Horse Racing Terms: Your A-Z Horse Racing Terminology Guide

Whether you are looking to cash in on this lucky 15 bet or that pick 4 bet, there are plenty of options when it comes to betting on the races. In fact, the world of horse racing itself can be a pretty overwhelming place if you’re not ‘down with the lingo’. Fear not! Here we take you through your paces with our guide horse racing terms: your A-Z horse racing terminology guide.

All-weather -There are a number of all-weather tracks in the UK including those in Wolverhampton and Southwell. These are usually used in flat racing and are made of a special sand. These courses stage races throughout the autumn and summer seasons.

Bridle – This is the equipment that is placed around the horse’s head in order to allow the jockey to control it.

Bleeder – A horse that has a tendency to burst blood vessels when racing.

Backward – A horse too young or declared unfully fit to race.

Cockle – An informal bookmaking term referring to odds of 10-1.

Chaser – When a horse’s path or run is blocked by another horse.

Clerk of the Scales – The person at the race course whose job it is to weigh the riders before a race.

Double carpet – A booking making term referring to the odds of 33-1.

Entire horse – Term used to refer to an ungelded horse.

Exacta – A bet that relies on picking the first and second placed finishers in a race and in the correct order.

Fixture – A race meeting.

Fancied – When a horse is expected to finish in one of the top winning positions of a race.

Filly – A female horse aged four years or younger.

Gallop – The top gait for a horse, and the speed at which they race.

Gates – The front section of the starting stalls from which horses are released at the start of a race.

Hacked up – Describes an occasion on which a horse won easily.

Home straight – The length of straight track after the final bend in a course.

In running – This term refers to events that take place during a race.

Juvenile – A horse that is two years of age.

Judge – This is the official at the race course who is in charge of declaring the finish order at the end of a race.

Longshot – A horse with high odds.

Mare – A female horse aged five years or older.

Minimum trip – The shortest race distance: five furlongs in flat racing and two miles over jumps.

Neck – Unit of measurement used in a race finish.

Outsider – A long-priced horse that is seen to have little chance of winning a race.

Racecard – The programme of racing on each day.

Stayer – A horse that specialises in racing over long distances.

Turn of foot – This refers to a horse’s ability to sprint at the end of a race.

Weight cloth – A cloth with pockets that is placed on the horse to ensure that it carries the correct amount of weight.

Yearling – The term used to refer to a young horse in the first year of its life.