Horse Racing Terminology

Terminology	Description
Accumulator	A bet on several consecutive races, which uses the winnings from the previous race as stakes for the next.
Allowance	A horse carrying an inexperienced rider is given a weight concession to even its chances.
All-Weather	Term for the artificial surface tracks, which can be raced on in all weather conditions.
Ante-Post	Placing a bet in the days/weeks/months before the actual race day.
Banker	A bet which is considered a very sure thing.
Betting Ring	Part of the paved area in front of the Grand Stand, which is where the bookmakers operate. Also referred to as Jungle.
Board Prices	Currently available odds displayed on the boards of the on-course bookmakers; the Starting Price is derived from the board prices.
Bottle	Bookmakers' term for 2/1 odds.
Bumper	Informal term for a flat race run by young jump horses to help them gain experience.
Carpet	Bookmakers' term for 3/1 odds; a Double Carpet means 33/1 odds.
Co-favourit	Horse sharings its position on top of the favourites' list with at least two other horses.
Connections	Normally refers to the owner and trainer of a horse, but can encompass everyone involved with the horse's business.
Course Specialist	A horse familiar with the track and a good history of running at this particular track.
Cockle	Bookmakers' term for 10/1 odds.
Draw	Regarding a horse's place in the starting stalls, as the stall numbers are drawn at random.
Drift	Increase of the odds on a certain horse, due to lack of supporting bets for the horse.
Even Money	A stake bringing equal winnings, 1/1.
Furlong	1/8th of a mile, 220 yards.
Fiddling Its Fences	A horse clearing the obstacles at a jump race, however not very neatly.
Gelding	A male, castrated horse.
Going	Refers to the condition of the race course - heavy, soft, good to soft, good, good to firm, firm going.
Green	An inexperienced horse.
Hand	Measurement for a horse's height. One hand = four inches.
Handicap	A race in which every horse has to carry an individually specified amount of weight in order to give every horse in the race an equal chance to win (stronger horse - more weight, etc).
Joint Favourite	Two horses on even terms concerning chances.
Jolly	The favourite in a race.
Juvenile	Two-year-old horse.
Listed	A race below group standard (elite events) but above handicap and conditions races (oped for all).
Maiden	A horse who has not yet won a race.
Monkey	£500.
National Hunt	Traditional name for Jump Races.
No Offers	A bookmaker refusing to offer bets on a certain horse.
Nursery	A handicap race for two-year-olds.
Objection	One jockey complaining against another.
Odds On	Odds which leave the win lower than the stake, i.e. 4/9.
Open Ditch	Jump Race obstacle with a ditch on the take-off side.
Parade Ring	Area of the paddock in which the horses are paraded before the race for viewing by bettors and spectators.
Penalty	Added weight to the handicap weight of a horse.
Ping	A quick and neat jump over an obstacle.
Photo Finish	A race so close it has to be judged on the photograph on the winning moment.
Plate	Racing horse shoes.
Pony	£25.
Racecard	Program of the day's races.
Schooled	A horse trained for jump races.
Scope	A horse's potential.
Spread a Plate	A horse losing a shoe during the race.
Starting Price	An estimate of odds available at the race start.
Tic-Tac	System of hand signals/sign language used by the bookmakers to converse.
Walkover	A race involving only one horse and jockey.

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