Racing Glossary
EASED
Chart caller's assessment of a horse that is being deliberately slowed by the
jockey to prevent injury or harm to the horse.
EIGHTH
A furlong; 220 yards; 660 feet.
ENGAGEMENT
Stake nomination; riding commitment.
ENTRY
Two or more horses owned by the same stable or (in some cases) trained by the
same trainer and thus running as a single betting unit (see COUPLED).
EQUIPMENT
Whip, blinkers, tongue-tie, etc.; gear carried by a horse in a race.
EQUIVALENT ODDS
Mutuel price horses pay for each $1 bet.
EXACTA (or PERFECTA)
A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish,
must be picked.
EXACTA BOX
A wager in which all combinations using a given number of horses are covered
for running first and second.
EXCUSED
Withdrawal from a race (sometimes on a veterinarian's recommendation) with consent
from the stewards.
EXERCISE RIDER
Male or female rider who is aboard a racehorse in the mornings.
EXTRA WEIGHT/ADDED WEIGHT
More weight than conditions of race require.
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.
FALSE FAVORITE
Horse who is bet down to favorite when others would appear to outclass him on
form.
FARRIER
Blacksmith.
FAST TRACK
Footing at its best, dry, fast and even.
FAVORITE
The horse bet to the lowest odds because it is deemed to have the best chance
of winning the race.
FENCE
Sometimes called "outside rail"; more properly, the barrier between the front
of the stands and the racetrack.
FIELD
The horses in a race; all the horses not listed who are also running.
FILLY
Female horse 4 years old and younger.
FIRM
A condition of a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track.
FIXED ODDS
Your wager is fixed at the odds when you placed your bet.
FLAG
Signal held by a person stationed a short distance in front of the gate at exact
starting point of race. Official timing starts when flag is dropped to denote
proper start.
FLAK JACKET
A vest worn by jockeys during a race to help protect the ribs and spine in the
event of a fall.
FLATTEN OUT
When a horse drops its head almost in a straight line with body. May indicate
exhaustion.
FOAL
Newly born male or female horse until weaned.
FOUR FURLONGS
Half a mile; 880 yards; 2,640 feet.
FRACTIONAL TIME
Intermediate time recorded in a race, as at the quarter, half, three-quarters,
etc.
FRESH (FRESHENED)
A rested horse.
FRONT-RUNNER
A horse that usually leads (or tries to lead) the field for as far as it can.
FURLONG
One eigth of a mile.
FUROSEMIDE
Otherwise known as Lasix, the medication used to treat respiratory bleeders.
FUTURES
(see ANTE POST) Bets placed in advance, predicting the outcome of a future event.
GAIT
The way in which a horse moves - walk, trot, canter, gallop, etc.
GALLOP
A type of gait, a fast canter. Also, to ride a horse at that gait.
GATE
Starting mechanism.
GELDING
Castrated male horse.
GET
Progeny of sire.
GOOD TRACK
Condition between fast and slow.
GRAB A QUARTER
To strike the side of a front foot with a hind foot. This could be expressed
more clearly by saying that the horse overstepped or overreached and cut itself.
GRADED RACE
Established in 1973 to classify select stakes races in North America, at the
request of European racing authorities, who had set up group races two years
earlier. Always denoted with Roman numerals I, II, or III. Capitalized when used
in race title (the Grade I Kentucky Derby).
GRANDDAM (SECOND DAM)
Grandmother of a horse.
GRANDSIRE
Grandfather of a horse, sire of the horse's dam.
GRAY
A mixture of white and black hairs.
GREEN
Inexperienced.
GROOM
The person who takes direct care of one or more horses, washing, grooming, and
feeding them.
GROUP RACE
European equivalent to North American graded races.
Glossary
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