Horse Racing Terms Explained: An A-Z Glossary

Abandoned

A race meeting can be abandoned, generally because of adverse weather conditions. All bets placed on abandoned races are fully refunded.

If an abandoned meeting contains high-profile races, those will often be rescheduled to occur at another meeting.

All Weather

All-weather racing takes place on an artificial racing surface.

There are currently six all-weather tracks in Britain and Ireland, all of which use either a Polytrack or Tapeta surface: Lingfield (P), Kempton (P), Southwell (T), Chelmsford (P), Newcastle (T), and Dundalk (P).

Allowance

Weight allowances depend on the conditions of a race. The gender and age of a horse are the two most common reasons for allowances, especially in stakes races.

The younger a horse, the bigger the allowance they will be entitled to from older rivals, while female horses get an allowance from their male counterparts. In jumps racing, this allowance is 7lb.

Also-Ran

Also-ran refers to horses that finished out of the designated number of places for a race. So, in a 10-runner race, also-rans are any horses that finish fourth or worse, including non-finishers.

Ante-Post

An ante-post bet is placed before final declarations for a race are confirmed and can begin months in advance.

Ante-post betting is most popular for big meetings like the Cheltenham Festival, where Cheltenham odds for the following year’s championship races are available almost immediately after the runners have crossed the line.

Banker

A banker is a horse that is presumed to win. In placepot wagers, anyone who selects multiple horses per race but just a single runner in one or more races will see those single runner selections as a banker. They need to win, otherwise the bet is down.

Best Odds Guaranteed

A popular promo with fans of the best Cheltenham and Grand National betting offers.

If you place a bet with best odds guaranteed attached to it, and the SP is greater than the price you took, your bet will be settled at the bigger odds if it wins.

Betting Ring

The area on a racecourse, generally in front of the main grandstand, where bookmakers stand to take bets.

Bit

The bit is an item of a horse's tack. It usually refers to assembling components that contact and control the horse's mouth.

Blinkers

Blinkers are applied to a horse to shut off its peripheral vision so that it can only look forward. This means the horse can concentrate more on what is in front of it and its job.

Bloodstock

Bloodstock refers to horses specially bred for racing. Every thoroughbred racehorse can be traced back to just three stallions, who are responsible for the entire breed's foundation: the Godolphin Arabian, the Byerley Turk, and the Darley Arabian.

Boxed-In

This simply means a horse cannot improve its position because other horses surround it and cannot escape.

Bridle

A bridle is the collection of leather straps that fit around a horse's head, connecting the mouthpiece and the reins so a jockey can control their mount.

The term “on the bridle” is used a lot in racing, and it means that the horse in question is travelling sufficiently well that they don’t require the jockey to push from the saddle to ask for extra effort.

Broodmare

A broodmare is a female horse kept at stud for breeding purposes. Often, they will have raced when they were younger, and their performance levels on the track will be reflected in the quality of their offspring.

Bumper

A bumper is a flat race run under the rules of a Jumps race. Bumpers help horses who have not previously run on the flat to get experience of this type of racing.

Horses that have previously raced in flat races are not eligible to run in bumpers. Bumpers are often the last race on a card.

Chase

These are steeplechase races in which runners must jump fences. Steeplechases are run over distances between 2 and 4½ miles, and runners jump over various obstacles, including plain fences, water jumps, or open ditches.

Checked

Checked is an in-running term used when a horse has had its passage momentarily blocked or hindered.

Cheekpieces

Cheekpieces are soft lengths of sheepskin that attach to the bridle and run down either side of the horse’s head. Their purpose is to encourage the horse to drop its head and not race freely.

Classic

The Classics are regarded as the crown jewels of flat racing. There are five English Classics: 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Derby, Oaks, and St Leger.

They are contested by three-year-olds only, and winners of these races are regarded as highly valuable breeding prospects.

Colt

A colt is a male horse aged below five that has not been gelded.

Course & Distance

“Course & Distance” is commonly used to refer to a horse that has won or been in good form over the same track and trip that it is about to run over.

Dam

Dam is the equine term for mother.

Dead Heat

A dead heat occurs when two or more horses cross the finish line simultaneously, and it’s impossible to separate them even with photo-finish technology.

Declarations

There are various stages of declaration for a horse race, but final declarations are published around 11 am the day before a flat race and two days before a jumps race.

Declared

Declared means confirmed as a runner.

