48 horse racing terms defined, including and they’re off, furlong, maiden, exacta and photo finish, each in a single line.
Horse racing terminology reaches further than most sports, because it has to name the animal, the rider, the distance, the ground and the bet all at once. The words associated with horse racing that confuse newcomers are usually the breeding ones, and the words related to horse racing that sound like slang are usually betting terms. Every horse racing phrase used on this page is gathered in the horse racing glossary below.
Must-Know Horse Racing Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Blinkers
- Colt
- Dam
- Furlong
- Gait
- Handicap
- Infield
- Jockey
- Maiden
- Mare
- Neck
- Odds
- Paddock
- Post position
- Quarter pole
- Rail
- Saddle
- Silks
- Stakes
- Stud
- Tote board
- Track
- Trifecta
- Whip
- Win
- Yearling
- Breakaway
- Claiming race
- Daily double
- Harness racing
Horse Racing Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Also-ran | A horse that finished outside the placings and out of the money. |
| And they're off | The call as the starting gate opens. It is the standard two word phrase for the moment a horse race begins. |
| Blinkers | A hood with cups beside the eyes that narrows a horse's vision so it stays on the job in front of it. |
| Breakaway | In harness racing, a horse breaking from its required gait into a gallop. It must be corrected or the horse risks disqualification. |
| Claiming race | A race in which every runner can be bought for a set price before the start, which keeps the field evenly matched. |
| Closer | A horse that settles at the back early and finishes hard down the stretch. The opposite of a front-runner. |
| Colt | A young male horse under five years old. |
| Daily double | A bet on the winners of two consecutive races, struck before the first of them. |
| Dam | The mother of a horse. The sire is the father. |
| Exacta | A bet on the first two finishers in the exact order. The trifecta extends it to three. |
| Filly | A young female horse under five years old. From five she is a mare. |
| Front-runner | A horse that goes straight to the lead and tries to hold it all the way home. |
| Furlong | One eighth of a mile, or 220 yards. Race distances are still quoted in furlongs. |
| Gait | The way a horse moves. Walk, trot, canter and gallop, with the gallop used in flat racing. |
| Gelding | A male horse that has been castrated. Geldings race but cannot be bred from. |
| Going | The condition of the ground, from firm through good and soft to heavy. It can matter more than the form. |
| Handicap | A race in which the weights are assigned by an official according to past form, so that every runner theoretically has a chance. |
| Harness racing | Racing at the trot or the pace, with the driver seated in a light two-wheeled cart behind the horse. |
| Infield | The ground enclosed by the track oval, used for spectators and, at some courses, for the tote board. |
| Jockey | The professional rider. Jockeys carry a set weight and are licensed to ride in races. |
| Length | The standard unit for the gap between horses at the line, roughly the length of one horse's body. |
| Maiden | A horse that has never won a race. Maiden races are restricted to them. |
| Mare | A female horse aged five or over. |
| Margin | The distance between two horses at the finish, called in noses, heads, necks and lengths from smallest to largest. |
| Neck | A winning margin of about the length of a horse's neck. Closer than a length, wider than a head. |
| Odds | The price on a horse, which reflects how likely the market thinks it is to win. Short odds mean a strong favorite. |
| Owner | The person or syndicate that owns the horse and whose registered colors the jockey wears as silks. |
| Paddock | The enclosure where horses are saddled and paraded before the race, and where punters get their last look. |
| Photo finish | A finish too close to call by eye, decided from the finish line camera. |
| Post position | The numbered stall a horse starts from in the gate. An inside draw shortens the trip in a sprint. |
| Purse | The prize money a race carries, divided among the leading finishers. |
| Quarter pole | The marker showing a quarter of a mile left to run. It is where the real riding usually starts. |
| Rail | The inner boundary of the track, and the shortest way round. Getting stuck behind horses on the rail is the price of taking it. |
| Saddle | The lightweight seat strapped to the horse's back for the jockey. Racing saddles weigh almost nothing. |
| Scratch | The withdrawal of a horse from a race after entry but before the start. |
| Silks | The colored jacket and cap the jockey wears, registered to the horse's owner. |
