The offshore internet horse racing world has opened the entire universe of gambling to Americans without the inclination or ability to get to Las Vegas, Atlantic City or any of the riverboat and Indian casinos, which are becoming ubiquitous across the national landscape. However, only one game offers the ability to bet a little and win a lot - horse racing.
A simple $2 wager could net hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. The only limit is that imposed by various wagering sites and most are quite generous, Better yet, racing is the only game where intellectual prowess is a factor but not essential to success.
Alas, many potential players are intimidated by what seems to be the game's complexities. Trying to decipher a Daily Racing Form or past performance program for the first time can be a vexing exercise. But with just an elementary understanding of what each of the categories and symbols signify, the game can become an exciting, challenging, rewarding experience for even those who haven't been near a horse since their parents had their picture taken on a pony at a fifth birthday party.
Everyone has heard the stories of how somebody's grandmother bet her grandchildren's birthdays and made a bundle. These stories are not necessarily apocryphal. Something every beginner should keep in mind is that the so-called experts, the people "who know someone who knows someone," are proven wrong more than twice as much as they are right. The favorites, the horses with the most money bet on them, because they are thought to have the best chance to win, win fewer than one in three races. These statistics are amazingly constant, year after year. So there's no reason why someone of limited expertise should feel he doesn't have a chance to win. Still, as with any game, the more you understand the nuances, the more fun it is. With that in mind, allow us to introduce you to the wonderful world of racing.
The most important factor to grasp is that you are not playing "to bring home the track." The track doesn't care who wins; it merely serves as the conduit between gamblers of different opinions. Under the pari-mutuel form of wagering, players are competing against each other. The track's profit comes from the 20 percent or so it takes out of every dollar wagered before
divvying up what is left among the winners. (Internet sites actually "book" the bets themselves but since they pay off at track prices, this isn't important to players.)
Racing is like fantasy baseball and football. You use the past to speculate on the future. Only you don't have to wait months for a result. Racing offers payoffs every few minutes.
The bedrock of racing is straight win wagering. You bet a horse, it wins, you get paid. Sub-categories of win betting are place and show. Place betting means you are wagering that your horse will finish at least second; show means third. This is where some newcomers get confused. If you bet place, you get paid if your horse finishes first or second. If you bet show first, second or third. Every year millions of dollars in winning tickets are discarded by novices, who think because they bet a horse to place and it wins, they lose. The same goes for show bettors, whose horse finishes first or second.
Your first racing tip: pretend as if place and show doesn't exist. Because the wagering pool is split between two or three entities, the payoffs are generally so slim, you have to be right an extraordinarily high percentage of the time just to stay close to even. Anyone who is going to bet place or show on a routine basis is probably better off betting red or black at a roulette table. The payoff there, at least, is even-money, which it often isn't in the place and show holes. Even longshots as high as 20-1 or 30-1 return only a few bucks in the show position if one or two of the heavily bet favorites also finish in the money.
More lucrative, yet achievable, payoffs come in the exacta, quiniela and daily double pools. Exactas require you pick the first two finishers in exact order. Quinelas ask that you only pick the first two in either order. For this reason, exactas pay about twice as much. However, the number of entrants is an important variable. In a 10-horse field, there are 90 potential exactas. One of the 10 has to win and one of the nine others has to be second. With only two fewer entries, the possible exactas decline almost in half to 56 (eight times seven).
This is reflected in the payoffs. On a recent afternoon at Gulfstream, a 2-1 shot beating a 4-1 shot in a five-horse field produced an exacta of $18.60. Earlier, in an eight-horse field, horses that went off at roughly the same odds paid $30.20 in the exacta. The key is to try and get the favorites out. In a later race, a 6-1 shot beat a 7-1 shot - both fairly logical contenders-and the payoff was $102.60. The same afternoon at Santa Anita a 9-1 shot on top of a 4-1 shot returned $131.40.
The daily double demands picking the winners of consecutive races. This used to be offered only on the first and last two races on the card but now some tracks have rolling doubles covering the entire program. A trifecta ratchets up the degree of difficulty from exactas, as you must pick the one-two-three finishes in precise order. The rewards are commensurate, although field size is again a factor. By placing a very playable 8-1 shot behind the 2-1 and 4-1 shots in the eight-horse field, a winning trifecta player collected in excess of $164 for $2. (Try doing that at a blackjack table.) But with a 9-1 shot third in the five-horse field, the payoff was only $85.