Drifter

A drifter is a betting term referring to a horse whose odds have lengthened in the lead-up to a race. This is often seen as a sign of declining support from bettors or insiders.

Each-Way

An each-way bet is a two-part bet on a horse to win and be placed.

If the horse wins, you will be paid out on both sides of the bet. If it finishes in the designated places, you will only be paid for the placed part of the wager, usually at 1/4 or 1/5 of the win odds.

Favorite

The favorite is the shortest-priced runner in the field. Theoretically, this means the horse has the best chance of winning.

Fences

Fences are the obstacles each horse must negotiate in a steeplechase.

Filly

A filly is a female horse aged below five. Once a filly turns five, she becomes a mare.

Flat Race

A flat race is run over level ground without obstacles, such as fences or hurdles. It tests speed, stamina, and strategy rather than jumping ability.

Foal

A foal is a young horse that hasn’t reached their first birthday.

Form

Form is the back catalogue of a horse’s racing career. Our guide explaining how to read horse racing form should help you learn how to analyse past performance.

Furlong

A furlong is a distance of 220 yards (201 metres). There are eight furlongs in a mile.

Gelding

A gelding is a male horse that has been gelded (castrated).

Going

This refers to the nature of ground conditions at a course. Going conditions range from heavy to firm. For all-weather tracks, the going is typically described as ‘Standard’.

Graded Race

Graded races range from 1 to 3 (one being the pinnacle) and are the highest-grade races in the sport. In British racing, they are referred to as “Group races.”

Handicap

A handicap is a race in which a horse's weight is determined by its official rating. So, a horse rated 82 would carry 2 pounds more than an 80.

Handicap Rating

A horse’s handicap rating determines what grade of race it is eligible to run in and how much weight it will carry in handicap races.

Handicapper

A handicapper determines the handicap rating of each horse.

Head

A head is a margin of victory where the winner scores by the length of its head from the runner-up.

Hood

A hood covers the horse’s ears and head, leaving eye-holes for them to see through. It helps horses who may be nervous of crowds and noises.

Hunter Chase

Hunter chases occur at National Hunt racecourses but are only open to horses with hunter certificates.

Hurdler

A hurdler is a horse whose primary vocation is hurdle races.

Hurdles

Hurdles are the obstacles used in hurdle races. They are smaller than fences and are often used as a stepping stone for horses bred to jump fences in time.

Jump Race

A horse race in which horses must clear obstacles, such as hurdles or fences, as they compete over a set distance.

Juvenile

A juvenile is a two-year-old in flat racing and a three-year-old in National Hunt (Jumps) racing.

Length

A length is the length of a horse, from nose to tail.

Listed Race

Listed races are a stepping stone between handicapped and pattern races, which are Group/Graded races.

Maiden

A maiden is a horse that has not won a race, or a type of race restricted to horses that have not previously won.

Mare

A mare is a female horse aged five or older.

NAP

A NAP is the best bet of the day.

National Hunt

National Hunt is the official name for Jumps racing. If a horse is referred to as National Hunt-bred, it is bred to jump fences.

Neck

A winning distance that indicates a margin of victory/defeat from the nose to the bottom of a horse’s neck.

Non-Runner

A non-runner denotes a horse withdrawn from a race after the final declaration stage. Changing ground conditions is a primary reason a horse would be declared but then withdrawn.

Non-Runner No Bet

NRNB is an ante-post betting special offered by the best horse racing betting sites, meaning your stake is refunded if your selection is not declared at the final declaration stage.

Nose

A nose is the shortest margin of victory in a race.

Noseband

A noseband is a piece of equipment used to stabilize the bit so it remains straight and quiet in the mouth. Nosebands also allow horses to relax and settle their tongues, enabling them to breathe better.

Novice

A novice in National Hunt racing is a horse that has not won in that particular type of race before the start of the current season.

For example, a horse that won a novice hurdle last season wouldn’t be eligible for such an event the following season.

A horse can’t run or win more than two races to contest a novice event in flat racing.

Nursery

A nursery is a handicap race for juveniles (two-year-olds) in flat racing.

On The Bit

This describes a horse whose rider has not had to ask the horse for any effort in the run.

Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a horse that ensures a race is evenly run, often to benefit a more highly regarded stablemate.

Paddock

The paddock is an area at a racetrack where runners parade for the benefit of the racegoers. It is also where most horses are mounted by their jockey (some are permitted to be mounted on the track).

