A Beginner’s Guide to Horse Racing Terminology

If you are new to the world of racing and are a little baffled by some of the terms and language associated with the sport, we at The Horseracing Network are here to point you in the right direction. In this first alphabetical instalment we’ll help you understand just a few of the many hundreds of everyday terms associated with the world of horse racing. You’ll find the terminology for betting on horse racing in a separate article.

ALLOWANCE – In every race the horses have a pre-determined weight to carry which includes the weight of the jockey, the saddle, and sometimes additional lead weights used to reach the weight set by the ‘handicapper’ – the person who determines how much weight each horse should carry. Inexperienced riders are able to reduce the allotted weight, usually by 3lb, 5lb or 7lb meaning the horse will have less weight to carry than when ridden by an established professional jockey. In Flat racing these inexperienced jockeys are called APPRENTICES, while in JUMP racing (also known by traditionalists as NATIONAL HUNT racing) these jockeys are called CONDITIONAL riders.

ALL WEATHER – Traditionally in the UK & Ireland Flat horse racing takes place on grass (also known as ‘turf’). Since the late 1980’s artificial sand-based racing surfaces have become part of the racing scene, initially to ensure there would be racing for people to bet on during bad winter weather, but the ‘ALL WEATHER’ racecourses are now well established as an integral part of our racing scene with tracks at Newcastle, Southwell, Lingfield, Kempton and Chelmsford in the UK, and Dundalk in Ireland.

APPRENTICES – See ‘ALLOWANCE’

BANKER – This is a word that refers to a horse who is considered the strongest tip and most likely winner, usually among a number of horses chosen by someone in their bet.

BLINKERS – BLINKERS are a head covering that limits a horse’s ability to see much more than straight ahead. They are used to focus the attention of horses, particularly those who have shown a tendency not to concentrate or try very hard on their races.

BREEDER – The specific organization or farm that oversees the breeding of a male and female horse to produce a foal. Very often the BREEDER owns that resultant foal until it is sold to another owner to race.

BRIDLE – This is the head collar, usually made of leather, worn by horses in their races. It is connected to other equipment that gives the jockey control over the horse.

BROUGHT DOWN – In Jump racing, a horse who falls over a horse that or jockey that has fallen in front of them is considered to have been BROUGHT DOWN, indicating that the horse itself was not at fault.

CHASER – No alcoholic connection here (!), a CHASER is an abbreviated word that refers to a horse that runs over jumps in a steeplechase, the larger jumps obstacles.

CLASSIC – Referring to Flat racing only, in Britain and Ireland there are respectively five Classics each season, These are the highest level of races that determines the cream of the crop, most of whom are expected to go on to be very valuable when retired as breeding stock. The five Classics, are the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, The Derby, The Oaks, and the St. Leger.

COLOURS – This is the colloquial word used in racing for the jacket worn by a jockey. The COLOURS are chosen by the owner of the horse and help owners, racing fans, and commentators spot which horse is which in a race.

COLT – Is a male horse who has not been castrated (see GELDING).

CONDITIONAL – See ‘ALLOWANCE’

DRAW – In Flat racing the horses all start from numbered stalls. The DRAW is the stall into which the horse and jockey are placed for the start of the race. On some courses there are known advantages to having a high numbered draw or a low numbered draw.

DAM – A DAM is the mother of a horse.

ENQUIRY – Sometimes referred to as a STEWARDS ENQUIRY, this is a deliberation that takes place among racing officials – not dissimilar to a referee in other sports – to determine whether or not a horse has infringed the Rules of Racing and should be penalised. For example, a horse might be disqualified if it has impeded other horses that might otherwise have had a winning chance.

FILLY – A female horse that is less than five years old.

FLAT RACING – Races that take place without obstacles are known as FLAT races. The shortest FLAT races and can range in distance from sprints over the minium distances of 5 furlongs (1000m), up to in excess of two miles (3200m). There are a few even longer races, including the longest FLAT race of the year, the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in June which is run over more than two miles five furlongs (4200m).

FURLONG – A FURLONG is the traditional name for one eighth of a mile and is 220 yards (200 meters). Races in Britain and Ireland are measured in FURLONGS, reflecting the longstanding and historic heritage of the sport.

GELDING – The vast majority of male horses competing both on the Flat and over jumps are GELDINGS, meaning they have been castrated and cannot be sued for breeding purposes.

GOING – This is the name given to the description of the ground conditions at each race meeting and can vary from very ‘heavy’ going, meaning very muddy ground, to firm going which indicates the surfaces is quite hard and has had little or no water.

GROOM – Also referred to as a stable lad/or lass, the GROOM is the person responsible for feeding, cleaning and exercising the horse at its home stable. Very often the same GROOM also travels with the horse to the races and ensures the horse is cared for and presented in the best possible condition.

