Since we have written about horse terminology we’ve had requests for more information about more specific parts of the industry. Here is some of the basic terminology & lingo for the horse racing world.
If racing isn’t your thing, check out some other terminology within the horse world.
Basics | English Show | Dressage A-E | Dressage F-O | Dressage P-W
Action
The way a horse moves.
Age
January 1st is the birth date for all Thoroughbred horses.
All-Age Race
A race for horses older than 2 years of age.
All Out
When a horse runs to the extent of their ability.
Allowances
Reduction in required weight handicaps due to conditions like an apprentice jockey, a young horse for the field or a mare racing against males.
Also Eligible
An animal who has been entered into a race but not allowed to start unless the field is reduced by scratches.
Also Ran
An animal that ran the race but didn’t place above 4th or qualify for purse money.
Apprentice
Also called bug buy, a rider who has yet to ride a specific number of winners in a specified period of time.
Apprentice Allowance
Weight concession for an apprentice rider.
ART
Artificial Turf
ATS
Against The Spread
AWT
All weather track
Baby Race
Limited to 2 year old animals.
Back Marker
For standing start events the animal with the largest handicap is the black marker.
Backstretch
The straight away on the far side of the track.
Backside
Stable area of the track.
Barrier
Also called the tape, this is an elastic band used in steeple chasing instead of a starting gate.
Barrier Draw
The ballot used to determine which starting stall each animal will occupy.
Bat
A jockey whip.
Bearing In or Out
Moving off a straight course, can be due to fatigue, injury or rider error.
Bell
Signal that sounds when the starting gate opens, also signifies the end of betting.
Blanket Finish
A finish so close one blanket could cover both finishing horses.
Blind Switch
Being caught in between horses or against the rail and blocked from a free course.
Blowout
A short workout a day or two before a race to prepare the animal.
Bobble
A misplaced step away from the starting gate, usually caused by footing.
Bolt
A sudden veer off a straight course.
Break
Leaving the gate to start the race.
Breakdown
When a horse becomes lame or injured.
Break Maiden
Horse or rifer winning for the first time.
Breather
Restraining an animal for a short distance in a race to conserve or renew their strength.
Breeze
Working a horse at a moderated speed.
Bug
Apprentice rider or allowance.
Bull Ring
A small racetrack, generally under a mile long.
Caller
The person who calls the running positions of each horse during a race.
Checked
An animal who is pulled up by his jockey for a moment because he is cut off or in tight quarters.
Classic
A race of traditional importance.
Clerk of Scales
The official who weighs riders before & after each race.
Clocker
The person who times workouts & races.
Closer
An animal who runs best in the latter part of the race.
Clubhouse Turn
Usually the turn closest to the clubhouse.
Colors
Racing silks worn in the color of the horse’s owner.
Colt
A male horse under 5 years.
Company
Class of horses on the field in a race.
Condition Book
Issued by the racing secretary outlining the conditions of the races to be run.
Condition Race
A race which with conditions which limit the race to a certain class of horse.
Contract Rider
A jockey who is under contract to a specific stable.
Cooling Out
Walking a horse to return them to a normal temperature after a race or workout.
Cup
A distance race that is a mile and a half or longer.
Cup Horse
An animal qualified to run in distance races.
Cuppy Track
A track surface which breaks away under an animal’s hoof.
Cushion
Surface or layer of the track footing.
Dead-Heat
Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie.
Dead Track
A racing surface that is lacking in resiliency.
Declared
In the US – a horse withdrawn prior to scratch time.
In Europe – A horse confirmed to start in a race.
Derby
A stakes race for 3 year old animals.
Diploma
Winning for the first time.
Disqualification
Change in the finishing order by officials due to an infraction of race rules.
Distaff Race
A race for fillies and/or mares.
Distanced
Finishing a large distance behind the winner.
DQ
Disqualified
Driving
Strong urging by the rider.
Dwelt
Late in breaking from the gate.
Eased
An animal that is being held back by the jockey to prevent injury.
Easily
An animal who runs & wins without being urged by the rider.
Eigth
A furlong – 220 yards – 660 feet.
Evenly
An animal who neither gains or looses position or distance during a race.
Excused
An animal that is withdrawn from a race with consent of the stewards – often for medical reasons.
Exercise Rider
A rider who exercises race horses in the mornings.
Extended
An animal who is pushed to run at top speed.
Extra Weight
More weight than the conditions of the race require.
Faltered
An animal who ran well early in the race and falls back during the later stages.
Fast Track
Optimum footing, dry & even.
