ALLOWANCE: a reduction in weight a horse carries to compensate for the jockey’s inexperience.
ALL- WEATHER: is a term referring to an artificial racing surface. Racecourses who host AW meetings are Chelmsford, Kempton, Lingfield, Newcastle, Southwell and Wolverhampton in the UK while Dundalk in Ireland also has an artificial racing surface.
AMATEUR: a jockey who is not a professional who will usually have the prefix MR, MRS, MISS etc on the racecard.
APPRENTICE: a jockey attached to a trainer who is learning their trade and sometimes known as a claimer. A horse ridden by an apprentice will receive a reduction in weight to offset the jockey’s inexperience.
AT THE POST: when horses have arrived at the designated start of the race.
BACK(ED): has or going to bet on.
BIT: metal part of the bridle that fits in the horse’s mouth.
BLACK TYPE: is a term used to describe a horse that has won or been placed in a Listed or Pattern race.
BLANKET FINISH: a very close finish including several horses.
BLEEDER: a horse that breaks blood vessels.
BLINKERS: a form of headgear that limits the amount the horse can see and limit distractions around it which helps the horse concentrate.
BOXED IN: when a horse cannot get a clear run because of horses in front or to its side.
BRIDLE: equipment attached to a horse’s head to help control it.
BROKE DOWN: when a horse sustains an injury which sometimes can be fatal.
BROUGHT DOWN: when a horse falls because it was impeded by another horse in the race.
BUMPER: a flat race run between a mile and a half and 2 miles under National Hunt rules. Bumper is used as a name because the horses and riders are inexperienced and often runaround under pressure and “bump” into each other.
C&D: course and distance winner.
CHASER: this refers to a horse racing over fences under National Hunt rules.
CHEEKPIECES: another form of headgear. Strips of sheepskin attached to the horses bridle to help concentration and reduce visibility behind.
COLT: entire (not gelded) male horse less than 5 years old.
COLOURS: the silks the jockey wears for the race. Each registered owner has their own colours.
CONDITIONAL: an inexperienced jockey attached to a trainer riding under National Hunt rules who will claim a weight allowance similar to an apprentice in flat racing.
CONDITIONS RACE: a race in the tier below Listed and Group races where the weights can be framed by the age, sex or previous performance of the horses.
CONFORMATION: to describe a horses physical make up and structure.
CLAIMING RACE: each horse in a claiming race has a reserve monetary figure decided by connections and the higher the reserve the higher the weight the horse will carry. Any horse can be claimed irrespective of winning or losing in a claiming race.
CLASSIC RACE: the 5 major flat races for 3-year-olds only every flat season. Over the distance of a mile the 1000/2000 Guineas are run at Newmarket in May, while over the distance of a mile and a half are the Derby and Oaks run at Epsom in June. The final Classic is the St Leger run over a mile and three quarters at Doncaster in September.
CONNECTIONS: the owner and trainer of the horse.
COVERING: when horses are mated.
CUT IN THE GROUND: a racing surface description affected by rain or watering of the course.
DAM: the mother of a horse.
DECLARED: when a horse is a confirmed runner at the final declaration stage.
DISTANCE: the length of a race or the winning margin a horse has won by.
DRAW: a horse’s position/number in the starting stalls for flat racing.
ENTIRE: an ungelded horse.
FIELD: this term means all the horses in the race.
FILLY: female horse less than 5 years old.
FLAT RACING: the type of racing where no jumping of obstacles is required. Race distances vary from 5 furlongs to 2 miles 6 furlongs.
FOAL: a newborn horse who will become a yearling on the following 1st of January.
FORM: this is a record of a horse’s past performances which will show finishing positions, race distance, ground, jockey and draw etc
FURLONG: is a term to describe the distance of some flat races. For example, 7 furlongs. A furlong is equal to 220 yards while 8 furlongs is equal to a mile.
GELDING: a castrated male horse.
GOING: description of the racing surface ranges from heavy to firm. Slow to standard are used for all weather racing.
GOING DOWN: the term used to describe horses making their way to the start of a race.
GREEN: if a horse is described as being green it means the horse is still maturing and learning how to race. Improvement would be expected in future.