HANDICAP – A HANDICAP race is one where different weights are allocated to horses by a professional judge of horse racing form. The goal is to try and give every horse competing a chance to win. In other words, the better horses carry more weight in the HANDICAP, while the less capable horses carry lower HANDICAP weight.

HURDLER – This is a horse that competes over the smaller obstacles in Jump racing, which are known as hurdles.

JOCKEY – The person – male or female – that rides the horse in its race.

JUVENILE – In Flat racing a JUVENILE is a two-year-old horse, the youngest age at which a horse can compete. In Jump racing a juvenile is a three-year-old horse.

LENGTH – The distance by which a horse is measured ahead of another in a race is referred to as a LENGTH, and is the distance from a horse’s head to the tail.

MAIDEN – This is the racing word used to describe a horse who has never won a race.

MARE – Is a female horse who is at least five years old.

NON RUNNER – Is a horse who was originally entered to run in a race but has been taken out of the race and will not compete.

NOVICE – Is an inexperienced horse and can be used for horses both on the Flat and over Jumps.

OBJECTION – If a jockey feels that his horse’s chance has been spoiled in the race by another horse not running straight or bumping into him, for example, he can raise an OBJECTION resulting in the STEWARDS (the referees of the sport) deciding whether or not his placing should be improved. Sometimes resulting in the horse that caused the interference being disqualified or demoted.

OVERWEIGHT – This does not refer to the horse itself, but refers to a situation where the horse carries more weight that it has been allotted, usually because the jockey is heavier than expected.

OWNER – The person who has bought the horse and pays the monthly fees associated with training the horse, and in whose COLOURS the horse runs.

PADDOCK – This is the area of the racecourse where the horses are paraded before the public prior to the race, and where the trainer, jockey and owners of the horse gather to see their horse in the moments before it goes to the start of the race. The PADDOCK area allows racegoers to look closely at the horses and try to judge which looks fittest, or best behaved etc.

PHOTO FINISH – When two or more horses are involved in a close finish there is often the need  for a PHOTO FINISH, an examination of an image taken as the horses cross the finishing line. This determines with certainty which horse has actually won the race.

PULLED UP – When a horse fails to complete a race because its jockey has stopped riding and brought the horse to a halt, it is said to have been PULLED UP.

RACECARD – Is the official list of runners and riders at a racing fixture, and includes all the horses competing on each race that day, as well as details of the weight each horse will carry, the distance of the race, the prize money etc.

SCHOOLING – Refers to the training of a horse to jump either over hurdles or steeple chase (chase) fences.

SPRINTER – A Flat horse who races at either five furlongs (1000m) or six furlongs (1200m).

STALLION – Is a male racehorse that is used for breeding. The STALLION is listed as the father of a horse, and the DAM is the mother of the horse. Nearly all stallions have been successful racehorses before they retired to breed more racehorses.

STARTER – Is the official responsible for making sure the race begins in an orderly fashion. In Flat racing he must not start the race until all the horses are loaded into the correct stalls, while over Jumps (where starting stalls are not used) he releases a tape that is stretched across the track and behind which the horses gather in a line ready to begin the race, only when he is satisfied that each horse is more or less in a position that in theory gives it an equal chance to the others of winning the race.

STAYER – A STAYER is a horse who race over longer distances. On the Flat a stayer is a horse who races in excess of a mile-and-a-half, while over Jumps a stayer is a horse who races in excess of not lees than two-and-a-half miles.

STEWARDS – The panel of judges (or referees) who oversee the implementation of the Rules of Racing on the day of the race. At their discretion horses can be disqualified or demoted, and jockeys and trainers fined, suspended or event banned for infringement of the rules of the sport.

STUD or (STUD FARM) – Is a farm that is specifically used for the breeding of racehorses.

THOROUGHBRED – Is the breed of horse that is specifically sued for horse racing around the world. The full pedigree of a THOROUGHBRED horse must be officially traced back many generations in order for it to be certified to take part in horse racing.

TRAINER – Is the person responsible for teach the horse to compete in races, getting it fit to run, and being primarily responsible for its welfare both at its home stable and at the racecourse.

UNDER ORDERS – The declaration announced at the track and on live broadcasts that indicates that the STARTER has given the signal for the race to begin imminently.

VISOR – Unlike BLINKERS that cover the horse’s head and only allow a horse to see directly in front of it, a VISOR has slits at the side that allow the horse to have some degree of vision on either side as well as straight ahead.

WEIGHED IN – Is the announcement made at the racecourse that confirms that all the jockeys who have just competed in a race have returned and been confirmed to have carried the correct weight. After the WEIGHED IN announcement bookmakers are obliged to pay out winning, if they haven’t already done so.

WHIP – Is a stick, usually with a felt covered leather loop on the end, that is used to guide the horse during the race. The WHIP is also used to encourage the horse to go faster as well as maintain a straight line and not cause interference to other horses.

YEARLING – Is either a male or female horse that is no more than one year old.