A more enjoyable bet for those who want to shoot for the moon is the Pick 3, which demands the winners of three consecutive races. Provided there is no overwhelming favorite on your ticket, the payoffs are almost always three figures, sometimes well into that range and beyond. Race tracks also offer super multiple bets for rainbow chasers, such as the superfecta (the first four finishers in order), Pick 4 (four straight winners) and Pick 6. The payoffs are almost always well into the thousands, sometime hundreds of thousands, but anyone who thinks they are going to hit one of these on a small investment is dreaming. They are basically for well-heeled players or syndicates willing to invest hundreds of dollars in multiple combinations. Because the payoffs are so high, most cyber gambling sites, do not even handle these bets.
Now that you have a primer on how to bet, here are some helpful hints on the types of horses to bet. Races are divided into four basic categories, with sub-sections for each. Maiden races are for horses, who have never won. Claiming races are essentially horse sales. Anyone in the field can be claimed (or purchased) for whatever the listed claiming price, which appears in the Form and on the program, is. Theoretically, this helps keep fields evenly matched by preventing an owner from entering a horse worth $100,000 against horses worth only $10,000. The price for which he is entered also helps establish a horse's "class," as it relates to others in the field. Allowance races are for horses considered too valuable by their owners to be risked in a claiming race. Theoretically, these horses are better than claimers. However, horses, who have competed well in higher-range claiming races - those for $25,000 or more - often fare well in these races. Most allowance races follow a logical pattern. After a horse breaks its maiden, it competes in races against other horses whose only victory was against non-winners.
The next step would be against allowance horses who have won only once (then twice, then three times) since breaking their maiden. The eventual goal of allowance horses are the most prestigious races, stakes. They got their name because the owner has to put up a stake - from $1,000 on up - to enter his horse. Lesser caliber races have no entry fee. Newcomers will eventually pick up on the differences between the various categories.
In the meantime, there are shortcuts, which still give novices a chance to win. The Racing Form includes with each horse's form his "Beyer" fig, a speed rating invented by Washington Post racing writer Andrew Beyer. By comparing a horse's "fig" against his rivals, you can get a fair idea how competitive he should be. A trap to avoid is merely picking the horse with the highest last race "fig." These horses are almost always over-bet and they rarely run the same way twice. This is especially true of a horse that has run the biggest fig of his life. Nine times out of ten, they will fail to reproduce that number. It's more useful to evaluate the last three or four "figs," to get a true picture of a horse's ability. The payoffs also will be better.
Other useful tools in the Racing Form or program are the winning percentages of the jockey and trainer. As a general rule, trainers or jockeys with winning percentages below 10 should be regarded warily. Those whose winning percentage is less than five should be avoided. They will sometimes win but most probably it will be in a very cheap race loaded with other low percentage trainers and jockeys. First-time bettors, who want to take the lazy approach, could do worse than combining the winning percentage of the trainer and rider, then backing the combination or combinations that come out highest. Or you can just bet your children's ages.
http://www.racing411.com/free-horse-racing-tips.shtml
A simple $2 wager could net hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. The only limit is that imposed by various wagering sites and most are quite generous, Better yet, racing is the only game where intellectual prowess is a factor but not essential to success.
Alas, many potential players are intimidated by what seems to be the game's complexities. Trying to decipher a Daily Racing Form or past performance program for the first time can be a vexing exercise. But with just an elementary understanding of what each of the categories and symbols signify, the game can become an exciting, challenging, rewarding experience for even those who haven't been near a horse since their parents had their picture taken on a pony at a fifth birthday party.
Everyone has heard the stories of how somebody's grandmother bet her grandchildren's birthdays and made a bundle. These stories are not necessarily apocryphal. Something every beginner should keep in mind is that the so-called experts, the people "who know someone who knows someone," are proven wrong more than twice as much as they are right. The favorites, the horses with the most money bet on them, because they are thought to have the best chance to win, win fewer than one in three races. These statistics are amazingly constant, year after year. So there's no reason why someone of limited expertise should feel he doesn't have a chance to win. Still, as with any game, the more you understand the nuances, the more fun it is. With that in mind, allow us to introduce you to the wonderful world of racing.
