Horse Racing Terms Explained

Horse racing can be a very simple sport on the face of it: pick a horse you like the look of, bet on it, and job's a good one. However, there are several intricacies to the sport, and when reading a racecard, you may notice some words or terms that you are unfamiliar with. Below, we go through most of these...

Act

Put simply, this is how a horse is expected to perform under the conditions - X should act well on the softer ground here.

All Out

When a horse is ridden all out, it is running at its maximum effort, and this is often the case in the final stages of a race.

Allowance

This can be for a horse or a rider. Horses may have different weight allowances depending on the gender of the horse, or the age of it compared to others in the field. Whereas jockeys can claim a weight allowance when still riding with an apprentice licence.

All Weather Surface

Most races are normally run on grass or turf, however, there are also all weather surfaces, ensuring that the ground does not get affected by conditions. There are two types of surfaces - Polytrack and Tapeta - used in the United Kingdom.

Amateur

An amateur jockey is anyone who does not receive a riding fee and is not a professional jockey. It is not the most common term here, and you will notice certain races are 'Amateur only'.

Ante Post

This is one of the most popular terms in racing, and before big racing festivals, you will see a lot about Ante Post bets. The term involves any bets placed well in advance of a race starting, and prices are often higher than on the day. However, if your selection does not run, it will be classed as a loser - unless it falls under NRNB (which we'll get to).

Apprentice

This is an example of where weight allowances come into play, and it is for a younger apprentice jockey who will gain weight over an experienced jockey. As they become more experienced and win more races, that advantage lessens.

For example, you may see: Jockey Name (5) - which would mean they are claiming a five-pound allowance.

At The Post

You will often see or hear the phrase, the horses are 'At the post', and this just means that they are at the starting point of the race.

Banker

This is certainly not just a horse racing term, as you will see it in a wider context when betting. A banker is just a selection where you expect them to win.

Bar

Bar is certainly not the most common term, however, it refers to the odds of a horse that is not mentioned in a summary.

Best Turned Out

For punters, this is not really a very common term. However, if you are watching the race before it starts, you may hear about a horse being 'Best Turned Out', which just means which horse looks the best. Winning this prize often results in cash going to those who work closely with the horse.

Best Odds Guaranteed

This is probably the most common term you will see, and it is often shortened to BOG. A lot of horse racing bookmakers offer this promotion, and if your selection's odds rise at the start of the race, you will be paid at those odds, rather than the lower odds you initially took.

Betting Ring

Whilst not the most needed term to know, the betting ring just refers to where bookmakers are on course.

Black Type

It is certainly not the most popular term again, however, when a horse finishes in the first three in a listed or group race, they will be referred to as a 'black type' - this then has a big effect for breeding purposes.

Bit

You will have heard this often before if someone is 'chomping at the bit', and this is a reference to the part attached to the bridle controlling the head and mouth of the horse.

Blanket Finish

Like a blanket term, a blanket finish is where there are several horses trying to win in the final stages and there is a lot of coverage for the victory.

Blinkers - b

This is a term that you will hear rather regularly and when studying a racecard, it will be marked with a b symbol - it refers to when a horse wears blinkers, which restrict the view of the horse to keep them focused.

First Time Blinkers - b1

It makes sense, then, to cover what this means and it is identifiable with b1 on a race card. A horse is simply wearing blinkers for the first time.

Brought Down - BD

A term that you never want to see when a race has finished is that your horse was BD (brought down). Simply, it means that a horse in front has affected its run and brought it down too, whether through tripping or falling.

Bloodstock

Again, this is more of a breeder-based term, but it refers to a horse being bred specifically to compete in horse racing.

Boxed In

Another frustrating one to see or hear is that your horse has been boxed in, it just means that it has not been allowed space and doesn't really have an exit, hindering its chances.

Bridle

A horse will remain on the bridle for the large majority of the race, and it is not being asked for much at this point. Coming off the bridle is where the horse may go all out towards the finish.

Bumper

A bumper race is one run without hurdles or fences, meaning it is purely a flat race. However, it is seen on jumps cards.

Chaser

Chasers are a type of racehorse which runs over fences rather than hurdles.

Claimer

This term will often be used by amateurs who are 'claiming weight' against others.

Colt

A colt is a male horse who has not yet been castrated, they are often also under four years old.

Course and Distance - C&D

This is an important term to know, and it refers to whether a horse has won on that course at the same distance it is running in here. If they are separated to be C D, the horse has won on that course and over that distance, but not together.

