Acceptor
A horse remaining in a race after the key declaration stage
All out
A horse giving everything
Allowance
Weight relief of up to 7lb awarded to an inexperienced rider
Amateur
A jockey who has not turned professional and does not receive a fee for riding in the race. Identified on any racecard by their title: Mr, Mrs, Ms, Captain
Ante-post odds
Odds offered in advance of the day of a particular race. Bets so placed are lost if your horse is a non-starter
Apprentice
A young professional jockey in training who can also claim a weight allowance
At the post
The point at which horses gather immediately before the start of a race
Back
To bet on a horse
Banker
A selection that is considered unlikely to lose - often the cornerstone of combination bets
Bar
The lowest odds for horses not mentioned in the betting forecast (66-1 bar means those not listed will run at 66-1 or more)
Bay
A horse which has a brown body and black mane
Blinkers
A type of hood that fits over a horse's head to prevent it from seeing sideways and helps it concentrate it's attention
Bridle (won on the)
Won easily without being pushed out
Cheek Pieces
Sheepskin bands on each side of the bridle which help keep the horse focused
Chestnut
A horse with a ginger body, mane and tail
Claimer
An apprentice flat race jockey
Claiming Race
A race where the winner can be claimed from the yard for a set fee
Classics
The five major three-year-old races of the flat season: the 1000 Guineas, the 2000 Guineas, the Derby, the Oaks and the St Leger.
Clerk of the Course
The racecourse official responsible for overall management of a racecourse during raceday
Colours
A jockey's shirt or silks which identify the owner of the horse
Colt
A young ungelded male horse aged up to four years
Conditional Jockey
A National Hunt jockey, under 26, who receives a weight allowance for inexperience until he has ridden a certain number of winners. The jumping equivalent of an apprentice
Conditions Race
A race in which the weights carried are determined by the sex of the runners - with female runners carrying less weight than males
Course Specialist
Horse which tends to run well at a particular track
Cut in the Ground
A description of ground condition when there is 'give' in the soil - also known as 'soft going'
Dam
A horse's mother
Dark Horse
A possible good horse but with its full potential still unknown
Dead Heat
Two or more horses passing the post at the same time which cannot be separated by the judge even after consulting a photo finish
Distance
The margin by which a horse is beaten by the horse directly in front
Draw
The starting positions in the stalls allotted to horses contesting races on the flat
Dual Forecast
A bet involving the prediction of the first and second horses in a race in either order
Each Way
A win bet and a place bet on the same horse
Even Money or Evens
Odds in which the return is double the amount staked on a win
Favourite
The horse as rated by the starting prices which is considered most likely to win
Filly
Female horse aged up to 4 years old
Forecast
To predict the first two horses in a race
Form
A consideration of how a horse is currently performing
Furlong
An eighth of a mile (220 yards)
Galloping Track
A wide track that suits big horses with big strides
Gelding
Castrated Horse
Get the trip
Stay the distance
Going
The state of the ground on which racing will take place
Handicapper
Professional responsible for allotting the weights to be carried by each horse in a handicap
Handicap
Races in which horses are allotted different weights with the object of nullifying any disparity in their ability
Judge
Official responsible for declaring the finishing order of a race and the distances between the runners
Juvenile
A two year old Flat horse or a three year old National Hunt horse
Lead
Weights carried in the saddle which make up the difference between the jockey's weight and what the horse is assigned to carry
Left handed track
Racecourse where horses run anti-clockwise
Levy
Much of the money that goes towards prizes and improvements to racecourses comes from levies collected from bookmakers. The body responsible for this is known as the Levy Board
Maiden Race
As a general rule this is a race for horses, colts, geldings or fillies, which have never won a race
Mare
A female horse over five years old
Market
The prices offered for each runner by bookmakers at the course
Nap
The main selection
National Hunt
Jump racing over fences and hurdles
Noseband
A sheepskin band around the horse's nose
Novice
An inexperienced horse
Nursery
A handicap race for two-year-olds
Objection
A complaint by one jockey against another regarding a breach of rules during a race
Odds Against
Odds offered which would give a return more than double the amount staked for a win
Odds On
Odds offered which would give a return less than double the amount staked for a win
Off the bridle
A horse that is struggling to go with the gallop
On the bridle
A horse going with ease
Overround
The percentage profit a bookmaker makes on a race
Over the top
A horse past his peak for the season
Overweight
When a jockey's riding weight is above the minimum allowed by the handicapper
Pace
The speed at which a race is run
Paddock
Area of the race course incorporating the parade ring and the winner's enclosure
Penalty
The additional weight carried by a horse on account of previous wins
Photo Finish
A photo of horses crossing the winning line used to decide close outcomes
Place Bet
A bet on 2nd, 3rd or 4th position - dependent on the type of race
Pulling
A horse pulling on the bit
Punter
The individual who puts on a bet
Selling Race
A race the winner of which is afterwards sold at auction
Stake
The amount of money bet
Starting Price
The final odds prevailing at the time the race starts
Starting Stalls
An automated release gate used in flat racing to ensure every horse gets a level break
Stayer
A horse with stamina likely to perform best over longer distances
Steeplechase
A longer distance horse race over fences, ditches and jumps
Stewards
Representatives of the Turf Club who regulate every meeting
Stewards Enquiry
An investigation by the stewards into any incidents during the race
Sticks
Jumps, hurdles or fences
Tattersall's
The enclosure next in status to 'Members'
Tic-tac
A means of signalling with the arms used by bookmakers' agents to denote price changes
Tight Track
A narrow track with tight turns that suits the smaller more nimble horses
Tipster
Anyone who seeks to predict the outcome of a race
Tongue Strap
A piece of cloth or elastic tied on the horse's tongue to keep it in place during a race
Unfancied
Not expected to win
Visor
A similar device to blinkers but less restrictive
Weigh In/Out
Weighing a jockey and saddle before and after a race to make sure the correct weight is carried
Weighed in
The official declaration ratifying the result
Weight
The amount the horse has to carry in the race
Weight-for-age scale
The official scale of weight allowances accorded when a race is for animals of different age groups
Win Bet
A single bet on the winner of a race