Horse Racing Betting Glossary: 247 Terms Explained

Acca Insurance

A betting promotion that refunds a user’s stake (either as cash or as a free bet) if only one selection in their accumulator bet fails to win, providing a safety net against narrowly missed accumulators.

Accumulator

A bet involving multiple selections. All selections must win for the bet to be successful.

Accumulator Bonus

A bonus offered by bookmakers that increases the potential payout on accumulator bets, typically based on the number of selections included in the bet.

Age Weight

The weight carried by a horse determined by its age.

All In

Betting that’s finalized post declaration stage, and in the event of a horse’s withdrawal, no money is returned.

All-Weather Racing

Racing on an artificial surface.

Allowance

Weight concession given to an apprentice or claiming jockey.

Also Ran

Horses that didn’t finish in the money.

Ante-post

Betting on an event well in advance of the day it’s scheduled to take place.

Apprentice

A jockey in Flat racing who receives a weight allowance to offset their lack of experience.

Backward

A horse that is not fully matured.

Bad Each-Way

A race where the odds of the favourite are so short that it makes each-way betting unattractive.

Banker

A bet considered almost certain to win.

Bar

The odds of those runners in a race not quoted with a price during early betting shows. The bar price is the minimum odds for any of those selections not quoted.

Barren

A mare that can’t conceive.

Best Odds Guaranteed

A betting promotion where if a punter takes a price on a horse (or greyhound) and the starting price ends up being bigger, the bookmaker will pay out at the larger odds, ensuring bettors receive the best value.

Betting Exchange

A betting exchange is a marketplace where individuals can buy and sell bets on the outcome of events, allowing for peer-to-peer wagering rather than betting against a bookmaker.

Betting Ring

The main area at a racecourse where bookmakers operate.

Betting Promotion

A special offer or incentive provided by bookmakers to encourage betting activity, often featuring enhanced odds or bonuses.

Blinkers

A type of horse equipment; a hood with eye shields to limit a horse’s field of vision and help it concentrate.

Bloodstock

Refers to thoroughbred breeding (i.e., horses for racing).

Bookmaker App

A bookmaker app is a digital platform that allows users to place bets on various sporting and non-sporting events, typically operated by licensed betting companies.

Boxed Bet

Where all possible combinations are covered for multiple selections.

Boxed In

When a horse is trapped between other horses and can’t find a clear path to run.

Break Maiden

When a horse or jockey wins for the first time.

Break

How a horse starts a race from the gate.

Broodmare

A female horse used for breeding.

Brought Down

When a horse falls due to another horse’s interference.

Bumper

A National Hunt race where horses don’t jump, mainly for novice horses to gain experience.

Burlington Bertie

Betting slang, referring to odds of 100-30.

Canadian/Super Yankee

A bet consisting of 26 bets on five selections in different events (10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 fourfolds, and 1 fivefold).

Cash Out

A feature that allows bettors to close a bet before the event has concluded, securing a portion of the potential winnings or minimizing potential losses based on the current odds.

Chase

Short for ‘steeplechase’. A type of National Hunt racing over fences.

Chaser

A horse that races in steeplechase events.

Claiming Race

A race where each horse is entered with a price, and can be claimed or bought at that price.

Class

The grade of a race or horse.

Clerk of the Course

The official in charge of a racecourse.

Clocker

A person who times workouts and races.

Co-favourite

When two or more horses are favourites.

Colours Up

When a jockey wears the owner’s silks.

Colours

The distinctive silk shirts worn by jockeys and representing the horse’s owner.

Colt

A male horse under the age of 5.

Conditional Jockey

A jockey in National Hunt racing who receives a weight allowance to offset their lack of experience.

Connections

People associated with a horse, like its owner and trainer.

Course Specialist

A horse known to perform particularly well at one track.

Cover Bet

A bet which involves a multiple and singles, ensuring some return even if not all selections win.

Cover

When a stallion breeds with a mare.

Dam

A horse’s mother.

Dead Heat

When two or more horses finish the race so closely that judges cannot determine the winner.

Declared

When a horse is confirmed to run in a race.

Distance Race

A race that’s longer than usual or traditional distances.

Distance

The margin by which a horse has won or has been beaten.