| Sire | The father of a horse. A successful racehorse retired to breeding stands at stud as a sire. |
| Stakes | A higher class of race in which owners pay entry fees that swell the purse. |
| Steward | The racing official who enforces the rules, holds inquiries and decides on interference. |
| Stud | A male horse used for breeding, and also the farm where breeding takes place. |
| Thoroughbred | The breed used in flat and jump racing, developed for speed over distance. |
| Tote board | The display showing odds, betting pools, results and payouts. |
| Track | The course itself. Surfaces are dirt, turf or synthetic, and each rewards a different kind of horse. |
| Trainer | The person responsible for conditioning the horse, choosing its races and instructing the jockey. |
| Trifecta | A bet on the first three finishers in the exact order. |
| Whip | The padded stick a jockey carries. Its use is limited by strict rules on how often and where it may be applied. |
| Win | A bet on a horse to finish first. Place and show cover second and third. |
| Yearling | A horse in its second year, too young to race but old enough to be sold at the yearling sales. |
#1 Blinkers
A piece of horse tack that limits a horse’s range of vision to prevent distractions, allowing it to focus on the race. This gear is especially useful for horses that are prone to spooking or losing concentration.
#2 Colt
A young male horse under the age of five; once a colt turns five, he is referred to as a horse. In racing, colts are often considered for their potential as both racers and later as sires.
#3 Dam
The female parent of a horse. In breeding terms, the dam’s lineage is carefully considered as it significantly contributes to the traits and potential ability of the offspring.
#4 Furlong
A measure of distance in horse racing; one furlong equals 1/8th of a mile or 220 yards. Races are often described by the number of furlongs they cover, such as a ‘six-furlong sprint.’
#5 Gait
The manner or pace at which a horse moves, particularly when racing. Common gaits include the walk, trot, canter, and gallop, with the latter being the fastest and used in flat racing.
#6 Handicap
A race where horses carry different weights assigned by a handicapper, based on their past performances, to level the field. The theory is that all horses then have an equal chance of winning.
#7 Infield
The area within the racetrack’s oval, often used for spectator activities and viewing. In many racetracks, the infield is a popular location for picnics and social gatherings during races, providing a unique vantage point of the competition.
#8 Jockey
A professional rider trained to race horses, typically in thoroughbred horse racing. Jockeys are key figures in racing strategies, using their skills to guide and motivate the horse, manage speed and stamina, and navigate through the field to win races.
#9 Maiden
A term used for a horse that has never won a race. Maiden races are reserved for these horses to give them a chance to break their winless status against other non-winners.
#10 Mare
A female horse over the age of five. Before this age, she would be referred to as a filly. Mares often compete in races specific to their gender and can later become broodmares.
#11 Neck
A margin of victory or distance between horses in a race. One horse winning by a neck means it was a close race, with the victor only ahead by the length of its neck.
#12 Odds
The betting ratio that reflects the likelihood of a horse winning a race. Lower odds indicate a higher chance of winning, while higher odds suggest a less favored horse.
#13 Paddock
The area of a racetrack where horses are saddled and kept before the race. It’s a space for last-minute preparations and where spectators can view the horses up close.
#14 Post position
The starting spot of a horse in the gate. Post position can affect a horse’s strategy and chances; for example, an inside post can be advantageous in a short race.
#15 Quarter pole
A marker on the racetrack indicating one quarter of a mile is left to the finish line. It’s a critical point where jockeys begin their final push.
#16 Rail
The innermost boundary of the racetrack, closest to the infield. Being on the rail is often considered advantageous in horse racing because it represents the shortest path around the track. However, it requires skillful navigation by the jockey to maintain position and avoid being boxed in by other competitors.
#17 Saddle
A piece of equipment placed on a horse’s back to provide the jockey with a secure seat during the race. It is lightweight and designed to not impede the horse’s performance.
#18 Silks
The brightly colored and patterned jacket and cap worn by jockeys to distinguish themselves and the horse’s owner. Each set of silks is unique and registered to the owner.
