exacta bet,” a track blogger recommends. “Each has an average Beyer, but their sires were fast on heavy.”

If that sounds like Greek, don’t despair. It sounds that way to most people. Imagine how many potential horse racing fans the sport loses each year thanks to such frustrating lingo!

But there’s a fine line between understanding and not understanding a sentence. It’s often a single word or phrase that throws the reader off.

What if all horse racing terms were explained in one big, fat glossary? That’s just what we’re thinking! Here’s a helpful list of definitions of words used at tracks and racebooks around the world.

Breeding Terminology

Thoroughbred racing is so dominant in America that some bettors think any well-bred racehorse is called a Thoroughbred. In fact, Thoroughbreds are just one of many popular breeds around the world. Read below for a glossary of racehorse breeds, sexes, and genders.

Breeds

  • American Quarter Horse
    • Quarter Horses are the “drag racers” of the track. Not blessed with great size or endurance, the horses are instead trained for pure short-distance speed. Quarter Horses have been known to reach speeds of 55 miles per hour, about 30 MPH faster than the world’s best sprinters.
  • Arabian
    • Arabians are lovely, lean horses that stand between 14 and 15 hands tall (see below for definition). Though the animals have been bred for at least 5000 years, the origin of the breed is shrouded in mystery.
  • Standardbred
    • Slightly smaller than their Thoroughbred cousins, Standardbreds offer a lower center of gravity and a lean build is are perfect for harness racing. Also referred to as “trotters.”
  • Thoroughbred
    • By far the most popular breed of racehorse in North America and the Middle East. Thoroughbreds are large horses, weighing an average of about 1,000 pounds at maturity, and are admired for their spirit and racing prowess.
  • Warmblood
    • “Warmblood” is a term that covers several lesser-known breeds, including Hanoverian, Holsteiner, Oldenburg, and Trakehner. Warmbloods are favored for shows and jumping events by many equestrian riders.

Horse Gender Terminology

  • Colt
    • A male horse under 4 years old. Colts enjoy advantages in flat-track racing and comprise a majority of champion racehorses in the United States.
  • Filly
    • A female horse under 4 years old.
  • Gelding
    • A castrated male horse. The operation is said to make horses tamer and easier to work with, helpful in show riding and for jumping.
  • Mare
    • A female horse which is 4 years old or older.
  • Brood Mare
    • A mare which is primarily used for breeding.
  • Stallion
    • A male horse over 4 years old.
  • Stud
    • A stallion used primarily for breeding.

Pedigree and Lineage

  • Dam
    • The mother of a racehorse.
  • Damsire
    • The horse’s dam’s sire, or maternal grandsire.
  • Distaff
    • The female side of a horse’s pedigree.
  • Foal
    • A dam’s young offspring.
  • Pedigree
    • The family tree of a horse. Some pedigrees can be traced back in lineage to medieval times.
  • Progeny
    • A horse’s offspring.
  • Sire
    • The father of a racehorse.

Track and Racing Terms

Horse Racing Betting Terms

The jargon you need to sound like an expert on the races can be found below.

Racehorses and Racing – A to E

  • Action
    • This can be a confusing one. Betting “action” refers to the type and number of bets being placed on a favorite or underdog. But “action” on a track refers to an animal’s style of gait while running.
  • All-Out
    • A performance in which a horse gives its best effort.
  • Bad Actor
    • A horse which behaves badly on and off the track.
  • Bad Doer
    • A horse with a poor appetite.
  • Bald
    • White on a horse’s face, its nostrils, or around its eyes.
  • Bearing
    • The path a horse takes around the track. Bearing in, or out, means that the racehorse is zig-zagging and may have a less-than-stellar jockey.
  • Beyer Speed
    • A measurement of a Thoroughbred’s speed. The calculation combines the horse’s time, the time of the race, and the track conditions.
  • Blind Switch
    • When a horse is caught in a position behind or between horses in which a free course cannot be taken.
  • Bobble
    • A stumble at the start of a race, usually caused by a soft track spreading away from the horse’s hoof as it takes its first stride.
  • Bottom Line
    • You may hear a handicapper talk about the bottom line on a Thoroughbred and assume it means a final word. It actually refers to breeding on the mare’s side.
  • Checked
    • When a racehorse is pulled up on by the jockey.
  • Closer
    • A horse which tends to run its best in the late stages of a race.
  • Conformation
    • A horse’s overall build and physique.
  • Dead Heat
    • When a pair of horses appear to be exactly tied at the wire, or finish.
  • Dropdown
    • When a racehorse takes on a lower-quality field than usual.
  • Extended
    • A horse being made to run at top speed for a longer period than usual.

