Betting & Racing Terminology
Understand the language of horse racing and sharpen your betting game
Across the Board
A bet on a horse to win, place, and show.
Allowance Race
A race in which horses are assigned weights based on specific conditions.
Also-Ran
A horse that finishes out of the money (not first, second, or third).
Apprentice Jockey
A rider who is still in training and receives a weight allowance.
Backstretch
The straight portion of the racetrack opposite the grandstand.
Bar Shoe
A horseshoe that helps protect an injured hoof.
Beyer Speed Figure
A number that indicates how fast a horse ran in a race.
Blinkers
A mask with eye cups that limits a horse’s peripheral vision to prevent distraction.
Boxed Bet
A bet that includes all possible combinations of selected horses (e.g., an exacta box).
Break Maiden
When a horse wins its first race.
Bridge Jumper
A bettor who places very large show bets on a heavy favorite.
Chalk
The race favorite.
Claiming Race
A race in which horses can be purchased for a predetermined price.
Closer
A horse that makes a strong run at the end of a race.
Colt
A male horse under the age of four.
Condition Book
A schedule of races prepared by the racing secretary.
Daily Double
A bet that picks the winners of two consecutive races.
Dead Heat
A tie between two or more horses.
Distaff
A race for female horses.
Exacta
A bet in which you pick the first and second horses in the correct order.
Far Turn
The final curve before the stretch run.
Filly
A female horse under the age of four.
Furlong
An eighth of a mile (1/8 mile or 220 yards).
Handicap Race
A race in which horses carry different weights to equalize their chances.
Handle
The total amount of money wagered on a race.
In the Money
A horse that finishes first, second, or third.
Inquiry
A review by stewards to determine if a race infraction occurred.
Juvenile
A 2-year-old horse.
Lasix
A medication given to prevent bleeding during races.
Length
A unit of measurement equivalent to the length of a horse.
Maiden
A horse that has never won a race.
Morning Line
The projected odds set before betting opens.
Odds-On
A horse with odds less than even money (e.g., 4-5).
On the Nose
A bet on a horse to win only.
Overlay
A horse whose odds are higher than expected based on its perceived chances.
Pace
The speed at which the race is run.
Parimutuel Betting
A system where all bets go into a pool and payoff odds are determined by the distribution of wagers.
Photo Finish
A race result determined by a photograph of the finish line.
Place
A bet that a horse will finish first or second.
Post Position
The horse’s stall assignment at the starting gate.
Purse
The total prize money awarded in a race.
Quinella
A bet where the first two finishers can be in either order.
Scratch
A horse withdrawn from a race before it starts.
Show
A bet that a horse will finish first, second, or third.
Silks
The colorful jacket worn by jockeys, representing the horse's owner.
Stretch Run
The final straightaway before the finish line.
Tote Board
The electronic board displaying betting odds, pools, and payouts.
Trifecta
A bet where you pick the first three finishers in exact order.
Wire-to-Wire
A horse that leads the entire race from start to finish.