Mondays have become my serious days for a couple of weeks and today is part two of horse racing terminology. Defining race terms from F-P (be sure to check out A-E and watch out for R-Z.
Faltered
A horse that did well early in the race but then drops back as the race progresses.
Fast Track
Considered optimum conditions a fast track is dry, even, resilient & fast.
Field
The collective runners in a race.
Filly
A female horse that is four years old or younger.
Fire
A horse’s burst of acceleration during a race.
Firm Track
Used to describe a turf course and is essentially the same as a fast dirt track. The surface is firm & resilient.
Flat Race
The opposite of a steeplechase, the course doesn’t include jumps.
Flatten Out
When a horse drops their head so it forms a straight line with their body. This is generally a sign of exhaustion in equines.
Foal
A baby horse (male or female) from the time they are born until January 1st.
Fresh
An animal that is well rested.
Front-Runner
A horse who likes to take the lead early in the race and stay out front until the end.
Frozen Track
A track condition when any moisture is frozen.
Furlong
1/8 of a mile | 220 yards | 660 feet | 200 meters
Gait
The way a horse moves its legs while running. This term is generally used for harness horses who are divided into to groups, trotters & pacers. Pacers run with a lateral gait and trotters with a diagonal gait.
Gate
The starting barrier or the position a runner will start from.
Gelding
A male horse after they are castrated.
Gentleman Jockey
An amateur, usually a steeplechase rider.
Good Track
Track condition that lies between fast & slow, often there is moisture present.
Graduate
A first time winner.
Green
A young & inexperienced horse.
Handicap
A race in which the track handicapper allocates specific weights for each horse to carry, creating a fair running field.
Handicapper
A track official who determines the weight that will be allocated to each horse for handicap events.
Hand Ride
A jockey who rides without a whip.
Hang or Hung
A horse that holds the same position and isn’t able to make up any distance on the leaders in a race.
Hard Track
Used to describe a turf course when there is no resiliency in the surface.
Head
A way of measuring the margin between runners, essentially the length of a horse head.
Head Of The Stretch
At the top of the home stretch with the finish line.
Heavy Track
Used to describe a turf course that is the wettest possible condition.
High Weight
The highest weight assigned or carried during a race.
Impost
The weight that has been assigned or carried.
In Hand
Running just under best pace, with moderate control from the jockey.
Judge
The track official who declares the official placing for each race run.
Jumper
A horse who races steeplechase or over hurdles.
Juvenile
A that is two years old.
Length
A way of measuring the margin between runners, essentially the length of a horse from nose to tail (around 8 ft).
Lug In or Out
When a runner bears in or out and fails to run straight, indicates a tiring horse.
Maiden
A horse or rider that has yet to win a race and a female horse that has never been bred.
Maiden Race
A race for female horses that have yet to win a race.
Mare
A female horse that is five years or older.
Morning Glory
A horse that performs well in the morning workouts but doesn’t do well in actual races.
Mudder or Mudlark
A horse who likes and performs well on muddy tracks.
Muddy Track
A track condition where there is mud, but no standing water.
Neck
A way of measuring the margin between runners, essentially the length of a horse’s neck.
Nod
In a close finish, when a horse extends its head so it’s nose crosses the finish line first.
Nominations
The list of all runners that have been entered for a race.
Non Runner
A horse that was scheduled to run, but was withdrawn from the race for one reason or another.
Nose or Short Head
The smallest way of measuring the margin between runners, essentially nodding across the finish line.
Novice
A horse or rider that is inexperienced and early in their career.
Nursery
A handicap event specifically for two year olds.
Oaks
A stakes event specifically for three year old fillies.
Objection
A claim of foul play created by a rider or an official after a race has run.
On The Board
Horses that finish in the first three spots are on the board.
Out Of The Money
Horses that finish after third place.
Outsider
A runner that is not expected to make it on the board.
Over The Top
When a runner is thought to have hit their peak for the current season.
Overweight
Extra weight a horse carries when the rider doesn’t make their assigned weight.
Pacer
A horse that performs a specific (lateral) gait while racing.
Pacesetter
The lead horse in a race.
Paddock
The area of the track where horses are saddled and prepared prior to post time.
Panel
Another (slang) term for furlong.
Penalty
Weight added to a horse’s handicap weight.
Photo Finish
A photograph is taken at the finish line at every race. When the race is too close to call, the photo is used to determine placing.
Place
Finishing a race in the top 3, 4 & sometimes 5 positions.
Plater
A horse which generally runs in selling races.
Pole
Markers that are placed at measured distances around the track. They are measured from the finish (not the starting) line to indicate how far the horses have left to go.
Post
The starting point of a race and an abbreviated version of the horse’s post position.
Post Position
The stall position in the starting gate for a race.
Post Time
The time that a race starts.
Protest
When a jockey, owner, trainer or steward claims foul play during a race affected the outcome.
Pull Up
When a rider slows or stops a horse during (or after) a race or workout.
Don’t Forget The Rest
There is lots of horse terminology so why not check out general terms, some dressage terminology or if you prefer western show lingo.