Fees
Money paid to to the rider or cost of entering or starting a horse in a stakes race.
Fence
Also called outside rail, the fence is the barrier between the stands and the racing surface.
Field
Horses in a race.
Filly
Female horse aged 4 years or under.
First Turn
The first turn on the track after the starting point.
Flat Race
A level race, one without hurdles.
Float
Track equipment that drags excess water off of the track surface.
Four Furlongs
Half a mile – 880 yards – 2,640 feet.
Fresh
A rested animal.
Front Runner
An animal who generally leads the field for as long as they can when they race.
Furlong
One-eighth of a mile – 220 yards – 660 feet.
Gate
Equipment used to start races.
Good Bottom
Track that is sloppy or wet on the surface but firm underneath.
Good Track
A moderately good track surface – between fast & slow.
Group Race
European equivalent to North American graded races.
Half
Half of a mile – 4 furlongs – 880 yards – 2,640 feet
Handicap
A race with conditions that a handicapper assigns weights to be carried by each animal on the basis of past performance.
Handicapper
The person who assigns the weights for handicap races based on past performances.
Handily
Racing or working with moderate effort – faster than breezing.
Hand Ride
Urging a horse using the hands instead of a whip.
Head
A margin between horses in a race.
Head of the Stretch
The start of the straight away leading to the finish line.
Heavy
Track condition slower than a muddy track.
Highweight Handicap
A race in which the top assigned weight exceeds 140 pounds.
Horse
A male or female horse over 5 years of age.
Hotwalker
The person who walks them to cool them off after racing or workouts.
Hung
An animal that is getting tired but holding their racing position.
Hurdle Race
A race that is held over obstacles.
In The Money
Finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd
Infield
The area inside the inner rail of the track.
Infield Racing
Turf racing.
In Hand
Running under moderate control from the rider, not at best pace.
Impost
Weight an animal is assigned to carry.
Inquiry
When officials review the race to check for an infraction of race rules.
Jockey Fee
The amount of money paid to the rider.
Jumper
A horse that runs steeplechase or hurdle races.
Juvenile
A two year old horse.
Lead pad
The weights carried by a horse when the rider doesn’t meet the weight requirements for a race.
Lead Pony
The horse or pony used to lead the race horses from the paddock to the starting gate.
Leaky Roof Circuit
Minor race tracks.
Length
The length of a horse from nose to tail (approx. 8 feet) which can be a measurement between horse in a race.
Lock
Slang for a horse that is sure to win.
Lug In or Lug Out
The bearing in or out, usually from fatigue or injury.
Maiden
An animal or rider who has not won a race.
Maiden Race
A race for maiden horses or riders.
Make A Run
When a horse charges ahead during a race.
Mare
Female horse 5 years of age or older.
Match Race
A race with just two runners.
Money Rider
A rider who does well in rich races.
Morning Glory
A horse that performs well in morning workouts but performs poorly in races.
Muddy Track
A track with deep footing due to rain or water.
Mudder
A horse who excels in races on muddy tracks.
Mudlark
One step up from a mudder.
Neck
A unit of measurement about the length of a horses neck, also a quarter of a length. Can be used to measure distance between horses in a race.
Nose
The smallest measurement a horse can win by.
Oaks
A traditional stakes event for 3 year old fillies.
Objection
A foul claim made by a rider or judge. When made by an official it’s called an inquiry.
Official
A sign displayed to confirm race results. Also a track officer.
Off Track
A track with a wet surface.
On The Bit
A horse that is eager to run.
On The Board
Finishing among the first four places in a race.
Overland
When a horse races wide on the outside of the other horses.
Overweight
Extra weight carried by an animal when the rider cannot meet the required weight for that race.
Pace
The relative speed of the leaders of the field during various stages during the race.
Pacer
A fast gait used in harness racing in which the legs on the same side of the horse move together.
Paddock
The area of the track where horses are prepared & kept prior to post time.
Paddock Judge
The official that oversees the preparation routines in the paddock.
Patrol Judges
The officials who watch the progress from various spots around the track.
Photo Finish
A racing result that is so close that a photo must be used to determine the winner.
Pinched Back
A horse that is blocked in by other animals and forced back in the field.
Place
Second place in a race.
Placing Judges
The officials who determine the finishing order of the field.
Pocket
A horse that is boxed in and running with horses next to & in front of them.
Pole
Markers set at measured distances around the track which mark the distance from the finish line.
Post
The position a horse holds in the starting gate.
Post Parade
The walk from the paddock to the starting gate.
Post Time
The designated time for a race to start.
Prep
A workout or race run for the purpose of preparing for a future engagement.
