Horse Racing Betting Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H
I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P
Q | R | S | T | U | V | W
X | Y | Z
F
Filly | A female horse, age three or under. |
First-Over | A horse racing on the outside without another horse directly in front of him or her. A foreshortening of the phrase first overland. |
Foal | A newly-born horse. (Noun) The act of giving birth. (Verb) |
Furlong | One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards. Races are measured in furlongs. |
G
Gelding | A castrated animal. |
Going | The condition of the racecourse (firm, heavy, soft, etc.). Official Jockey Club going reports progress as follows: Heavy - soft - good to soft - good - good to firm - firm. |
Green Horse | A horse that has not raced, or has raced only a few times. |
H
Handicap | A 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. |
Hand | Four inches. A horse's height is measured in hands and inches from the top of the shoulder (withers) to the ground, e.g., 15.2 hands is 15 hands, 2 inches. Thoroughbreds typically range from 15 to 17 hands. |
Horse | A male horse, age four and up. |
I
Inquiry | Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on the tote board on such occasions. If lodged by a jockey, it is called an objection. |
In the Money | Describes the horses in a race that finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd (and sometimes 4th) or the horses on which money will be paid to bettors, depending on the place terms. |
J
Judge | The official who declares the placing for each race. |
Juvenile | A two-year-old horse. |
L
Length | A measurement approximating the length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet, used to denote distance between horses in a race. |
Long Odds | Odds which are greater than 10:1. |
M
Maiden | A horse (male or female) who has never won a racing purse. |
Mare | A female horse, age four and up. |
Matinee | A program of racing conducted during the daylight hours. |
Morning Line | Approximate odds printed in the program and posted before wagering begins. This is a forecast of how the morning line maker believes wagering will occur in a particular race. |
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