The most important factor to grasp is that you are not playing "to bring home the track." The track doesn't care who wins; it merely serves as the conduit between gamblers of different opinions. Under the pari-mutuel form of wagering, players are competing against each other. The track's profit comes from the 20 percent or so it takes out of every dollar wagered before
divvying up what is left among the winners. (Internet sites actually "book" the bets themselves but since they pay off at track prices, this isn't important to players.)
Racing is like fantasy baseball and football. You use the past to speculate on the future. Only you don't have to wait months for a result. Racing offers payoffs every few minutes.
The bedrock of racing is straight win wagering. You bet a horse, it wins, you get paid. Sub-categories of win betting are place and show. Place betting means you are wagering that your horse will finish at least second; show means third. This is where some newcomers get confused. If you bet place, you get paid if your horse finishes first or second. If you bet show first, second or third. Every year millions of dollars in winning tickets are discarded by novices, who think because they bet a horse to place and it wins, they lose. The same goes for show bettors, whose horse finishes first or second.
Your first racing tip: pretend as if place and show doesn't exist. Because the wagering pool is split between two or three entities, the payoffs are generally so slim, you have to be right an extraordinarily high percentage of the time just to stay close to even. Anyone who is going to bet place or show on a routine basis is probably better off betting red or black at a roulette table. The payoff there, at least, is even-money, which it often isn't in the place and show holes. Even longshots as high as 20-1 or 30-1 return only a few bucks in the show position if one or two of the heavily bet favorites also finish in the money.
More lucrative, yet achievable, payoffs come in the exacta, quiniela and daily double pools. Exactas require you pick the first two finishers in exact order. Quinelas ask that you only pick the first two in either order. For this reason, exactas pay about twice as much. However, the number of entrants is an important variable. In a 10-horse field, there are 90 potential exactas. One of the 10 has to win and one of the nine others has to be second. With only two fewer entries, the possible exactas decline almost in half to 56 (eight times seven).
This is reflected in the payoffs. On a recent afternoon at Gulfstream, a 2-1 shot beating a 4-1 shot in a five-horse field produced an exacta of $18.60. Earlier, in an eight-horse field, horses that went off at roughly the same odds paid $30.20 in the exacta. The key is to try and get the favorites out. In a later race, a 6-1 shot beat a 7-1 shot - both fairly logical contenders-and the payoff was $102.60. The same afternoon at Santa Anita a 9-1 shot on top of a 4-1 shot returned $131.40.
The daily double demands picking the winners of consecutive races. This used to be offered only on the first and last two races on the card but now some tracks have rolling doubles covering the entire program. A trifecta ratchets up the degree of difficulty from exactas, as you must pick the one-two-three finishes in precise order. The rewards are commensurate, although field size is again a factor. By placing a very playable 8-1 shot behind the 2-1 and 4-1 shots in the eight-horse field, a winning trifecta player collected in excess of $164 for $2. (Try doing that at a blackjack table.) But with a 9-1 shot third in the five-horse field, the payoff was only $85.
A more enjoyable bet for those who want to shoot for the moon is the Pick 3, which demands the winners of three consecutive races. Provided there is no overwhelming favorite on your ticket, the payoffs are almost always three figures, sometimes well into that range and beyond. Race tracks also offer super multiple bets for rainbow chasers, such as the superfecta (the first four finishers in order), Pick 4 (four straight winners) and Pick 6. The payoffs are almost always well into the thousands, sometime hundreds of thousands, but anyone who thinks they are going to hit one of these on a small investment is dreaming. They are basically for well-heeled players or syndicates willing to invest hundreds of dollars in multiple combinations. Because the payoffs are so high, most cyber gambling sites, do not even handle these bets.