Pari-Mutuel

Pari-mutuel betting, popular in major racing jurisdictions worldwide, is a pool-based betting system.

Payouts are determined by volume staked on each horse, and dividends are issued after the operator's commission and tax.

Penalty

A penalty is the extra weight a horse must carry after winning a race previously. Penalty information is always set out in the race conditions.

Placed

Places vary depending on the number of runners and the type of contest, but generally, a horse is deemed to have ‘placed’ if it finishes second or third.

In big-field handicaps such as the Grand National, place terms extend to 5/6 runners with many bookmakers.

Placepot

A placepot is a popular pool bet where you pick a horse to finish in the top positions in the first six races at an event. It can offer big payouts, especially if some favorites don’t place.

Pulled-Up

If a horse is pulled up, it means it failed to complete the race and is, therefore, settled as a loser by bookmakers.

Racecard

A racecard is similar to a matchday program at a football match and can also be viewed online.

It provides a detailed layout of each race, with each runner's colors and information such as race conditions, ratings, and form.

Racecards typically carry a synopsis of each race with a verdict at the bottom.

Ran Out

This means a horse has run off the course and is therefore out of the race.

Refused to Race

Refused to race refers to horses that line up or go into the stalls but don’t leave the start with the rest of the field.

If the horse is deemed to have come “Under Starter’s Orders” (meaning that the horse was considered to have properly started the race), backers of that horse will not be entitled to a refund.

Rule 4

Rule 4 refers to a standard deduction applied to bets when one or more runners are withdrawn from a race after the betting market has opened. The shorter the odds of the withdrawn horse (at the time of withdrawal), the bigger the Rule 4 deduction.

Silks

The jockeys wear silks, and their color and pattern are unique to the horse's owner. If an owner has more than one runner in a race, they are differentiated by alternative cap colors.

Sprinter

A sprinter is a horse that runs in sprint races, which are run over five or six furlongs.

Stallion

A stallion is an uncastrated male horse that is used to breed. Any colt that wins at the top level on the flat will have stallion potential.

Starting Price

The odds of a horse at the moment the race begins. Denoted as SP, this is the price used to settle any bets placed without taking a fixed price beforehand.

Steeplechaser

A steeplechaser is a horse that predominantly runs in steeplechase races.

Steward’s Inquiry

A Steward's enquiry is a review system that occurs after a race to ensure it has been run fairly and the rules have been followed.

Stewards will watch replays from several angles and listen to the riders' testimonies before deciding whether to let the result stand or amend it.

Stud

A stud is a breeding farm where stallions mate with mares in the hope of producing the next generation of champions.

Thoroughbred

A thoroughbred is a horse bred for racing and one whose roots can be traced back to one of the three foundation sires.

Tongue-Tie

A tongue-tie is a piece of equipment used to prevent a horse’s tongue from going over the bit, which would make it very difficult to control.

A tongue tie is usually a strip of cloth or rubber passed through the mouth and tied below the chin.

Top Weightunder

This is the horse carrying the most weight in a field. In handicaps, this will always be No. 1 on the racecard.

Triple Crown

The Triple Crown in American horse racing is a prestigious achievement comprising victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

In Britain, the Triple Crown refers to three major flat races—the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Derby, and the St Leger Stakes—that showcase the versatility of three-year-old thoroughbreds across varied distances and courses.

Under Starter’s Orders

“Under Starter's Orders” means that a horse has either lined up at the start in a jumps race or entered the starting stalls in a flat race.

If the horse, under either code, fails to leave the start from that point, it is considered Under Starter’s Orders and considered a runner.

If a horse doesn’t come out of the stalls or break from the gate at this point, backers will not be entitled to a refund.

Unseated

Unseated is the formbook term for a jockey falling off a horse, even though the horse didn’t fall.

Visor

Visors are very similar to blinkers, but they have a slit cut in the side of them, preventing a horse from panicking if it can't see the other runners.

The slit provides the reassurance that there are other runners, but maintains the focus of going forward.

Whip

Jockeys use a whip to help a horse focus and produce its best in the finish of a race.

Use of the whip, which is foam-padded, is limited to six times in a flat race and seven times in a Jumps race, so as not to compromise the welfare of the horse.

Yearling

A horse aged between 1 and 2.

Looking to put this knowledge into action? Check out our beginner’s guide to horse racing betting to learn about odds, bet types, and strategy.