Glossary of Horse Racing Terms

Across the Board: A bet that is a combination win, place, and show bet all rolled into one. If the horse wins, you get paid the win, place, and show payouts; if the horse runs second, you get paid the place and show payouts; and if the horse runs third, you receive the show payout only. A $2 Across the board bet will cost $6 total.

Allowance Race: A horse racing term that refers to a race other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights.

Also-Eligible: A horse officially entered, but not permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number.

Also-Ran: A horse who finishes out of the money.

Blinkers: Headgear worn by a horse to focus on his vision and prevent distractions.

Bobbled: A bad step away from the starting gate, usually caused by the track breaking away from under a horse's hoof and causing him to duck his head or nearly go to his knees.

CLAIMING RACE: Race in which horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price. Claiming races are divided into price categories.

Closer: A horse that tends to drop to the back of the field early in a race, and then expend most of its energy late.

DEAD-HEAT: Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire.

DQ: Disqualified.

Eased: Chart caller's assessment of a horse that is being deliberately slowed by the jockey to prevent injury or harm to the horse.

Exacta: A wager that requires you to pick the first two finishers in a race, in their exact order of finish.

Exacta Box: Often horses are "boxed" which gives the bettor all combinations of those boxed horses to finish first or second.

Front Runner: A horse who has a propensity to lead the field for as far as he can.

Furlong: A distance measuring 220 yards, or 1/8 of a mile.

Handle: Amount of money wagered on a single race or a full day of racing.

Inquiry: A horse racing term for an investigation by the stewards of a foul or violation which occured during the running of the race.

Maiden Race: A race for horse that have never won a race.

Morning Line: The track handicapper's estimate of the probable odds for each horse at post time.

Overlay: A horse who appears to have a better chance than its odds suggest.

Paddock: The area where horses are brought before the race to be saddled and mounted by their jockeys.

Post Position - Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.

Post Time: Designated time from race to start.

PURSE: A prize of money to which owners do not contribute.

Quarter Pole: - Marker one-quarter mile from the finish.

Rabbit: A horse that is considered to have little chance of winning a race but is entered purely to ensure a fat pace and tire out the other front-runners, softening up the competition for the benefit of an entrymate.

Route Race: A Race distance of a mile or longer.

Scratch: A horse that has been withdrawn from a race

Silks: A jockey's shirt and cap with colors and a pattern selected by the horse's owner(s).

Six Furlongs: Three-quarter of a mile; 1,320 yards, or 3,960 feet.

Stakes Race: Highest quality race; often requires entry fees.

Steadied: A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually because of being in close quarters.

Stewards: The officials of the meeting responsible for enforcing the rules for a race.

Track Bias: A racing surface that favors a particular running style or position; horses that run on the lead or on the rail.

Trifecta: This bet requires the bettor to pick the top three finishers in a race,in their exact order.

Underlay: A horse racing term used by handicappers whose odds suggest it has a better chance to win the race than its chances appears to justify.