Racing Glossary
HALF
Half a mile, four furlongs; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
HALTER
Like a bridle, but without a bit. Used in handling horses around the stable and
when not being ridden.
HAND
Four inches. Unit used in measuring height of horses from withers to ground.
HANDICAP
Race for which a handicapper assigns weights to be carried. Also, to handicap
a race; to make selections on the basis of the past performances.
HANDICAPPER
One who assigns weights for handicap race. Also one who makes selections based
on past performances.
HANDILY
Working or racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing.
HAND RIDE
Urging a horse with the hands and not using the whip.
HORSE
Specifically, an entire male 5 years old or older.
HOT WALKER
Person who cools a horse off by hand-walking it after a workout or race.
HURDLE RACE
Contested over obstacles. A jumping race over lower fences than steeplechase
races.
IMPOST
Weight carried or assigned.
IN THE MONEY
Finishing first, second or third.
INFIELD
Area within the inner rail of the racetrack.
IN HAND
Running under moderate control, at less
than best pace.
INQUIRY
Reviewing the race to check into a possible
infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed
by officials on tote board on such occasions.
IRONS
Stirrups.
JOCK
Jockey.
JOG
Slow, easy gait, trot.
JUVENILE
Two-year-old horse.
LASIX
A medication for the treatment of respiratory
bleeders (see FUROSEMIDE).
LATE DOUBLE
A second daily double offered on the latter
part of the program. (See DAILY DOUBLE).
LEAD (or LEAD PAD)
Weights carried to make up the difference
when a rider weighs less than the poundage
a horse is assigned to carry.
LEG UP
To help a jockey mount his horse. Also a
jockey having a mount.
LENGTH
Length of a horse from nose to tail, about
8 feet. Also distance between horses in
a race.
LOCK
Slang for a "sure thing" winner.
LONG SHOT
(Also, Outsider) A runner is often referred
to as being a long shot, because of the
fact it is returning high odds and is therefore
deemed to have little chance of winning
the race.
LUG (in or out)
Action of a tiring horse, bearing in or
out, failing to keep a straight course.
MAIDEN
A horse that has not won a race. Also applied
to non-winning rider.
MAIDEN RACE
A race for non-winners.
MARE
Female horse 5 years old or older, female
of any age who has been bred.
MATCH RACE
A race between two horses, only a planned
two horse race is a match race, if a field
scratches down to two horses it is not considered
a match race.
MINUS POOL
A mutuel pool caused when one horse is so
heavily played that, after deductions of
state tax and commission, there is not enough
money left to pay the legally prescribed
minimum on each winning bet. The racing
association usually makes up the difference.
MORNING GLORY
Horse who performs well in morning workouts
but fails to produce that form in races.
MORNING LINE
Approximate odds quoted by professional
handicappers before wagering determines
exact odds.
MTP
Minutes to post.
MUDDER
Horse who races well on muddy tracks.
MUDDY (track)
A condition of a racetrack, wet but with
no standing water.
MUDLARK
Superior mudder.
MUTUEL POOL
Short for 'Parimutuel Pool'; Sum of the
wagers on a race or event, such as the win
pool, daily double pool, exacta pool, etc
where all bettors are paid out from.
MUZZLE
Nose and lips of a horse. Also a guard placed
over a horse's mouth to prevent it from
biting or eating.
Glossary
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