Now that you have a primer on how to bet, here are some helpful hints on the types of horses to bet. Races are divided into four basic categories, with sub-sections for each. Maiden races are for horses, who have never won. Claiming races are essentially horse sales. Anyone in the field can be claimed (or purchased) for whatever the listed claiming price, which appears in the Form and on the program, is. Theoretically, this helps keep fields evenly matched by preventing an owner from entering a horse worth $100,000 against horses worth only $10,000. The price for which he is entered also helps establish a horse's "class," as it relates to others in the field. Allowance races are for horses considered too valuable by their owners to be risked in a claiming race. Theoretically, these horses are better than claimers. However, horses, who have competed well in higher-range claiming races - those for $25,000 or more - often fare well in these races. Most allowance races follow a logical pattern. After a horse breaks its maiden, it competes in races against other horses whose only victory was against non-winners.
The next step would be against allowance horses who have won only once (then twice, then three times) since breaking their maiden. The eventual goal of allowance horses are the most prestigious races, stakes. They got their name because the owner has to put up a stake - from $1,000 on up - to enter his horse. Lesser caliber races have no entry fee. Newcomers will eventually pick up on the differences between the various categories.
In the meantime, there are shortcuts, which still give novices a chance to win. The Racing Form includes with each horse's form his "Beyer" fig, a speed rating invented by Washington Post racing writer Andrew Beyer. By comparing a horse's "fig" against his rivals, you can get a fair idea how competitive he should be. A trap to avoid is merely picking the horse with the highest last race "fig." These horses are almost always over-bet and they rarely run the same way twice. This is especially true of a horse that has run the biggest fig of his life. Nine times out of ten, they will fail to reproduce that number. It's more useful to evaluate the last three or four "figs," to get a true picture of a horse's ability. The payoffs also will be better.
Other useful tools in the Racing Form or program are the winning percentages of the jockey and trainer. As a general rule, trainers or jockeys with winning percentages below 10 should be regarded warily. Those whose winning percentage is less than five should be avoided. They will sometimes win but most probably it will be in a very cheap race loaded with other low percentage trainers and jockeys. First-time bettors, who want to take the lazy approach, could do worse than combining the winning percentage of the trainer and rider, then backing the combination or combinations that come out highest. Or you can just bet your children's ages.
http://www.racing411.com/free-horse-racing-tips.shtml
ALL OUT: A horse who is trying to the best of his ability.
ALSO-ELIGIBLE: A horse entered in the race but who cannot start unless another horse is scratched.
ALSO-RAN: A horse who finishes out of the money.
ACROSS THE BOARD: A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets.
BACKSTRETCH: The straight way on the far side of the track.
BEARING IN (or OUT): Failing to maintain a straight course, veering to the left or right. Can be caused by injury, fatigue, outside distractions, or poor riding.
BLANKET FINISH: When the horses finish so close for the win you could theoretically put a single blanket across them.
BLINKERS: Equipment worn on the bridle to restrict a horse's vision on the sides to help maintain attention and avoid distractions.
BLOWOUT: A short fast workout, usually a day or two before a race, designed to sharpen a horse's speed.
BOARD: The tote board on which odds, betting pools and other race information is displayed.
BOBBLE: A bad step away from the starting gate, sometimes caused by the ground breaking away from under a horse and causing him to duck his head or go to his knees.
BOLT: Sudden veering from a straight course.
BREEZE: Working a horse at a moderate speed; less effort than handily.
BULLET WORK: The best workout time for the distance on a given day at a track.
BULL RING: Small racetrack less than one mile around.
BUTE: Phenylbutazone a commonly used analgesic for horses.
BREAKAGE: In pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or 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.
BABY RACE: A race for 2-year-olds.
CLAIMING RACE: A race where horses are entered for a specified price and can be claimed (purchased) from the race for that price. Claimers are horses who generally run only in claiming races.
CAULK: Projection on the bottom of a shoe to give the horse better traction, especially on a wet track.
CHECKED: A horse pulled up by his jockey for an instant because he is cut off or in tight quarters.
CHUTE: Extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run at the start.
CLOSER: A horse who runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace.
CLUBHOUSE TURN: Generally the turn immediately after the finish line and closest to the clubhouse.
COLORS: Racing silks, the jacket and cap worn by jockeys. Silks can be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner.
CLASSIC: A race for three-year-olds, such as a Derby or Oaks, that has a long standing tradition behind it. The American classics are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
CONDITIONED RACE: Eligibility to enter is determined by a set of conditions such as age, sex, races won, etc.
COUPLED: Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit.
CUPPY: A track surface which breaks away under a horse's hoof.
