Horse Betting Systems

A GLOSSERY OF RACETRACK BETTING LINGO

Article synopsis: Horse racing lingo has worked its way into everyday usage and you likely didn't even know it. Political elections are commonly called a horse race and if its a close election the vote could come down to the wire in a photo finish. Sports teams are said to spit the bit when they quit trying on the field. The person who didn't get promoted is an also ran The terms used here are all common to horse racing. You can read their definitions, and more, in this handy glossary.

Across the board: Consisting of three straight bets to win, place, and show all on a single horse.

All button: Betting all of the horses in a race in a multiple race wager. Also, to use all of the horses in the field in the win, place, or show spot in a multiple horse wager.

Allowance race: A non claiming race where the racing secretary writes, in a condition book, the race's weights, conditions, and eligibility.

Also eligible: A horse drawn outside of the body of the race that can't start unless a horse within the body of the race scratches out and doesn't run.

Also ran: A horse that finishes out of the money in fourth place or higher.

At the post: When the racehorses reach the starting gate.

Backside: The barn or stable area where the horses are housed.

Backstretch: The straight part of the racetrack opposite from where the finish line is; also means the stable area where the racehorses are kept.

Bearing in: Failure of a horse to run a straight path by veering toward the inside rail.

Bearing out: Failure of a horse to run a straight path by veering toward the outside rail.

Beyer Speed Figures: Speed figure ratings that measure the quality of a horse's race. They appear in the Daily Racing Form past performances.

Bit: A metal bar, from which the reins are attached, that fits into a horse's mouth. Used to help the rider control the horse.

Bleeder: A horse that suffers pulmonary bleeding during a race or workout due to ruptured blood vessels.

Blinkers: A piece of equipment consisting of two cups attached to the bridle or around a horse's head to restrict the horse's acute peripheral vision.

Bloodline: A horse's pedigree that starts with its sire and dam and includes their extended family.

Blowout: A short and fast morning workout done a day or two before a race.

Bounce: When a horse follows a very good race with a poor one.

Box: To use designated horses in all positions (first, second, third, fourth), depending if the bet is an exacta, quinella, trifecta, or superfecta, of a multi¬ple horse wager.

Breeze: A light morning workout when a horse runs without the rider's encouragement.

Broodmare: A filly or mare used for breeding.

Bugboy: An apprentice rider.

Bute: Short for phenylbutazone, a commonly used anti inflammatory drug for horses.

Calk: A cleat on the bottom of a horseshoe allowing the horse to gain more traction. Mud calks, also called stickers, are worn on a wet track.

Chalk: The betting favorite.

Checked: A horse pulled back by its jockey after getting interfered with or running in tight quarters; also called steadied.

Chute: An extension of the course both on the main track and turf course that allows for a longer straight run from the starting gate.

Claim: To buy a horse out of a claiming race.

Claiming race: A race where every starting horse is eligible to be purchased or claimed for a specified price.

Clockers: Persons who time the morning workouts.

Closer: A horse that likes to run from behind the field and find its best stride during the latter part of the race.

Clubhouse turn: The first turn to the right of the finish line where the club¬house is normally located.

Colors: A hat and shirt worn by the jockey during the race to represent the horse owner; also called silks.

Colt: A male horse, four years old and younger, that hasn't been castrated.

Condition book: A book put out by the racing secretary that details the races the racetrack is offering over the next three or four weeks.

Conditioner: A horse's trainer.

Connections: The owner, trainer, and other people associated with a racehorse.

Coupled: An entry of two or more horses because of common ownership.

Cuppy: A main track condition where the dirt breaks away in clods from under a horse's hoofs.

Cushion: The surface of the racetrack above the base.

Daily double: A single bet where you're trying to pick the winners of two con¬secutive races.

Dam: The mother of a horse.

Dead heat: When two or more horses finish on exact, even terms. A photo finish camera substantiates the tie.

Derby: A stakes race for 3 year old horses.

Distanced: A defeated horse losing by so many lengths that the jockey stops riding before the wire.

Distaff: Refers to a female horse or to the female side of a horse's family.

Dogs: Orange traffic cones used during morning workouts on the dirt track and turf course to protect the inner part of the surface. Dogs are usually placed 15 to 20 feet off the inner rail during wet weather.