Checked

When a horse is checked, the jockey suddenly pulls the reigns to stop an incident from occurring with another horse.

Cheek Pieces - p

This is another piece of headgear worn by horses, and once again it is to help with focus, though it is less restrictive than blinkers.

First Time Cheek Pieces

Once again, if a horse wears cheek pieces for the first time this is easily identifiable with the symbol p1 seen.

Clerk Of The Scales

Whilst not the most common phrase, Clerk Of The Scales refers to the person who ensures that the jockeys weigh the right amount after the race.

Co Favourite

When there are more than two horses at the same price, they are no longer Joint Favourites, but rather Co Favourites.

Dam

Used when referring to the female parent of a horse.

Dead Heat

This is another frustrating one, and it is used when two horses cannot be separated by the winning margin (which is normally a nose). As a result, your winnings are lessened.

Declarations/Decs

Declarations refer to the list of horses that are entered to run in a race. Early decs may take place way in advance of a race, then declarations will take place five days before and the day before the race will be the final declarations (which is normally a day or two before the race starts).

Distance

A pretty standard term, and it simply defines how far a horse has finished in front of another.

Dividend

This is how much the return would be from a £1 bet, if you are watching a race live, you will often see this shown after.

Draw

For flat racing punters, this is a huge term. Draw refers to where a horse is placed in the stalls and is normally drawn at random, a better draw is possible on some courses that have a big focus on turns, for example.

Drifter

If a horse is weakening in the betting market, they are often referred to as a 'drifter' or being 'on the drift'.

Each Way - E/W

Each Way is a method of betting which all bookmakers offer, you bet on a horse to win and place, rather than one or the other.

Fell - F

Another one that you never like to see is F on a racecard, which shows if a horse has fallen previously or in the result; 5th, 6th, 7th, F (for example, in an eight-horse race with one faller).

Favourite

This just refers to the shortest-priced horse in a field, they are the favourite to win the race, and most likely to win in the eyes of some.

Filly

Another term used to define a horse itself - a filly is a female horse younger than four years old. It is worth noting that some races are exclusively open to fillies.

First String

This is a term that can refer to a jockey or a horse. If a trainer has multiple horses in a race, they may have their best (first string) jockey on it. When referring to a horse, a first string is the one with the most likely chance of winning among the entered horses from one owner.

Foal

A horse, when born, is a foal and this is the case until the following January when they become a Yearling. It is worth noting that horses do not have birthdays in racing, so it does not matter if it is born in January or December, when it gets to January, they are one year old.

Front Runner

When a horse prefers to lead the pack, they are referred to as a Front Runner.

Furlong

This is the normal way of referring to distance in racing, a furlong is equal to 200m, and there are eight furlongs in one mile. You may see a race that is 2m4f - which is two miles and four furlongs, for example.

Gallop

Gallops are effectively training sessions for horses, a horse that 'goes well on the gallops' is always a good sign in the lead up to a race.

Gelding

A male horse that has been castrated.

Genuine

If a horse is described as very genuine, it means that they are giving the effort when asked, which is huge for punting.

Going

Defines the going of a racetrack, there are several terms here, but they range between heavy and firm. Some horses prefer heavier ground, whilst others may run better on firm.

Green

If a horse is green, they are inexperienced and showing it in their run.

Hacked Up

When a horse 'hacks up', it means that they have won by showing minimal effort, and it may also be referred to as a 'winning on a canter'.

Hood - h

Another piece of headgear worn by horses, and it is normally used to settle them.

First Time Hood

Once again, if a horse wears a hood for the first time, this is easily identifiable with the symbol h1 seen.

Hampered

If your horse has been hampered, that means their run has been affected by another horse in the race, costing your horse some momentum.

Handicap

A handicap race is where the horses run at different weights based on their rating from the BHA, a higher weight horse is viewed as a better horse, but this can have adverse effects.

Handicapper

Those who decide the rating of a horse, and in turn the weight it runs in handicap races.

Handicap Rating

After three runs, a horse is given a rating by the BHA, and this is continuously updated with different runs.

Handy

When a horse takes a favourable position in the race near the front.

Hanging

When a horse is hanging, they are moving away from the racing line. It could be due to pressure or the horse itself, but it is rarely a good thing.

Head - hd

A measure of distance for how far a horse has come in front of another and is referred to as hd when reading results. X won by a head (length: hd), for example.

Held Up

If a horse is held up, they have been spending most of the race behind the field, or alternatively if they are trapped in a space.