DAILY DOUBLE: Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second.
DERBY: A stakes race for three-year-old colts.
DISTAFF RACE: A race for fillies, mares, or both.
DEAD-HEAT: Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the finish.
DEAD TRACK: Racing surface lacking resiliency.
DISTANCED: Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner.
DOGS: Wooden barrier (or rubber traffic cones) placed a certain distance out from the inner rail, to protect the inner part of the track (usually the turf course) from traffic during workouts to save it for racing.
DRIVING: Strong urging by rider.
EASED: The jockey stops the horse during the race so he can't finish, usually due to an injury or equipment problem.
EASILY: Running or winning without being pressed by the jockey or opposition.
ENTRY: Two or more horses owned by the same stable or (in some cases) trained by the same trainer and running as a single betting unit.
EVENLY: Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race.
EXACTA (or PERFECTA): A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked.
EXTENDED: Forced to run at top speed.
FALTERED: Used for a horse that was in contention early and drops back in the late stages. It is more drastic than weakened but less drastic than stopped.
FAST TRACK: The optimum condition for a dirt track, dry, fast and even.
FIRM: A optimum condition for a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track.
FIRST TURN: Bend in the track beyond the starting point.
FLATTEN OUT: When a horse drops his head almost on straight line with body, generally from exhaustion.
FRONT-RUNNER: A horse who usually leads (or tries to lead) the field for as far as he can.
FURLONG: One-eighth of a mile; 220 yards; 660 feet.
FUROSEMIDE: Lasix, the medication used to treat of bleeders.
FIELD HORSE (or MUTUEL FIELD): Two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than positions on the totalisator board can accommodate.
GRADED RACE: The most important or prestigious races in North America are assigned grades (I, II, or III) based on the quality of previous winners and the race's influence on other races or championships.
GROUP RACE: European equivalent to North American graded races.
HANDICAP: Race where the racing sectretary or track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried.
GOOD TRACK: Condition between fast and slow, generally a bit wet.
GRADUATE: Winning for the first time.
HANDILY: Working or racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing.
HAND RIDE: The jockey urges a horse with the hands and arms without using the whip.
HEAD OF THE STRETCH: Beginning of the straight run for the finish.
HEAVY: Condition of track when wet similar to muddy but slower.
HUNG: A horse holding the same position, unable to make up distance on the winner.
IN THE MONEY: Finishing first, second or third.
INQUIRY: Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on tote board on such occasions.
INVITATIONAL: A stakes race open only to horses who are invited to enter. Generally no entry fee is charged.
IN HAND: Running under moderate control, at less than best pace.
IMPOST: Weight carried or assigned.
LASIX: See furosemide.
LENGTH: Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet.
LUG (in or out): Action of a tiring horse, bearing in or out, failing to keep a straight course.
LOCK: Slang for a "sure thing" winner.
MINUS POOL: A mutuel pool caused when one horse is so heavily played that, after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet. The racing association usually makes up tSohe difference.
MORNING GLORY: Horse who performs well in morning workouts but fails to fire in actual races.
MORNING LINE: Approximate odds quoted before wagering begins.
MUDDY: Deep condition of racetrack after being soaked with water. Horses who run will on wet tracks are generally referred to as mudders.
MAIDEN RACE: Horses who have not yet won a race are referred to as maidens, hence a race for non winners.
NECK: Unit of measurement, about the length of a horse's neck; a quarter of a length.
NOSE: Smallest advantage a horse can win by. In England called a short head.
ON THE BIT: When a horse is eager to run.
OVERWEIGHT: Surplus weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the assigned weight.
OAKS: A stakes race for 3-year-old fillies.
OBJECTION: Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry.
ODDS-ON: Odds of less than even money. In England it is simply called "on," thus a horse "5-4 on" is actually at odds of 4-5.
OFFICIAL: Sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official.
ON THE NOSE: Betting a horse to win only.
OVERLAY: A horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances.
OVERNIGHT RACE: A race where entries close a specific number of hours before running (such as 48 hours), as opposed to a stakes race where nominations close far in advance.
PADDOCK: Area where horses are saddled and kept before post time.
PASTEBOARD TRACK: Lightning fast racing strip.
POLE: Markers at measured distances around the track, marking the distance from the finish. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start.