#19 Stakes
A term used for races where the owners of the participating horses contribute to the prize pool by paying an entry fee. Stakes races are typically high-level competitions with larger purses.
#20 Stud
Refers to a male horse used for breeding purposes. A successful racehorse may retire to become a stud, producing offspring that can inherit their speed and ability.
#21 Tote board
The large digital or electronic display board found at racetracks that shows information such as betting odds, race results, and payouts to bettors.
#22 Track
The oval course where horse races are run. Tracks can have different surfaces, like dirt, turf, or synthetic materials, each affecting the race differently.
#23 Trifecta
A type of bet where the bettor must predict the first, second, and third place finishers of a race in the exact order. It’s a high-risk, high-reward wager that can yield substantial payouts.
#24 Whip
An essential tool in horse racing, a whip is carried by jockeys during races to encourage horses to run faster toward the finish line. Its use is controversial and subject to strict regulations to prevent animal abuse.
#25 Win
In horse racing, a win bet is the most straightforward wager where the bettor picks a single horse to finish first in the race. It offers higher payouts than place or show bets but with greater risk.
#26 Yearling
A yearling is a young horse between one and two years old, not yet old enough to race. At this age, they often enter training and may be sold at yearling auctions for future racing prospects.
#27 Breakaway
In harness racing, a breakaway refers to a situation where a horse breaks its stride and starts to gallop, which is against the rules. Horses must quickly return to the approved gait or risk disqualification.
#28 Claiming race
A claiming race is a type of horse race where all the horses running can be purchased (claimed) for a set price before the race begins. It’s a way to keep competition level by matching similarly valued horses.
#29 Daily double
A wager in horse racing where bettors must correctly pick the winners of two consecutive races, typically the first two of the day. It’s a popular betting type for its potentially higher payouts from a single stake.
#30 Harness racing
A type of horse racing where horses race at a specific gait, either trotting or pacing. Harness racing emphasizes the endurance and speed of the horse at a controlled gait, and the skill of the driver in managing the race strategy.
FAQ
What is the phrase used when a horse race begins?
“And they’re off!” It is the two word phrase the track announcer uses the moment the starting gate opens, and it has become the standard way of saying that any contest has started.
What are first, second and third called in horse racing?
Win, place and show. A win bet needs the horse to finish first, a place bet covers first or second, and a show bet covers first, second or third. Naming all three in the exact order is a trifecta.
What do you call the owner of a race horse?
The owner. The owner registers a set of racing colors, and those colors are the silks the jockey wears, which is how the crowd tells the runners apart. The person who conditions the horse is the trainer, not the owner.
What does margin mean in horse racing?
The margin is the gap between two horses at the finish. From smallest to largest it is called a nose, a head, a neck and then a number of lengths, a length being roughly the body length of one horse.
What is a horse that comes from behind to win called?
A closer, or a come from behind runner. Closers settle at the back of the field early and finish hard in the stretch, which is the opposite of a front-runner that leads from the gate.
What is a gelding in horse racing?
A gelding is a male horse that has been castrated. Geldings race like any other horse but cannot be retired to stud, so their careers on the track tend to be longer.
What are some words associated with horse racing?
The horses (colt, filly, mare, gelding, maiden, thoroughbred), the people (jockey, trainer, owner, steward), the track (furlong, rail, paddock, quarter pole, going) and the betting (odds, win, place, show, exacta, trifecta). The horse racing glossary above puts them in one list.
What are some Horse Racing terms for beginners?
“Blinkers,” “Furlong,” and “Maiden” are some Horse Racing terms beginners should start with. These terms help understand equipment, distance, and the experience level of horses in races.
What are some funny Horse Racing terms?
“Neck,” “Dam,” and “Stud” are some funny Horse Racing terms that can elicit a chuckle with their double entendres, reflecting the playful jargon used within the racing community.
What is a famous Horse Racing phrase?
“And they’re off!” is a famous Horse Racing phrase, heralding the start of the race and signaling the excitement and anticipation of the contest ahead.
