ALL OUT - An effort during which a horse extends itself to the utmost.

ALLOWANCE - Weight permitted to be reduced because of the conditions of the race or because an apprentice is on a horse. Also, a reduction in weight female horses are entitled to when racing against males.

ALSO - RAN - A horse who finishes out of the money.

APPRENTICE - A learner. Rider who has not ridden a certain number of winners within a specified period of time.

BIT - A metal bar in a horse's mouth by which he is guided and controlled by the rider.


BLACK TYPE- Winner or placed horse in stakes races, denoted by black type in the sales catalogue.

BLANKET FINISH - Horses finishing so closely together they could be covered by a blanket, generally a close finish involving four or more horses.

BLAZE - White vertical patch on the face of a horse.


BLINKERS - Device to limit a horse's vision to prevent him from reacting to objects or other horses on either side of him.


BROODMARE - Female horse used for breeding.

CHESTNUT - Varies from light, washy yellow to dark liver color, between which comes red, gold and liver shades. A chestnut never has black points, mane or tail.

DAM - Mother of a thoroughbred racehorse.

DEAD-HEAT - Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire.

DQ - Disqualified.

FALSE FAVORITE - Horse who is bet down to favoritism without apparent reason or form.


FILLY - Female horse of age 4 years or less.

FURLONG -1/8" of a mile; 220 yards or 660 feet, approximately 200 metres.

DEAD-HEAT"   GAIT - The four ways in which a horse can move: walk, trot, canter and gallop.

GELDING - Castrated male horse.

HALF - BROTHER, HALF - SISTER - Horses out of the same dam but by different sires.

HANDICAPPER - An official of the race club who assigns weights for a handicap race. Also one who makes selections based on past performances.

HANDICAPPING - A method, art or science of evaluating a horse's future performance based on past records, breeding, track work, etc.

JACKPOT - A popular Tote betting pool, priced at Rs.10 per ticket combination, that requires nominating winners of five pre-designated races.

JUVENILE - A two-year-old race horse.

LENGTH - The measure of a horse from nose to tail, traditionally considered about 8 feet, modern research puts the value at approx 9 feet 2 inches.

MAIDEN - A race horse that has yet to win a race.

MORNING GLORY - Horse who performs well in morning workouts, but fails to reproduce that form in races.

OVERWEIGHT - Surplus weight (than allotted by Handicapper) carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the required weight.

PADDOCK - Structure or area where horses are paraded before riders mount them in full public view.

PHOTO FINISH - A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine the order of finish.


PLACE BET - Bet on a horse to finish in first two (for 7 or less runners), first three (8 to 11 runners), or first four (12 or more runners) on the RWITC tote.

PREP RACE - A race to get a horse fitter for a future engagement.

PURSE - A prize of money offered by the club towards which the horse owners do not contribute.

RB - Riding boy, a rider who rides the horse during workouts but not in a race.

ROGUE - An ill-tempered horse.

ROUTE - Race distance of a mile or longer.

SEX ALLOWANCE - Fillies and mares, according to their age and time of year, are allowed to carry one and a half kg less when competing against males.

STALLION - A male horse used for the breeding purpose.

STARTING GATE - Mechanical device having partitions (stalls) for horses in which they are confined until the starter electronically releases the doors in front to begin the race.


STAYER - Stout -hearted horse who can race long distances.

SPRINTER - A horse that is speedy but lacks stamina.

SYCE - A person who cares for a horse in a stable.

THOROUGHBRED - A racehorse tracing its family roots to a pair of Arabian stallion and an Irish broodmare among its ancestors.

TONGUE STRAP - Strap or tape bandage used to tie down a horse's tongue to prevent it from choking in a race or workout.

TOUT - One who gives betting tips, usually with expectation of some personal reward in return.

YEARLING- Thoroughbred that was born in the last calendar year.