PHOTO FINISH: A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish.
PICK SIX (or more): A type of wager in which the winners of all the included races must be selected.
PLACE: Second position at finish.
PLACE BET: Wager on a horse to finish first or second.
POST: Starting point or position in starting gate.
POOL: Mutuel pool, the total sum bet on a race or a particular bet.
POST PARADE: Horses going from paddock to starting gate past the stands.
POST POSITION: Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.
POST TIME: Designated time for a race to start.
QUINELLA: Wager in which first two finishers must be picked, but payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second.
ROUTE RACE: A race run at a mile or longer, generally around two turns.
RIDDEN OUT: Finishing a race without rider urging him to do his utmost.
SADDLE CLOTH: Cloth under the saddle on which number denoting post position is displayed.
SCALE OF WEIGHTS: Fixed weights to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year.
SPRINT RACE: A race run at less than a mile, generally with only one turn.
STAKE: A race for which an owner must pay an entry fee to run his horse. The fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, and are generally added to the amount put up by the track to make up the total purse.
Racing Terms
SCALE OF WEIGHTS: Fixed weights to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year.
SCRATCH: To be taken out of a race.
SHADOW ROLL: Usually a lamb's wool roll half way up the horse's face to keep him from seeing his own shadow.
SILKS: See colors.
SLOPPY: A track that is wet on surface with firm bottom.
SLOW: A track with some moisture in it that is not fast, between good and heavy.
STARTING GATE: Mechanical device with stalls for horses to stand in until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race.
STEADIED: A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually because of being in close quarters.
STICK: A jockey's whip, also called a bat.
STICKERS: Calks on shoes which give a horse better traction in mud or on soft tracks.
STRETCH: Final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish.
STRETCH RUNNER: Horse who finishes fast in the stretch.
STRETCH TURN: Bend of track into homestretch.
SHOW: Third position at the finish.
SHOW BET: Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better.
STRAIGHT: Betting to win only.
TAKE (or TAKEOUT): Commission deducted from mutuel pools which s shared by the track and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax.
TOUT: Person who professes to have, and sells, advance information on a race.
TRIFECTA (or TRIPLE): A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order.
TAKEN UP: A horse pulled up sharply by his rider because of being in close quarters.
TONGUE STRAP OR TIE: Cloth or rubber strap used to tie down a horse's tongue to prevent it from choking in a race or workout.
TRACK RECORD: Fastest time for a distance at a particular track.
TURF COURSE: Grass course.
UNDER WRAPS: Horse under stout restraint in a race or workout.
UNDERLAY: A horse racing at longer odds than he should.
VALLOWANCE RACE: A race where weights and eligibility to enter are determined by conditions set by the racing secretary.
WARMING UP: Galloping horse on way to post.
WASHY: Horse breaking out in nervous sweat before race, sometimes to the point it will be dripping from his belly.
WIN: Cross the finish line first.
WIN BET: Wager on a horse to finish first.
WHIP: Instrument, usually of leather, with which rider strikes horse to increase his speed.
http://www.racing411.com/horse-racing-betting-terms.shtml
ALSO-ELIGIBLE: A horse entered in the race but who cannot start unless another horse is scratched.
ALSO-RAN: A horse who finishes out of the money.
ACROSS THE BOARD: A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets.
BACKSTRETCH: The straight way on the far side of the track.
BEARING IN (or OUT): Failing to maintain a straight course, veering to the left or right. Can be caused by injury, fatigue, outside distractions, or poor riding.
BLANKET FINISH: When the horses finish so close for the win you could theoretically put a single blanket across them.
BLINKERS: Equipment worn on the bridle to restrict a horse's vision on the sides to help maintain attention and avoid distractions.
BLOWOUT: A short fast workout, usually a day or two before a race, designed to sharpen a horse's speed.
BOARD: The tote board on which odds, betting pools and other race information is displayed.
BOBBLE: A bad step away from the starting gate, sometimes caused by the ground breaking away from under a horse and causing him to duck his head or go to his knees.
BOLT: Sudden veering from a straight course.
BREEZE: Working a horse at a moderate speed; less effort than handily.
BULLET WORK: The best workout time for the distance on a given day at a track.
BULL RING: Small racetrack less than one mile around.