Racehorses and Racing – F to P

  • Faltered
    • When a horse is in contention early but drops into the pack by the final stretch.
  • Field
    • The horses competing in a race.
  • Fresh
    • A horse which hasn’t been running much. Well rested.
  • Front-Runner
    • A horse that usually storms out to a lead early in races.
  • Gait
    • A racehorse’s motion as it runs or trots.
  • Graduate
    • Can refer to either a horse winning its first race at a new level of competition or simply moving up to the next level.
  • Hand
    • A unit of about 4 inches used for measuring the height of horses.
  • Handicap (racing)
    • Extra weights carried by a horse during a race used to even out the competition.
  • In the Money
    • Finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a sweepstakes.
  • Inquiry
    • A review of a race to determine whether a rule has been broken.
  • Jog
    • An easy, slow gait.
  • Jumper
    • A horse bred for steeplechases.
  • Length
    • Measurement of a horse from head to tail.
  • Maiden
    • A horse or a jockey which has never won a race.
  • Make a Run
    • To put on a charge mid-race or in the final stretch.
  • Money Rider
    • A racehorse that is “money” in big sweepstakes.
  • Morning Glory
    • A horse/jockey team that looks great in morning workouts but flops in the races.
  • Mudder
    • A racehorse that flourishes in muddy track conditions.
  • Near Side
    • The left side of a horse, on which he is mounted.
  • Nose
    • The shortest distance that a racehorse can win by. Called a “short head” in England.
  • Off-Side
    • The right side of a horse.
  • Overland
    • Racing wide, outside of the other horses.
  • Pacer
    • A Standardbred racehorse trained for a “pacing” gait (see immediately below) in harness racing.
  • Pacing
    • One of the 2 gaits specific to harness racing. Pacers move laterally while leading with their right legs.
  • Photo-Finish
    • A finish so close that a winner can only be determined by studying photos.
  • Place
    • To finish in 2nd
  • Post Position
    • The specific stall given to a horse at the gate.
  • Prop
    • Not to be confused with “prop bet.” Refers to a horse refusing to run out of the gate alongside the others, such as Thunder Snow at the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

Racehorses and Racing – Q to Z

  • Quarter Crack
    • An injury in which there is a crack in the wall of the horse’s hoof.
  • Rabbit
    • A horse entered in a race as a deliberate front-runner to tire out the contenders.
  • Rail Runner
    • A racehorse that prefers to run on the inside rail.
  • Refuse (or Refused)
    • When horses do not leave the gate at all at the start.
  • Rogue
    • An ill-tempered horse.
  • Romp
    • To win in very easy fashion.
  • Scratch
    • To remove a horse from a race.
  • Short
    • A horse that needs more work before winning a race is likely.
  • Show
    • To finish in 3rd
  • Shut Off
    • Surrounded by other horses and unable to improve position. Also known as “pocketed.”
  • Solid Horse
    • A consistent contender.
  • Speed Index
    • A numerical rating of Quarter Horse speed comparable to Beyer Speed ratings.
  • Stayer
    • An excellent racehorse for longer distances; horse with good stamina.
  • Taken Up
    • Pulled up sharply on by a jockey in tight quarters.
  • Timeform
    • A measurement of Thoroughbred speed in the United Kingdom. Comparable to Beyer Speed ratings in America.
  • Topweight
    • Highest weight carried by a horse in a handicap race.
  • Trotter
    • A Standardbred horse trained to run with a diagonal gait specific to harness racing.
  • Trotting
    • A gait specific to harness racing in which Standardbred horses move their legs in diagonal pairs.
  • Under Punishment
    • A horse being whipped or otherwise driven hard.
  • Winded
    • When a horse is exhausted and laboring to breathe after a race.

Tracks and Equipment

  • Backstretch
    • The long straightaway on the far side of a flat track.
  • Bit
    • A tool utilized by jockeys that fits into a horse’s mouth and attaches to the bridle. The main purpose of the bit is to assist the jockey in controlling and directing his horse.
  • Blinkers
    • Gear worn to limit a horse’s vision and prevent distractions.
  • Clubhouse Turn
    • The turn immediately next to the clubhouse, often beyond the finish line.
  • Dirt Track
    • Time-honored natural surface for flat-track racing in America. Natural surfaces create conditions in which Thoroughbreds run faster on average than on synthetic surfaces.
  • Fast Track
    • A dirt track in dry, firm, optimal running conditions.
  • Furlong
    • One 8th of a mile, or 660 feet.
  • Good Track
    • A race track which is slightly wet but still provides decent footing.
  • Half
    • Half of a mile, or 4 furlongs.
  • Heavy
    • A wet track with slow, sloppy footing.
  • Muddy
    • An extremely heavy, water-saturated track, on which “mudders” can flourish.
  • Paddock
    • The area where horses are kept before post time (see below).
  • Pole
    • A marker set along the track to show remaining distance to the finish.
  • Post
    • A position at the starting gate.
  • Post Parade
    • The walking of horses from the paddock to the gate.
  • Saddle Cloth
    • Fixed under the saddle, the saddle cloth shows the horse’s post position number.
  • Sloppy
    • When a track is wet on the surface but dry underneath.
  • Slow
    • A track which is just moist enough to slow down the race.
  • Stick
    • Another term for a jockey’s whip.
  • Stretch
    • The final straightaway on a flat track. “And down the stretch they come!”
  • Stretch Turn
    • The final bend of the track going into the stretch.
  • Sulky
    • A cart pulled by Standardbred harness racers.
  • Synthetic Track
    • Usually made of Polytrack or Tapeta, “synth” tracks are not quite as fast as dirt tracks but are considered by most trainers to be safer for the animals.
  • Turf Course
    • Course composed of natural grass. Turf courses are standard at steeplechases (see below) and are not as fast as dirt tracks.