Double Carpet

Betting slang for 33-1 odds.

Double

A bet consisting of two selections, both of which must win for the bet to be successful.

Doubled Carried

When a jockey has more than one ride in a race and can’t make the weight for one, the weights may be combined (rare).

Draw

Refers to a horse’s position in the starting stalls, numbered from the inside rail outwards.

Drift

When the odds of a horse increase because of lack of support.

Drifter

A horse whose odds are increasing due to lack of backing.

Dutching

Betting on more than one horse in a race to improve chances of winning.

Dwelt

When a horse is slow to leave the starting stalls.

Each-Way Double

Two separate bets of an each-way bet.

Each-Way

A bet placed on a horse to win and/or be placed. It’s essentially two bets in one.

Enquiry

An official review of the race result.

Evens or Even Money

Betting odds where the potential profit is the same as the stake.

Exacta

A bet where the aim is to pick the first and second in a race in the exact order.

Faller

A horse that falls during a race.

False Favourite

A horse that’s favoured to win, but many seasoned punters might believe it doesn’t stand a chance.

Favourite

The horse with the shortest odds and deemed most likely to win by bookmakers.

Feint

A dummy move by a jockey.

Filly

A female horse under the age of 5.

Flag Start

A type of race start where the flag is raised to alert jockeys to begin.

Fold

Refers to the number of selections in an accumulator (e.g., Five-Fold would mean 5 selections).

Forecast Bet

A bet where you try to predict the first and second places in a race.

Forecast

A bet where the aim is to predict the first and second in a race in the correct order.

Free Bet

A complimentary wager given by a bookmaker, allowing a user to place a bet without risking their own money.

Full Cover Bet

A bet that includes all the multiple bet options for a given number of selections.

Furlong

A distance measurement equivalent to 1/8th of a mile.

Gelding

A male horse that has been castrated.

Girth

A band that keeps the saddle in place.

Going Report

A description of the racecourse condition.

Going Stick

A device measuring the firmness of the turf.

Going to Post

When horses are walking/running to the starting gate.

Going

The condition of the racing surface. Ranges from heavy to firm.

Goliath

A bet consisting of 247 bets on eight selections in different events.

Graded Race

High-quality races categorized by grades, with Grade 1 being the highest.

Green

Describes a horse that is inexperienced.

Group Races

The highest level of races, graded from Group 1 (the best) to Group 3.

Hand

A unit (4 inches) used to measure a horse’s height at the shoulders.

Handicap Race

A race where horses are assigned different weights to carry, based on their ability.

Handicap

A race in which horses carry different weights, allocated by the handicapper.

Hanging

When a horse veers to one side during a race.

Heinz

A bet consisting of 57 bets on six selections in different events (15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds, and 1 sixfold).

Hood

A type of horse equipment, similar to blinkers but without the eye shields.

Horse Racing Betting App

A betting app that’s great for betting on the horses.

Hunter Chase

A race for horses that have hunted during the current hunting season.

Hurdle

A type of National Hunt racing over smaller fences.

Imposed Weight

The weight a horse is required to carry in a race, including the jockey.

In Foal

A mare that’s pregnant.

In Hand

If a horse is running easily and the jockey has not yet asked it for its full effort.

In Running Betting

Betting on a race while it’s in progress.

Joint Favourite

When two or more horses have the shortest odds.

Jolly

The favourite in a race.

Juvenile

A horse that’s either two or three years old, depending on the time of year and region.

Knocked In

When odds get shorter, e.g., from 4-1 to 3-1.

Knocked In

When odds get shorter.

Lameness

When a horse has difficulty walking or trotting due to pain.

Lay Bet

A bet where you back a horse not to win.

Laying a Bet

When someone acts as the bookmaker and offers odds on a particular outcome, essentially betting against that outcome.

Length

The measurement from a horse’s nose to the start of its tail, used to describe distances between horses at the finish.

Listed Race

Just below group or graded races in quality.

Long Shot

A horse with high odds, perceived as unlikely to win.

Lucky 15

A bet involving four selections and 15 bets (4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and 1 fourfold).

Lucky 31

A bet involving five selections and 31 bets (5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 fourfolds, and 1 fivefold).

