Racebook Glossary

Acceptor:
A runner officially listed to start in a race.
Accumulator (Also, Parlay):
A multiple bet.
Across the Board:
(see place) a bet on a horse to win, place or show. Three wagers combined in one. If the horse wins, the player wins all three wagers, if second, two, and if third, one.
Ajax:
UK slang term for "betting tax".
All Out:
A horse who is trying to the best of his abilities.
All Weather Racing:
Racing that takes place on an artificial surface.
Ante Post
(Also, Futures)
Arbitrage:
Where a variation in odds available allows a punter to back both sides and guarantee a win.
ART
Artificial Turf.
ATS:
Against the Spread.
AWT:
All Weather track.

TOP

Baby Race:
A race for 2-year-olds.
Back:
To bet or wager
Backed:
A "backed" horse is one on which a lot of bets have been placed.
Backstretch:
Straight of far side of track between the turns. Also "Stable Area".
Bearing in (or out):
Deviating from a straight course.
Bet:
A transaction in which monies are deposited or guaranteed.
Betting Ring:
The main area at a racecourse where the bookmakers operate.
Betting Tax:
Tax on a Bookmaker's turnover. In the UK this is a "Duty" levied on every Pound wagered. Common methods of recouping this by the punter are to deduct tax from returns (winnings) or to pay tax with the stake/wager. In the latter case, no tax is deducted from the punter's winnings.
Bismarck:
A favorite which the bookmakers do not expect to win.
Blanket Finish:
Horses finishing so closely together they could be covered by a blanket.
Blind Bet:
A bet made by a racetrack bookmaker on another horse to divert other bookmakers' attention away from his sizeable betting on his/her horse thus to avoid a shortening of the odds on the main horse.
Blowout:
a short, final workout, usually a day or two before a race.
Board:
Totalisator board on which odds, betting pools and other information is displayed.
Bolt:
Sudden veering from a straight course.
Bottle:
UK slang, odds of 2 to 1.
Box:
A wagering term denoting a combination bet whereby all possible numeric combinations are covered.
Breakage:
In pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel of dime, those pennies that are left over. Breakage is generally split between the track and state and in some cases, breeding or other funds, in varying proportions.
Breakdown:
When a horse suffers an injury; lameness.
Break Maiden:
Horse or rider winning first race of a career.
Breeze:
Working a horse at a moderate speed; less effort than handily.
Buck:
A bet of US $100 (also known as a "dollar bet").
Bug:
Apprentice rider.
Bullet (Work):
The best time for the distance on a given day at a track.
Bull Ring:
Small racetrack; usually less than one mile.
Buy Price:
In spread or index betting, the higher figure quoted by an Index Bookmaker.
Buy the Rack (US):
Purchase every possible daily-double or other combination ticket.

TOP

Canadian (Also known as a Super Yankee):
A Canadian is a combination bet consisting of 26 bets with 5 selections in different events. The combination bet is made up of 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five 4-folds and one 5-fold.
Card:
Another term for fixture or race meeting.
Chalk:
Wagering favorite in a race. Dates from the days when on-track bookmakers would write current odds on a chalkboard.
Chalk Player:
Bettor who wagers on favorites.
Checked:
A horse pulled up by his jockey.
Chute:
An extension of the backstretch or homestretch.
Classic:
Race of traditional importance.
Closer:
A horse who runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace.
Clubhouse Turn:
Generally, the turn closest to the clubhouse.
Co-favorites:
Where three or more competitors share the status as favorite.
Colt:
Male horse under 5 years of age.
Condition Book:
Book issued by racing secretary which sets the conditions of races to be run.
Coupled:
Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit.
Cuppy (Track):
A surface which breaks away under a horse's hoof.
Cushion:
Surface of track or a layer of the track.

TOP

Daily Double:
Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second. See "late double"
Daily Triple or Pick Three:
A wager where the bettor must select the winner of three consecutive races.
Daily Racing Form:
A daily newspaper containing racing information including news, past performance data and handicapping.
Dead Heat:
A tie. Two or more horses finishing equal in a race.
Dead Track:
Racing surface lacking resiliency.
Declared:
In the US, a horse withdrawn from a stakes race in advance of scratch time. In Europe, a horse confirmed to start in a race.
Derby:
A stakes event for three-year-olds.
Dime:
US term for a bet of $1000.
Disqualification:
Change of order of finish by officials for an infraction of the rules.
Distanced:
Well beaten, finishing a great distance behind the winner.
Double:
Selecting the winners in two specific races.
DQ:
Disqualified.
Drift (Also, Ease):
Odds that "lengthen", are said to have drifted, or be "On The Drift".
Driving:
Strong urging by rider.
Dropdown:
A horse facing a lower class of rivals than he had been running against.