Types Of Horse Races

  • Flat-Track Racing
    • The most common form of racing seen around the world, flat-track racing usually takes place on an oval. Dirt flat tracks are more common in America, while turf is more prevalent in Great Britain. Harness or “trotter” races also take place on a flat oval track. The Triple Crown includes the 3 most prestigious annual Thoroughbred races in the United States, including the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Flat races span distances ranging from 440 yards to 2 ½ miles. The Kentucky Derby is contested over a length of 1 and ¼ miles.
  • Harness Racing
    • A form of horse racing in which Standardbreds pull a cart (see above: sulky) and run at a specific gait. Racing gaits include trotting and pacing. Trotters move their legs in diagonal pairs, leading with the right front and left hind, with the left front and right hind striking the ground simultaneously. Pacers move laterally with their right front and right hind together, then their left front and left hind following.
  • Steeplechase
    • A steeplechase is a horse race in which Thoroughbreds jump over obstacles. The events originated in 18th century Ireland in which horses were raced from church steeple to church steeple. A steeplechase can refer to any race in which horses jump over hurdles, but in the United Kingdom, steeplechase obstacles are always fixed and tend to be taller. The Grand National at Aintree is the most prestigious steeplechase in the world, known in Britain as the “Biggest Race of All.”
  • Endurance Riding
    • An endurance ride is a timed test of a horse and rider over a measured path built into natural terrain. Arabians are considered the ideal breed for the challenge. Endurance rides are not a hot ticket for gamblers but are considered a labor of love and part of equine riding heritage.
  • Quarter Horse Racing on Short Tracks
    • Quarter Horses are the sprinters of the horse racing world, competing on tracks as short as 100 yards. They may run as far as 400 yards in a single race, however. Quarter Horse races can last only a handful of seconds!

Horse Race Betting Terminology

Horse Racing Betting Terms Each Way

Betting

Horse Racing Betting Terms Key

Study these terms to better understand handicappers, horse racing blogs, and of course, the rules and calculations at the track when playing the ponies.

Horse Racing Betting Terms Box

  • Across the Board
    • A bet on a horse to win, place, and show. If the horse finishes in 1st place, all 3 payouts are made to the gambler. If it finishes in 2nd, the Place and Show payouts are made, and only a Show payout is made if the horse finishes 3rd.
  • Board
    • A digital sign on which odds, betting pools, and other information is shown.
  • Card
    • A series of races with odds and betting offered at the same track in one day. Standard at local tracks in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.
  • Combination Wager
    • Any wager involving 2 or more horses.
  • Daily Double
    • Not to be confused with a special round on “Jeopardy,” the Daily Double asks bettors to pick the winners of 2 consecutive races to win a handsome payout.
  • Exacta
    • A bet in which the gambler picks 2 horses to finish 1st and 2nd in order. The bettor can “box” the exacta, meaning the horses can finish in either order and still produce a winning ticket.
  • False Favorite
    • A racehorse which enjoys short odds-to-win based on hype and not previous success.
  • Handicap (betting)
    • To predict which horses or horses are likeliest to win and which bets are the likeliest winners.
  • Lock
    • A handicapper’s term for a “sure thing” winner who can’t miss. (See also: Easter Bunny.)
  • Pick 3
    • A wager in which 3 consecutive winners must be picked on the same day.
  • Pick 4
    • A wager in which 4 consecutive winners must be picked.
  • Pick 6
    • A wager in which 6 consecutive winners must be picked. One of the biggest potential jackpots in horse race betting.
  • Place Wager
    • A bet that wins if the chosen horse finishes 1st or 2nd.
  • Quinella
    • A wager in which the first 2 finishers must be picked in either order; similar to a “boxed” exacta.
  • Racebook
    • A betting book dedicated to horse race odds and markets.
  • Show Wager
    • A bet that the gambler’s horse will finish “in the money,” or either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
  • Straight Wager
    • A bet involving only a single horse.
  • Superfecta
    • Another long-odds jackpot opportunity, the superfecta asks the gambler to pick the top 4 finishers of the race in order.
  • Trifecta
    • A bet that picks the top 3 finishers in exact order.