Across the board: A win, place and show bet on a horse.
Allowance: A race other than a claiming event for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions.
Apprentice: A jockey who has ridden for less than a year and who receives weight allowances.
Backside: The racetrack’s barn area.
Bay: A color ranging from tan to dark chestnut with black mane, tail and points.
Beyer speed rating: A measure of performance popularized by Andy Beyer of The Washington Post.
Bounce: An exceptionally poor performance on the heels of an exceptionally good one.
Broodmare: Female horse used for breeding.
Broodmare sire: A sire whose female offspring become producers of exceptional performers.
Bullet: Fastest workout of the day at a particular distance.
Call to the post: A special call played on a Bugle used to signal the horses to the starting gate.
Chestnut: A color ranging from light gold to deep red. Also, a small, horny growth on the inside of a horse’s front legs.
Claiming race: A race in which the horses are for sale at a price specified before the race. Claims are made before the race and the new owner assumes possession immediately following the race.
Colt: An ungelded male horse 4 years old or younger.
Dam: The mother of a horse.
Distaff: A race for female horses.
Driving: Strong urging by jockey.
Early foot: Good speed at the start of a race.
Entry: Two or more horses representing the same owner or trained by the same person and running together as a single betting entity.
Filly: A female horse less than 5 years old.
Furlong: An eighth of a mile.
Gelding: A neutered male horse.
Handicapping: This is the study of factors in the past performances which determine the relative qualities and abilities of horses in a race.
Handle: Money wagered.
Inquiry: Official investigation of rule infractions.
Juvenile: Two-year-old horse.
Lasix: Diuretic medication given to horses which bleed.
Maiden: A horse that hasn’t won a flat racein any country.
Mare: A female horse 5 years old or older.
Morning line: The starting odds set by thetrack handicapper.
Off track: A track that is not fast.
Overlay: A horse whose odds are greater than its potential to win.
Paddock: Structure or area where horses are saddled and kept before going to the track.
Pari-mutuel: System of wagering where all the money is returned to the wagerers after deduction of track and state percentages.
Roan: Horse with white hairs mingledthroughout its coat.
Silks: Jacket and cap worn by jockeys.
Sire: Father of a foal.
Stallion: Uncastrated male horse.
Stud: Stallion.
Turf course: Grass covered race course.
Underlay: Horse whose odds are more promising than his potential to win.
Valet: A person who helps jockeys keep their wardrobe and equipment in order.
Weight: The assigned weight for a horse, including the jockey, equipment and lead weights if needed.
Workout: Exercise session at a predetermined distance.
Yearling: A horse that is one year old. The universal birthdate of horses is January 1