Prop
An animal who refuses to break from the gate with the field.
Public Trainer
A trainer who works with horses from a number of stables.
Purse
Prize money which is not contributed by the owners.
Quarter
A quarter of a mile – 440 yards – 1,320 feet.
Rabbit
A horse that doesn’t have a chance of winning, but entered in a race to tire out the front-runners and soften competition for another entry.
Racing Secretary
The official who writes the conditions of each race & assigns handicap weights.
Rail Runner
A horse who prefers to run next to the inside rail.
Recall
When the first starting attempt is nullified by a starting official.
Refuse
When a horse won’t break from the starting gate or refuses a jump during a jumping race.
Ridden Out
A horse that wins through urging without the whip.
Rogue
An ill-tempered horse.
Romp
Running or winning easily.
Route
A race that is a mile or longer.
Router
A horse who does well running distance races.
Ruled Off
A permanent suspension from the track due to an infraction of the rules.
Scale of Weights
Fixed weights to be carried by horses who race based on age, distance, sex & time of year.
Schooling
Getting a horse accustomed to starting from a gate and other racing practices.
Scratch
A horse that is taken out of a race.
Selling Race
A claiming race.
Sex Allowance
Fillies & mares are allowed to carry 3-5 pounds less when racing males, based on their age & the time of year.
Short
A horse who needs more work or races to reach winning form.
Show
Third place.
Shut Off
When a horse & rider are unable to improve their position in a race because they are pocketed.
Silks
The racing silks worn by jockeys to designate the horses owner.
Sloppy
Track footing that is wet on the surface but firm underneath.
Slow
Track footing that is between good & heavy.
Snug
Mild restraint of a hors by it’s rider.
Sophomore
A 3 year old horse.
Stakes-Placed
An animal who places 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a stakes race.
Stake
A race in which the owner must pay a fee to run their horse.
Stakes Horse
An animal who is eligible to compete in stakes races.
Starter Race
An allowance or handicap race that is restricted to animals who have started for less than a specific claiming price.
Stayer
A robust horse who can race over long distances.
Steadied
A horse that is taken in by it’s rider, often because they are in close quarters.
Steps Up
When a horse moves up in class to run against better runners.
Stewards
The officials responsible for enforcing race rules.
Steeplechase
A jumping race that requires horse & rider to jump large obstacles.
Stick
A jockey’s whip
Stickers
Calks on racing shoes to provide better traction on muddy or soft tracks.
Stretch
The straight portion of the racetrack that leads to the finish.
Stud Book
A registry and breeding record of Thoroughbreds maintained by the Jockey Club.
Subscription
A fee that is paid by the horse owners to nominate or maintain eligibility for a stakes race.
Sulky
A two wheeled cart which carries a river and is used for harness racing.
Suspended
A temporary punishment with a specified period of time given for an infraction of race rules.
Taken Up
A horse that is abruptly pulled up by their rider because they are in close quarters.
Tattoo
The group of numbers tattooed inside the upper lip of registered Thoroughbreds.
Tight
A horse that is ready to race.
Timber Topper
A jumper or steeplechase race horse that is jumped over timber fences.
Topweight
The highest weight assigned or carried in a race.
Track Bias
A track surface that favors a particular running style.
Track Record
The fastest recorded times over various distances for that specific track.
Trial
A race workout
Trip
A horse’s race.
Triple Crown
In the US – The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes & Belmont Stakes
In England – The 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby & St. Leger.
Trotter
In harness racing a trotter moves with a diagonal gait.
Turf Course
A grass racing surface.
Under Contract
A trainer who has signed a contract to for a specific amount of time & compensation.
Under Punishment
A horse that is being whipped or strongly urged.
Under Wraps
A horse that is strongly restrained during a workout or a race.
Untried
A horse that has not raced or been tested for speed.
Unwind
Slowly pulling a horse out of intensive training.
Valet
The person who attends to the riders.
Walkover
A race in which only one horse is not scratched. They are required by the rules to gallop the required distance.
Washy
A horse that breaks out in nervous sweat prior to a race start.
Weaving
When a horse & rider thread their way through the field during a race.
Weight-For-Age
A fixed scale of weights which must be carried by horses according to age, sex, distance and time of year.
Winded
Heavy, difficult breathing after a race or workout.
Work
To exercise a horse.
Yearling
A horse that is less than one year old.
Basics | English Show | Dressage A-E | Dressage F-O | Dressage P-W
Oftentimes I will see in the comment line for a particular race the term “pulled” in reference to how the horse ran. What does that mean? Thank you.