BUTE: Phenylbutazone a commonly used analgesic for horses.
BREAKAGE: In pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or 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.
BABY RACE: A race for 2-year-olds.
CLAIMING RACE: A race where horses are entered for a specified price and can be claimed (purchased) from the race for that price. Claimers are horses who generally run only in claiming races.
CAULK: Projection on the bottom of a shoe to give the horse better traction, especially on a wet track.
CHECKED: A horse pulled up by his jockey for an instant because he is cut off or in tight quarters.
CHUTE: Extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run at the start.
CLOSER: A horse who runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace.
CLUBHOUSE TURN: Generally the turn immediately after the finish line and closest to the clubhouse.
COLORS: Racing silks, the jacket and cap worn by jockeys. Silks can be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner.
CLASSIC: A race for three-year-olds, such as a Derby or Oaks, that has a long standing tradition behind it. The American classics are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
CONDITIONED RACE: Eligibility to enter is determined by a set of conditions such as age, sex, races won, etc.
COUPLED: Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit.
CUPPY: A track surface which breaks away under a horse's hoof.
DAILY DOUBLE: Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second.
DERBY: A stakes race for three-year-old colts.
DISTAFF RACE: A race for fillies, mares, or both.
DEAD-HEAT: Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the finish.
DEAD TRACK: Racing surface lacking resiliency.
DISTANCED: Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner.
DOGS: Wooden barrier (or rubber traffic cones) placed a certain distance out from the inner rail, to protect the inner part of the track (usually the turf course) from traffic during workouts to save it for racing.
DRIVING: Strong urging by rider.
EASED: The jockey stops the horse during the race so he can't finish, usually due to an injury or equipment problem.
EASILY: Running or winning without being pressed by the jockey or opposition.
ENTRY: Two or more horses owned by the same stable or (in some cases) trained by the same trainer and running as a single betting unit.
EVENLY: Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race.
EXACTA (or PERFECTA): A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked.
EXTENDED: Forced to run at top speed.
FALTERED: Used for a horse that was in contention early and drops back in the late stages. It is more drastic than weakened but less drastic than stopped.
FAST TRACK: The optimum condition for a dirt track, dry, fast and even.
FIRM: A optimum condition for a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track.
FIRST TURN: Bend in the track beyond the starting point.
FLATTEN OUT: When a horse drops his head almost on straight line with body, generally from exhaustion.
FRONT-RUNNER: A horse who usually leads (or tries to lead) the field for as far as he can.
FURLONG: One-eighth of a mile; 220 yards; 660 feet.
FUROSEMIDE: Lasix, the medication used to treat of bleeders.
FIELD HORSE (or MUTUEL FIELD): Two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than positions on the totalisator board can accommodate.
GRADED RACE: The most important or prestigious races in North America are assigned grades (I, II, or III) based on the quality of previous winners and the race's influence on other races or championships.
GROUP RACE: European equivalent to North American graded races.
HANDICAP: Race where the racing sectretary or track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried.
GOOD TRACK: Condition between fast and slow, generally a bit wet.
GRADUATE: Winning for the first time.
HANDILY: Working or racing with moderate effort, but more effort than breezing.
HAND RIDE: The jockey urges a horse with the hands and arms without using the whip.
HEAD OF THE STRETCH: Beginning of the straight run for the finish.
HEAVY: Condition of track when wet similar to muddy but slower.
HUNG: A horse holding the same position, unable to make up distance on the winner.
IN THE MONEY: Finishing first, second or third.
INQUIRY: Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on tote board on such occasions.
INVITATIONAL: A stakes race open only to horses who are invited to enter. Generally no entry fee is charged.
IN HAND: Running under moderate control, at less than best pace.
IMPOST: Weight carried or assigned.
LASIX: See furosemide.
LENGTH: Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet.
LUG (in or out): Action of a tiring horse, bearing in or out, failing to keep a straight course.
LOCK: Slang for a "sure thing" winner.
MINUS POOL: A mutuel pool caused when one horse is so heavily played that, after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet. The racing association usually makes up tSohe difference.
MORNING GLORY: Horse who performs well in morning workouts but fails to fire in actual races.
MORNING LINE: Approximate odds quoted before wagering begins.