Lucky 63

A bet involving six selections and 63 bets (6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds, and 1 sixfold).

Maiden Race

A race for horses that haven’t won a race.

Maiden

A horse that has never won a race.

Mare

A female horse aged 5 years and older.

Market Mover

A horse whose odds have shortened significantly.

Market

The betting odds and the activity of punters.

Match Bet

A bet between just two horses in a race.

Matched Deposit Bonus

A type of promotion where the bookmaker matches the amount a user deposits up to a specified limit, offering it as a bonus for betting.

Mile Rate

Time taken to run a mile.

Monkey

Betting slang for £500.

Nap

Tipster’s top recommendation for a day.

National Hunt

Racing over fences and hurdles.

New Customer Offer

A special promotion or bonus specifically designed to attract new users to a betting platform or service.

No Deposit Bonus

A bonus provided to users without the need to deposit any funds, typically as an incentive to register or try out a betting platform.

Non-runner

A horse that was originally intended to race but for some reason did not.

Non-Trier

A horse that isn’t run to its best ability.

Nose

The smallest winning margin in a race.

Noseband

Equipment worn around a horse’s nose to keep its mouth closed.

Novice Chase/Hurdle

A race for horses that haven’t won a chase/hurdle before the current season.

Novice

A horse that has not won a race of a particular type before the start of the current season.

Nursery

A handicap for two-year-old horses.

Objection

A complaint by one jockey against another regarding a perceived infringement during a race.

Odds Against

Odds where potential profit is more than the stake.

Odds Compiler

Person setting the starting prices.

Odds on

Odds where the potential winnings are less than the stake. For example, 1/2 means you win half the amount of your stake.

Off the Bit/Pace

When a horse is struggling to keep up with the leaders.

Off the Bridle/Bit

When a horse is pushed by its jockey.

On the Bit

When a horse is running comfortably and within itself.

On the Bridle

When a horse is running comfortably.

On the Bridle/Bit

When a horse is running comfortably.

On the Nose

Betting on a horse to win only.

Outsider

A horse deemed to have little or no chance of winning.

Overbroke

When the book exceeds 100%, ensuring a profit for the bookmaker.

Overround

The built-in profit margin for a bookmaker.

Pace Horse or Pacemaker

A horse used to set the pace for another one in the field, often to benefit a stablemate.

Pace

The speed at which a race is run.

Paddock

The area where horses are paraded before a race.

Patent

A bet involving three selections and 7 bets (3 singles, 3 doubles, and 1 treble).

Pattern Race

High-quality group races.

Penalty

Extra weight added to a horse’s handicap due to winning a race.

Photo Finish

A technology used to determine the winner when horses finish too close to call.

Pigskin

Slang for saddle.

Place

A term for a horse that finishes in the top positions.

Placed

When a horse finishes in the top three or four.

Placepot

A bet in which you attempt to select a placed horse in each of the six races at a specific racecourse on a particular day.

Plate

Shoes fitted to the horse’s hooves.

Plater

A horse which runs primarily in selling races.

Point to Point

A form of steeplechase for amateur riders.

Pony

Betting slang for £25.

Pulled Up

When a horse is stopped and doesn’t complete the race.

Pulling

When a horse is too eager and hard to control.

Punter

A person placing a bet.

Pushed Out

When a jockey encourages a horse without using the whip.

Quadpot

A bet where you try to pick a placed horse in 4 specific races.

Rail

The fence or barrier that outlines the racecourse.

Ran Out

When a horse veers off the official racing path.

Rated Race

A race where horses run based on their official ratings.

Rated Race

A race where horses run based on their ratings.

Rating

A measure of a horse’s ability as determined by the official handicapper.

Ringer

A horse entered in a race under another horse’s name or a horse that looks remarkably similar to another.

Rule 4

Deductions made from winning bets due to a horse being withdrawn from a race after your bet was placed.

Run-in

The final straight section of the race.

Running on Empty

A horse tiring and not running at its best.

Saddle Cloth

A cloth under the saddle displaying a horse’s number.

Second Favourite

The horse with the second shortest odds in a race.

Selling Race

A race where the winner is subsequently sold by auction.

Settling

Finalizing the accounts between a bookmaker and a punter.