TOP

Each Way:
UK term for betting on a horse to win and/or "Place". An each way bet is when you have the same amount on the horse for a win and for a place. Bookmakers will give you one quarter of the win odds for a place in fields of eight or more and one third of the win odds in fields of six or seven horses.
Each Way Double:
Two separate best of a win double and a place double.
Each Way Single:
Two bets. The first is for the selection to win; the second for it to be placed (each way).
Eclipse Award:
Thoroughbred racing's year-end awards, honoring the top horses in 11 separate categories.
Eased:
Chart caller's assessment of a horse that is being deliberately slowed by the jockey to prevent injury or harm to the horse.
Easily:
Running or winning without being pressed by rider or opposition.
Eighth:
A furlong; 220 yards; 660 feet, 1/8th of a mile.
Eligible:
Qualified to start in a race, according to conditions.
Equivalent Odds:
Mutual price horses pay for each $1 bet.
Even Money Bet (or Evens):
A 1:1 bet. A $10.
Exacta (Also, Perfecta):
A wager that picks the first two finishers in a race in the exact order of finish.
Exacta Box:
A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are covered.
Exotic (wager):
Any wager other than win, place or show.
Extended:
Forced to run at top speed.

TOP

False Favorite:
A horse who is bet down to favoritism when others would appear to outclass him on form.
Fast Track:
Footing at its best; Dry, fast, and even.
Favorite:
The most popular horse in a race, which is quoted at the lowest odds because it is deemed to have the best chance of winning the race.
Field:
1. All the runners in a race. 2. Some sportsbooks or bookmakers may well group all the outsiders in a competition under the banner headline of "field" and put it head to head with the favorite. This is known as favorite vs the field betting and is common in horse and golf betting.
Filly:
A female horse up to and including the age of 4.
Fixed Odds:
Your dividend is fixed at the odds when you placed your bet.
Foal:
Newly born Thoroughbred, or until weaned. Male or Female.
Four Furlongs:
half a mile; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
Front Runner:
A horse who usually leads (or tries to lead) the field.
Futures (also, ante post):
Bets placed in advance predicting the outcome of a furture event.
Furlong:
One-eighth of a mile; 220 yards; 660 feet.

TOP

Gait:
The ways in which a horse can move-walk, trot, canter, gallop, run, ect.
Gallop:
A type of gait, a fast canter. Also, to ride a horse at that gait.
Gate:
The starting mechanism.
Gelding:
An incomplete male horse.
Graduate:
Winning at a class and moving up.

TOP

Half:
half a mile, four furlongs; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
Hand:
Four inches. Unit used in measuring height of a horse from a withers to ground.
Handicapper:
The official who decides the weights to be carried in handicap events, and the grading of horses and greyhounds.
Handily:
Working on racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing.
Handle:
Amount of money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool on a race, a program, a meeting or a year.
Hand Ride:
A jockey urging a horse with the hands and not using the whip.
Head:
A margin between the horses. One horse leading another by the length of his head.
Head of the Stretch:
Beginning of the stretch run home.
Hung:
A horse tiring, but holding position.

TOP

In the Money:
Finishing first, second or third.

TOP

Jog:
Slow, easy gait.
Jumper:
Steeplechase or hurdle horse.
Juvenile:
A two-year-old horse.

TOP

Key Horse
The main expected winning horse used in multiple combinations in an exotic wager.

TOP

Late Double:
A second daily double offered during the latter part of the program. See "daily double" above.
Length:
Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet. Also distance between horses in a race.
Lock (as in banker):
US term for an almost certain winner. Easy winner.

TOP

Maiden:
A horse who has not won a race. Also applied to a non-winning rider.
Mare:
Female horse five-years-old or older.
Morning Line:
Approximate odds quoted before wagering begins.
Mutual Pool:
Short for "Pari-mutuel Pool". Sum of the wagers on a race or event, such as the win pool, daily double pool, exacta pool, ect.
Mudder:
A horse who races well on muddy tracks.
Neck:
Unit of measurement about the length of a horse's neck.
Nose:
Smallest advantage a horse can win by.

TOP

Objection:
Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official after the running of a race. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry.
Odds:
The figure of fraction by which a bookmaker or totalisator offers to multiply a bettor's stake, which the bettor is entitled to receive (plus his or her own stake) if their selection wins.
Oddsmaker:
A person who sets the betting odds. (Sportsbooks or Bookies don't set the odds. Most major sportsbooks use odds set by Las Vegas oddsmakers.)
Official:
Sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official.
Off-track Betting (OTB):
Wagering at legalized betting outlets.
On the Board:
Finishing among the first four.
Overlay:
A horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances.
Overnight Line:
Prices quoted the night before the race.

