Whether you're a newcomer placing your first bet or a seasoned handicapper brushing up, understanding the vocabulary of horse racing is essential. The sport is packed with unique terminology that covers everything from race types to betting styles and beyond. This A-Z glossary is designed to help bettors using MyWinners.com (or betting at live venues) gain fluency in the sport of kings.
Each section breaks down terms by letter, providing definitions, examples, and context that reflect how they're used in real betting environments. Let's dive in.
A
A
Across the Board: A single bet that includes a Win, Place, and Show wager on one horse. If your horse wins, all three bets pay. If it comes second, only Place and Show pay. Third place pays only Show.
Allowance Race: A race restricted to horses that meet certain non-claiming conditions, usually based on age, sex, and prior earnings. Often more competitive than claiming races.
Also Eligible (AE): A horse entered to run but only allowed to race if there is a scratch.
Apprentice Jockey: A young or inexperienced jockey who gets a weight allowance. Known as a "bug boy," which is often denoted in the program with a star.
Auto Scratch: An automated system that scratches a horse if conditions change (e.g. a horse entered for turf is automatically scratched if the race moves to dirt).
B
B
Backstretch: The straight side of the track opposite the grandstand. Also refers to the barn area where horses are stabled.
Bankroll: The amount of money a bettor sets aside for wagering. Successful players practice strict bankroll management.
Beaten Favorite: A horse that was the betting favorite but lost the race.
Boxed Bet (Box): A wager that covers all combinations of selected horses. For example, a boxed Trifecta on 2, 5, and 7 pays if those three horses finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in any order.
Breakage: The small amount retained by the track when payouts are rounded down to the nearest 10-cent increment in US pari-mutuel pools.
Bullet Work: The fastest recorded workout at a given track and distance for a specific day. Usually noted with a bullet symbol (•) in the past performances.
C
C
Chart: The official result and recap of a race, including each horse's position at various calls, lengths behind, final time, and margin of victory.
Chalk: Slang for the betting favorite.
Chalk Player: A bettor who tends to wager on favorites.
Claiming Race / Claimer: A race in which all horses are available for purchase (claimed) for a set price. These races are the backbone of US racing.
Class Drop: When a horse moves from a tougher race condition (e.g. Allowance) to an easier one (e.g. Claiming). Often signals intent to win.
Closer: A horse that does its best running in the stretch, coming from behind late.
Condition Book: The published schedule of upcoming races and entry requirements at a given racetrack.
Coupled Entry: Two horses from the same ownership or trainer entered in the same race, grouped as one betting interest (e.g. 1 and 1A). If you bet on one, you get both.
D
D
Dead Heat: When two or more horses cross the finish line at the same time and cannot be separated by a photo finish. Winnings are split accordingly.
Daily Double: A bet in which you select the winners of two consecutive races. Often one of the first exotic bets a bettor tries.
Dark Day: A day on which no live racing is scheduled at a track.
Declarations: Official notification of which horses will run in a race.
Dirt Track: A racing surface composed of natural dirt, common at many US tracks.
E
E
Eased: When a jockey pulls up or slows a horse during a race due to injury, fatigue, or strategy.
Entry: Horses entered in a race. May also refer to a coupled entry.
Exacta: A bet where you must pick the first two finishers in exact order.
Even Money: Odds of 1-to-1. A bet that will double your money if it wins.
Exotic Bets: Any bet other than Win, Place, or Show. Includes Exactas, Trifectas, Superfectas, etc.
G
G
Gait: The manner in which a horse moves. Trot and pace are common in harness racing.
Gate: The starting mechanism for races. A horse is said to “break from the gate.”
Gelding: A castrated male horse.
Graded Stakes: Top-level races assigned Grade I, II, or III based on quality and prestige.
Group Race: European equivalent of Graded Stakes.
H
H
Handicap Race: A race where horses carry different weights to equalize their chances.
Handicapping: The process of analyzing past performances to predict outcomes.
Harness Racing: A form of racing where horses pull a sulky and driver.
Head: A unit of margin of victory; smaller than a neck.
Horse: Specifically refers to a male horse aged four years or older.
I
I
Inquiry: An official review of a race for possible rule violations.
In-the-Money: Finishing first, second, or third — good for betting payouts.
Interference: Any action by a horse or jockey that hinders another competitor.
Infield: The area inside the track, often used for special events or displays.
Inside Post: A starting position near the rail.
J
J
Jockey: A professional rider who guides the horse during the race.