Driving: A finish where the jockey vigorously uses his hands and whip to urge the horse to the finish line.

Dwelt: When a horse breaks very slowly from the starting gate.

Eighth pole: A large pole located one furlong from the finish line.

Entry: A horse entered to race by its trainer; also, when an owner has two or more horses in the same race, they run as a single betting unit.

Exacta: A single bet in which you trying to pick the first two finishers of a race in exact order.

Far turn: The final turn in a race right before the horses enter the home stretch.

Farrier: A blacksmith or horseshoer.

Fast: Term describing a dry, main dirt track in optimum condition.

Held: All of the horses in a single race.

Filly: A female horse, four years old and younger.

Firm: Term describing a turf course in optimum condition.

First turn: Refers to the first turn in a route race that starts in front of the grandstand/clubhouse; also called the clubhouse turn.

Foal: A newborn horse.

Fractions: The clocking at various intervals during a horse race.

Front runner: A horse that prefers to race on the lead.

Furlong: One eighth of a mile; also called a panel.

Gallop: A horse's easy gait while not being timed.

Gelding: A castrated male horse.

Good: Term describing a dirt track or turf course that's too wet from the rain to be called fast or firm.

Graded race: The most prestigious stakes races in North America. Stakes earn a grading of I, II, or Ill based on the quality of fields from prior years.

Grass course: A turf course. Grass is considered the natural surface for horses to run over.

Groom: A stable employee who tends to the daily needs of a racehorse; also describes the daily cleaning and hygiene a horse needs to keep healthy.

Half mile pole: A large pole located four furlongs a half mile from the finish line.

Halter: A strap or rope by which horses are led. Also the action of claiming a horse by another trainer.

Handicap: A race where the racing secretary assigns weights to all the horses with the theoretical goal of creating a dead heat at the finish.

Handicapping: Studying all the different factors involved in trying to deci¬pher the winner of a horse race.

Handily: Term describing a workout that shows more effort than breezing; also describes when a horse wins a race as the rider pleased.

Hanger: A horse in the stretch that refuses to pass other horses.

Hat trick: Also called an equador, a jockey, trainer, or owner who wins three races or more on a single race card.

Head of the stretch: The top of the stretch where horses turn for home, meaning the finish line.

Homebred: A racehorse that's owned and bred by its owner.

Home stretch: The final straightaway in a race located right in front of the stands.

Horse: A male horse five years old and older.

Horse identifier: Person who checks each horse's lip tattoo in the paddock to confirm its identity.

Horseman: An owner, trainer, or breeder.
Horseplayer: A person who handicaps and bets on the horse races.

Hung: The action of a horse that wouldn't extend itself in the stretch.

In foal: A pregnant mare.

In the money: When a horse finishes in first, second, or third.

Inquiry: When the stewards investigate whether an infraction occurred during the running of a race.

Irons: The stirrups.

Jockey agent: The person who books the mounts for a jockey and normally gets paid 25 percent of the jockey's earnings.

Juvenile: A two year old racehorse.

Key: To use a horse in one spot (first, second, third) in a vertical, multiple horse wager.

Lasix: The common name for Furosemide, a diuretic used to prevent pul¬monary bleeding in a racehorse.

Length: A measure describing the span of a horse from end to end nose to tail that's around eight or nine feet long.

Lone speed: A horse who looks like the only early speed in the race.

Long shot: A horse going off at high odds, whether it's in the racetrack morn¬ing line or in the actual betting.

Maiden: A horse that has never won a sanctioned race.

Mare: A female horse five years old or older.

Minus pool: A mutuel pool, typically for show, where people bet so much money on one horse that alter the takeout is deducted, there's isn't enough left to make a minimum payoff. The racetrack is required to make up the dif¬ference out of its own funds creating the minus pool.

Morning line: The odds given to horses in a race prior to the start of betting. It's a prediction how the linemaker thinks the public will bet.

Mudder: A horse that runs well in the mud.

Muddy: Describes a mushy, drying out main track that doesn't show surface water like a sloppy track.

Mutuel clerk: Also called a mutuel teller, a person who punches out your bets from a pari-mutuel machine. In a Las Vegas race book, this person is called a ticket writer.
Mutuel field: Extra horses that are bundled together in a single interest for betting purposes only. It