Hunter Chase

A race ran over fences and only open to horses that have hunted for at least four days in that season, normally only run by older horses.

Hurdler

A horse that competes over smaller jumps (rather than going over fences, they go over hurdles).

In Foal

A term to describe when a mare is pregnant - some will still run when in this condition, with some believing that they run better in this condition.

Joint Favourite

When two horses are the same price leading the market, they are referred to as the Joint Favourites or JF.

Juvenile

A horse that is two years old - again, this is on calendar years, whether they are born in January or December, they will still be two years old at the same point (January 1).

Judge

The official who declares the winner of a race and the time they ran.

Last Time Out - LTO

When discussing a horse's last run, you may see 'X did well LTO, should progress here'.

Length

The measurement from head to tail of a horse, also how far horses finish from another, 'X won by five lengths'.

Level Weights

Away from Handicaps, horses will normally run at the same weight, meaning higher-class horses may benefit.

Maiden

A horse that has not won a race in its career yet - there are also maiden exclusive races.

Mare

A female horse over the age of four.

NAP

This is a term that you will regularly see from tipsters, referring to their best bet of the day.

Next Best - NB

Found in the same context as a NAP, the NB is their next best pick of the day.

Neck - nk

Another term for how much a horse has finished ahead of another, referred to as a nk on a results card (Length: nk).

Non Runner

A horse that was declared but is no longer running, and there can be several reasons for this.

No Runner No Bet - NRNB

Typically found when betting on Antepost markets, at a certain stage, the selections can be backed NRNB, which means if your horse is a non-runner, the bet voids. However, the odds are often lower.

Nose - nse

Another term for how much a horse has finished ahead of another, referred to as a nse on a results card (Length: nse).

Not Travelling

When a horse is not running well, whether due to the pacing or other horses, it is referred to as 'Not Travelling'.

Novice

Horses that are yet to win at the start of a season in their respective field, whether that be hurdles or jumps. One can be a veteran hurdler and then become a novice chaser, for example.

Nursery

Flat races for horses that are two years old.

Pulled Up - P

When a horse does not complete a race on the instructions of a jockey, either due to injury or distance behind others. When viewing the form, it is represented by a P, for example: 252P13.

Penalty

After winning a race, a horse may be given a penalty, which will see its weight increase.

Photo Finish

A method of calling a winner when the horses are too close for the naked eye to see clearly.

Placed

Usually, when a horse is within the first three past the line, they have placed, though bigger fields may have more places available, and the same with smaller fields and fewer places.

Precocious

A rare term, but one used when a horse looks much better than its age would suggest.

Prominent

When a horse is in a good position near the lead, they are referred to as prominent.

Rag

An outsider in the race.

Ran Out - RO

When a horse runs outside of the track, disqualifying itself in the process. Referred to as RO.

Refused to Race - RR

When a horse does not start running in the race. Referred to as RR.

Rule 4 - R4

If a decently backed horse withdraws from a race after a bet is placed, the payout will be less with the decrease being higher the more fancied the withdrawn horse is.

Schooling

The term used to describe teaching a horse to race over jumps, if a horse 'schools well', it is a good sign.

Short Head - shd

Another term for how much a horse has finished ahead of another, referred to as a shd on a results card (Length: shd).

Silks

The colours worn by a jockey in a race, which represent the horse's owner.

Sire

The male parent of a horse.

Starting Price - SP

You may back a horse at the starting price, rather than the current price available, which is the average of the on-course bookmakers when the race starts.

Stallion

A male horse that has not been castrated and will be used for breeding.

Stewards Enquiry

After a race, the stewards may want to take a look at an incident in the race, which can result in the placings changing or even suspensions.

Steeplechasing

A horse race run over fences.

Thoroughbred

A type of horse specifically bred for horse racing.

Tongue Tie - t

Another aid which horses may wear to help breathing and to stop the tongue sliding. Represented by t on a race card.

First Time Tongue Tie

Once again, if a horse wears a tongue tie for the first time, this is easily identifiable with the symbol t1 seen.

Top Weight

Whichever horse is carrying the most weight in a race, and normally means they are the 'best' horse in said race at least from a handicapper's view.

Tote

A system that settles bets based on the dividends rather than odds, so to speak.

Trip

Another way of describing the distance of a race, 'X has run well previously over this trip'.

Unseated - U

When a jockey has fallen off the horse without the horse falling, it is known as unseating, which commonly occurs after taking a jump. Represented by a U on a form card.