MUDDY: Deep condition of racetrack after being soaked with water. Horses who run will on wet tracks are generally referred to as mudders.
MAIDEN RACE: Horses who have not yet won a race are referred to as maidens, hence a race for non winners.
NECK: Unit of measurement, about the length of a horse's neck; a quarter of a length.
NOSE: Smallest advantage a horse can win by. In England called a short head.
ON THE BIT: When a horse is eager to run.
OVERWEIGHT: Surplus weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the assigned weight.
OAKS: A stakes race for 3-year-old fillies.
OBJECTION: Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry.
ODDS-ON: Odds of less than even money. In England it is simply called "on," thus a horse "5-4 on" is actually at odds of 4-5.
OFFICIAL: Sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official.
ON THE NOSE: Betting a horse to win only.
OVERLAY: A horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances.
OVERNIGHT RACE: A race where entries close a specific number of hours before running (such as 48 hours), as opposed to a stakes race where nominations close far in advance.
PADDOCK: Area where horses are saddled and kept before post time.
PASTEBOARD TRACK: Lightning fast racing strip.
POLE: Markers at measured distances around the track, marking the distance from the finish. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start.
PHOTO FINISH: A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish.
PICK SIX (or more): A type of wager in which the winners of all the included races must be selected.
PLACE: Second position at finish.
PLACE BET: Wager on a horse to finish first or second.
POST: Starting point or position in starting gate.
POOL: Mutuel pool, the total sum bet on a race or a particular bet.
POST PARADE: Horses going from paddock to starting gate past the stands.
POST POSITION: Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.
POST TIME: Designated time for a race to start.
QUINELLA: Wager in which first two finishers must be picked, but payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second.
ROUTE RACE: A race run at a mile or longer, generally around two turns.
RIDDEN OUT: Finishing a race without rider urging him to do his utmost.
SADDLE CLOTH: Cloth under the saddle on which number denoting post position is displayed.
SCALE OF WEIGHTS: Fixed weights to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year.
SPRINT RACE: A race run at less than a mile, generally with only one turn.
STAKE: A race for which an owner must pay an entry fee to run his horse. The fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, and are generally added to the amount put up by the track to make up the total purse.
Racing Terms
SCALE OF WEIGHTS: Fixed weights to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year.
SCRATCH: To be taken out of a race.
SHADOW ROLL: Usually a lamb's wool roll half way up the horse's face to keep him from seeing his own shadow.
SILKS: See colors.
SLOPPY: A track that is wet on surface with firm bottom.
SLOW: A track with some moisture in it that is not fast, between good and heavy.
STARTING GATE: Mechanical device with stalls for horses to stand in until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race.
STEADIED: A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually because of being in close quarters.
STICK: A jockey's whip, also called a bat.
STICKERS: Calks on shoes which give a horse better traction in mud or on soft tracks.
STRETCH: Final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish.
STRETCH RUNNER: Horse who finishes fast in the stretch.
STRETCH TURN: Bend of track into homestretch.
SHOW: Third position at the finish.
SHOW BET: Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better.
STRAIGHT: Betting to win only.
TAKE (or TAKEOUT): Commission deducted from mutuel pools which s shared by the track and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax.
TOUT: Person who professes to have, and sells, advance information on a race.
TRIFECTA (or TRIPLE): A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order.
TAKEN UP: A horse pulled up sharply by his rider because of being in close quarters.
TONGUE STRAP OR TIE: Cloth or rubber strap used to tie down a horse's tongue to prevent it from choking in a race or workout.
TRACK RECORD: Fastest time for a distance at a particular track.
TURF COURSE: Grass course.
UNDER WRAPS: Horse under stout restraint in a race or workout.
UNDERLAY: A horse racing at longer odds than he should.
VALLOWANCE RACE: A race where weights and eligibility to enter are determined by conditions set by the racing secretary.
WARMING UP: Galloping horse on way to post.
WASHY: Horse breaking out in nervous sweat before race, sometimes to the point it will be dripping from his belly.
WIN: Cross the finish line first.
WIN BET: Wager on a horse to finish first.
WHIP: Instrument, usually of leather, with which rider strikes horse to increase his speed.
http://www.racing411.com/horse-racing-betting-terms.shtml