Shoeing

The metal shoes horses wear, which can sometimes affect performance.

Short Head

The smallest winning margin in a race.

Shorten

When the odds of a horse decrease due to a lot of betting support.

Show

A bet on a horse to finish in the top three.

Silks

The jacket and cap worn by jockeys, in the owner’s colours.

Single

A bet on one selection to win.

Sire

A horse’s father.

SP or Starting Price

The official odds of a horse when the race begins.

Spread a Plate

When a horse loses a shoe.

Stall Handler

A person responsible for loading the horses into the starting stalls.

Stallion

A male horse used for breeding.

Stalls

Mechanism used to start flat races, ensuring all horses start simultaneously.

Starting Price (SP)

The odds of a horse at the time the race starts.

Stayer

A horse that specialises in racing over long distances.

Staying On

A horse that finishes strongly in a race.

Steeplechase

Racing over larger fences.

Steeplechasing

A type of National Hunt racing on a turf course that involves jumping fences and ditches.

Steward

Official overseeing the race.

Stewards’ Enquiry

A review of the race to check for rule breaches.

Stud

Where stallions and mares are bred.

Taken Up

When a jockey has to pull a horse up sharply to avoid trouble.

Tattersalls

A main British bloodstock auctioneer, and often refers to the ring where horses are paraded before a race.

Thoroughbred

A breed of horse best known for its speed and agility.

Tic-Tac

The sign language used by bookmakers to communicate odds.

Tipster

A person who gives betting advice.

Tongue Strap

Equipment used to prevent a horse from getting its tongue over the bit.

Top Weight

The horse carrying the most weight in a handicap race.

Tote Returns

The money returned to winning punters from the betting pool.

Tote

The organisation responsible for pool betting on horse racing.

Trainer

Person responsible for preparing the horse for racing.

Travelled Well

A horse that’s running comfortably during a race.

Treble

A single bet on three selections in different events. All three selections must win for the bet to be successful.

Tricast Bet

A bet predicting the first, second, and third places in a race.

Tricast

A bet where you aim to predict the first, second, and third in the correct order.

Trip

The distance of a race.

Trixie

A bet consisting of four bets on three selections in different events (3 doubles and 1 treble).

Under Order

When the race is about to start.

Under Orders

When horses are ready and waiting for the race to start.

Under Wraps

When a horse is held back by a jockey.

Underfoot Conditions

The state of the ground on which a race is run.

Underfoot

Refers to the condition of the ground on which a race will be run. Similar to “going.”

Union Jack

A bet on 9 selections covering 8 trebles.

Value Bet

A bet where the odds are perceived as favourable compared to the chance of the outcome.

Veterinary List

Horses that have been declared unfit to race due to health concerns.

Void Bet

A bet that’s declared null and void due to various reasons. Stakes are usually returned.

Void Race

A race declared invalid for betting purposes.

W.O.

Walk Over.

Walk Over

When only one horse is entered in a race and it has to walk the course to claim the prize.

Walkover

A race with only one runner. The horse must cross the finish line to win but is the only contender.

Weighed In

The official confirmation that the race result is valid, following the jockeys weighing in after the race.

Weights Room

The room where jockeys weigh in before and after a race.

Weights

Dumbbells carried in the jockey’s boots, saddle or hands to make up the required weight.

Went to Post

When a horse goes to the starting line for a race.

Whip

A tool used by the jockey to encourage the horse (its use is subject to strict rules).

Win Only

A bet where money is only won if the horse comes in first.

Win

A bet on a horse to finish first.

Wind Surgery

Surgery to improve a horse’s respiratory function.

Winner’s Enclosure

Where the winning horse and jockey go post-race.

Winning Distance

The length by which a horse wins the race.

Work Rider

A person who rides horses during training.

Yankee

A bet consisting of 11 bets on four selections in different events (6 doubles, 4 trebles, and 1 fourfold).

Yard

The stables and training facilities where a trainer keeps and trains their horses.

Yearling Sales

Auctions where young horses, typically one year old, are sold.

Yearling

A horse between one and two years old.

Yield

The return on a punter’s bet.

Zetland

A type of bumper race for two-year-olds.

Zoo

Slang for high odds, e.g., 100-1.

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