GROUP/GRADED RACES: the top tiers of racing. Group races on the flat and Graded races apply to National Hunt.
HACKED UP: a horse that wins a race easily is said to have “hacked up”
HALF BROTHER/SISTER: describes horses with the same mother. Not applicable to horses with the same father.
HANDICAP RACES: a race where some of the horses carry different weights, the idea being they all run with an equal chance.
HANDICAP RATING / MARK: after a horse has run a few times (usually 3 times) a horse is allotted a rating by the official handicapper and this determines the weight the horse carries in handicaps. If a horse performs well, the handicap rating goes up and if a horse’s form deteriorates the handicap rating goes down.
HEAD: a winning distance.
HURDLER: this refers to a horse racing over hurdles under National Hunt rules.
JOCKED OFF: a term used when the regular jockey of a horse is replaced by another jockey usually at the request of the owner.
JUVENILE: a two-year-old horse.
JUDGE: racecourse official who determines the finishing position in a race.
LAYER: another word for bookmaker.
LEVEL WEIGHTS: where all the horses carry the same weight usually in Championship Races although fillies and mares sometimes get a weight allowance.
LISTED RACE: a race in the tier just below Group or Graded level.
MAIDEN RACE: a race for horses that have not won before.
MARE: female horse 5 years and older.
MINIMUM TRIP: 5 furlongs on the flat and 2 miles over hurdles or fences.
NATIONAL HUNT: racing over hurdles and fences, also known as jumps racing.
NECK: a winning distance.
NON-RUNNER: as it sounds a horse that does not take part.
NOSE: a winning distance.
NOVICE: a National Hunt horse with little experience of jumping hurdles or fences or a flat horse with little experience.
NOVICE STAKES: a flat race for horses who have not won more than twice.
NURSERY: a handicap race for 2-year-olds.
OBJECTION: when a jockey complains to the stewards regarding interference during a race from another horse or jockey.
OPEN DITCH: a chase fence with a ditch on the take-off side.
OVER THE TOP: describes a horse whose form has gone backwards and may have been over raced or just needs a break from training.
OVERWEIGHT: when a horse carries more weight than allotted due to the jockey being unable to make the correct weight.
PADDOCK: the parade ring where the horses walk round before going out onto the racecourse.
PENALTY: the extra weight allotted to a horse for winning previous races.
PHOTO FINISH: a close finish to a race where the judge examines a photo taken on the winning line to determine the winner.
PRICE: the current or historical odds offered.
PUNTER: another word for bettor.
SCHOOLING: training a horse to jump hurdles or fences.
SELLING RACE: a race where the winner will be auctioned after the race. Other horses in the race may also be claimed.
SHORT HEAD: a winning distance.
SIRE: the father of a horse.
SPREAD A PLATE: when a horse loses or damages a shoe before the race. A farrier may replace the shoe or fix any issues.
SPRINTER: a horse that races over 5 and 6 furlongs only.
STALLION: a male horse used for breeding purposes.
STALLS HANDLER: a person who helps load the horses into the starting stalls.
STAYER: a horse that runs over long distances.
STEEPLE CHASE: a race over fences, open ditches and sometimes a water jump.
STEWARDS ENQUIRY: when the stewards look into a race to establish if any rules have been broken.
STICK: another word for whip
TACK: the equipment a horse carries including the saddle and bridle.
TONGUE TIE: material fitted around a horse’s tongue to help the flow of air to aid breathing.
TRIP: a name for the distance of a race.
UNDER STARTERS ORDERS: the description used just before the race starts, when all runners are in the stalls or lined up at the start.
VALET: a person who prepares a jockey’s equipment in the weighing room.
VISOR: similar to blinkers but with a slit for each eye again to encourage concentration.
WALK OVER: is a race when only one-horse run.
WEIGHED IN: this confirms the result and makes the result official.
WELL IN: when a horse is considered to be well handicapped.
WHIP: used by jockeys to encourage and steer a horse during a race.
WIND OPERATION: standard procedure to help and improve a horse’s breathing so as to improve its performance when racing.
WINNINGS: returns from bets.
WITHDRAWN: a horse that is withdrawn at the start or near the off time that doesn’t run.