TOP

Pari-mutuel(s):
A form of wagering originated in 1865 by Frenchman Pierre Oller in which all money bet is divided up among those who have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made. Oller called his system "Parier Mutuel" meaning "Mutual Stake" or known as "Paris Mutuals", and soon after "Parimutuels".
Parlay:
(Also, Accumulator) A multiple bet. A kind of "let-it-ride" bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the parlay.
Part Wheel:
Using a key horse or horses in different, but not all possible, exotic wagering combinations.
Photo Finish:
A photo is automatically taken as the horse pass the winning line and when the race is too close to be judged the photo is used to determine the order of finish.
Pick Six (or more):
A type of wager in which the winners of all the included races must be selected.
Place:
Finish in the top two, top three, top four and sometimes also top five in a competition or event. A place bet will win if the selection you bet on is among those placed. Usually, a horse runs a place if it finishes in the first three in fields of eight or more horses. If there are only six or seven runners the horse must finish first or second to place. Different sportsbooks have different place terms and you should check their rules before placing a bet. (See "each way" UK.)
Placed Bet:
Wager on a horse to finish first or second.
Pocket:
Boxed in, shot off. Running in a position with horses in front and alongside.
Post Time:
Designated time for a race to start.
Pool (mutual pool):
Total sum wagered.
Price:
The odds.
Punter:
Better or investor.
Purse:
Prize money.

TOP

Quiniela (Quninella):
Wager in which the first two finishers must be picked in either order. Payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second. ("Reverse Forecast in the UK. See Wagers for Quiniela variants.)

TOP

Rabbit:
A horse that is considered to have little chance of winning a race but is entered purely to ensure a fast pace, softening up the competition for the benefit of the entry mate.
Racecard:
A program for the day's racing.
Rail Runner:
Horse who prefers to run next to inside rail.
Reserved:
Held off the pace.
Romp:
Running (or winning) with utmost ease.

TOP

Scratch:
To be taken out of a race before it starts. Trainers usually scratch horses due to adverse track conditions or a horse's adverse health. A veterinarian can scratch a horse at any time.
Show:
Third position at the finish.
Show Bet:
Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better.
Solid Horse:
Contender.
Sophomore:
Three-year-old horse.
Sportsbook:
The person, shop or website who accepts bets.
Sprint:
Short race, less than one mile.
Stud:
Male horse used for breeding.
Superfecta:
A bet placed on four horses to cross the finish line in exact chosen order.

TOP

Take (or Takeout):
A commission deducted from pari-mutuel pools.
Thoroughbred:
A thoroughbred is a horse whose parentage traces back to any of the three "funding sires" the Darley Arabian, The Jockey Club and is registered in "The American Stud Book" or in a foreign stud book recognized by The Jockey Club and the International Stud Book Committee. Any horse, no matter what its parentage, is not considered a Thoroughbred for racing and/or breeding purposes.
Ticket:
The betting slip or ticket which is received by the better from the bookmaker or totalisator, as proof his or her wager. The ticket is necessary to collect the dividends.
Tote Board:
The (usually) electronic totalizator display in the infield which reflects up-to-the-minute odds. It may also show the amounts wagered in each mutual pool as well as information such as jockey and equipment changes, ect. Also known as the "board".
Tout:
One who gives tips on racehorses.
Trifecta:
A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order. Called a "Triactor" in Canada and a "Triple" in some parts of the US (tricast in the UK.)
Trifecta Box:
A trifecta wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are bet upon. The total number of combinations can be calculated according to the formula (x3)-(3x2)+(2x), where x equals the amount of horses in the box. The sum of the formula is then multiplied by the amount wagered on each combination.
Triple:
(also Treble) See "Trifecta" above.
Triple Crown:
The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
Trotting:
A term for harness racing in general. It also describes the specific gait of a trotter.

TOP

Underlay:
A horse racing at shorter odds than seems warranted by its past performances.
Under Starters Orders:
The starting of a race.
Untried:
Not raced.

TOP

Value:
Getting the best odds on a wager

TOP

Wager:
Another term for bet.
Walkover:
A race which scratches down to only one starter who merely gallops the required distance.
Washy:
A horse breaking out in a nervous sweat.
Weaning:
A foal that is less than 1 year-old that has been separated from its dam.
Wheel:
Betting all possible combinations in an exotic wager using at least one horse as the key. See "Part Wheel".
Win:
The finish line of a race.
Win Bet:
Wager on a horse to finish first.
Winner-Takes-All:
A winner receiving all the purse or stake.
Wire:
The finish line of a race.

TOP

Yearling:
A horse in its second calendar year of life, beginning January 1 of the year following its birth.
Yielding:
Condition of a turf course with a great deal of moisture. Horses sink into it noticeably.

TOP