Juvenile: A two-year-old racehorse.
K
K
Key Horse: A horse used as the anchor in multiple exotic bets (e.g., exacta key).
Kilometre Time: Common in European racing, indicates how long it takes to run 1km.
L
L
Lasix: A medication used to prevent bleeding in the lungs. Listed as permitted in many states.
Length: A measurement equal to the length of a horse; used to describe margins of victory.
Longshot: A horse with high odds and a perceived small chance of winning.
Lug In/Out: When a horse veers inward or outward during the race.
M
M
Maiden: A horse that has never won a race.
Morning Line: The odds set by the track handicapper before betting opens.
Mutuel Pool: The total amount bet on a particular type of wager.
Mudder: A horse that performs well on wet, sloppy tracks.
N
N
Neck: A margin smaller than a length but bigger than a head.
Nose: The smallest possible margin of victory in a race.
Non-Winners: Horses that haven’t won a race in a specific timeframe or condition.
Numbered Saddlecloth: The cloth that identifies a horse by number and color.
O
O
Objection: A formal protest lodged by a jockey or trainer after the race.
Off the Board: A horse that finishes outside the top three (no payout in Win/Place/Show).
Overlay: A horse whose odds are higher than its perceived chances of winning.
P
P
Pace: The speed at which the race is run.
Parimutuel: The betting system where all bets go into a pool and are divided among winners.
Photo Finish: A close finish that requires a photo to determine the winner.
Place Bet: A bet that pays if your horse finishes first or second.
Post Position: The stall a horse starts from in the gate.
Q
Q
Quarter Horse: A breed known for speed over short distances; used in Quarter Horse racing.
Quinella: A bet where you pick two horses to finish first and second in any order.
R
R
Race Card: The schedule of races on a specific day.
Rail: The inner boundary of the track.
Refuse: When a horse will not enter the gate or run.
S
S
Scratch: A horse withdrawn before the race.
Show Bet: Pays if your horse finishes in the top three.
Silks: The jockey’s colorful outfit, representing the horse’s owner.
Sloppy Track: A track with a wet, muddy surface.
T
T
Takeout: The portion of the betting pool kept by the track.
Tote Board: Displays odds, payouts, and race information.
Trifecta: Pick the first three horses in exact order.
U
U
Underlay: A horse whose odds are lower than its perceived chances of winning.
Under Starter’s Orders: The point when horses are loaded in the gate.
V
V
Veterinarian’s List: A horse that cannot race until cleared by a vet.
W
W
Wager: A bet.
Win Bet: Pays only if your horse finishes first.
Workout: A timed training run.
X
X
X-Chromosome Theory: A theory about stamina passed through female lines in breeding.
Y
Y
Yearling: A horse that is one year old.
Z
Z
Z-Bar Shoe: A special horseshoe used to relieve pressure from hoof injuries.
Did You Know? The phrase “in the money” originates from horse racing and refers to horses finishing in the top three — meaning bettors who backed them in Place or Show bets receive a payout. It’s now used in everyday conversation to mean any kind of success or financial reward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a claiming race and an allowance race in horse racing?
What is the difference between a claiming race and an allowance race in horse racing?
A claiming race allows every horse to be purchased at a set price, levelling the competition. An allowance race restricts entry based on conditions like age, gender, or past performance but doesn't involve selling horses.
What does it mean when a horse “lugs in” or “lugs out” during a race?
What does it mean when a horse “lugs in” or “lugs out” during a race?
“Lugging in” or “lugging out” refers to a horse veering inward or outward during the race, often indicating fatigue, inexperience, or discomfort. It can impact the outcome and sometimes leads to disqualification.
Why are Lasix and other medications listed in racing programs?
Why are Lasix and other medications listed in racing programs?
Lasix is a legal medication used to prevent bleeding in a horse’s lungs during intense exertion. It’s widely used in US racing and noted in past performances to help bettors evaluate health and consistency.
How does a dead heat affect betting payouts in horse racing?
How does a dead heat affect betting payouts in horse racing?
In a dead heat, two or more horses tie for the same finish position. Winnings are divided based on the betting pool and number of winning tickets, which can reduce the payout compared to a solo win.
What does it mean when a horse is listed as “on the veterinarian’s list”?
What does it mean when a horse is listed as “on the veterinarian’s list”?
A horse on the veterinarian’s list has been temporarily barred from racing due to injury or medical concerns. It cannot return to competition until cleared by a licensed vet, ensuring the safety of both horse and rider.