A glossary of racing terms to get you through the spring carnival
Even at the best of times, it can be difficult to understand the race language of being knocked over, let down, or nose-to-nose when you’re balancing a fitness guide in one hand and a drink in the other at a venue you rarely visit more than once a year.
We’ve translated some of the terms you’ll hear a lot during the carnival, so you’ll know what others are talking about at the races, or at least act like you know.
Barrier: The starting gate from which the horses jump. Lower numbered inside barriers are generally considered advantageous as they allow the horse to cover the least distance, but it is not uncommon for runners to prefer outside barriers as it minimizes their chance of being pinched.
Horses were fitted with flashing lights during a race at Rosehill.Credit: Jenny Evans
Black bookstore: A horse marked as worth pursuing by a bookmaker in the belief that they may win in the near future.
Black type: A black type race, also known as a stakes race, is a race at Listed level or higher, such as in groups 1-3. The names of horses that win or place in such races are shown in bold in pedigree charts and sales catalogues.
Flashing lights: A device worn around a horse’s eyes that helps them focus by limiting their peripheral vision so they are not distracted by the horses around them. It can also be useful for a punter to concentrate on the form guide and avoid the many trackside distractions on a big race day.
Blow: A horse whose luck suddenly increases is said to have been hit. If you trust the market, you don’t want to be on such a horse.
Box seat: A position in a race where the horse is outside the fence and directly behind the leader. The horse in the box seat is also in danger of entering a large box. The lodge seat is not actually a lodge seat.
Checked: Interference suffered by a horse whose run is hindered by an unruly rival. Race participants queuing may also be checked by someone lining up at the bar.
Some horses refuse to jump the barrier.Credit: john shakespeare
Colt: A male horse that is three years of age or younger, has not been neutered, and can therefore grow into a stallion (four years and up) or a full stallion, is a term that describes the horse as still, ahem, sound. The foal is marked “c” in racebooks and form guides, the filly is marked “m” and the filly is marked “f”, while the stallion is marked “h” for horse. Naturally.
Lid: A protected horse is one racing in another’s current. In theory this should help the horse save energy by reducing wind resistance, but any advantage may be exaggerated as front row runners often win. Regarding breeding, a stallion is said to cover the mare when mating. We’ll let you figure this out on your own.
In each direction: Equal bet on a horse to win and fulfill. Experienced bettors are skeptical of supporters on both sides.
Mare: Female horse three years old and under. Also a derogatory term given to a young woman. Don’t do this. The year is 2025.
First: The horse that races its first race in 90 days or more wins. Some gallopers perform better at first, while others need more races to improve their fitness. It’s clear that your friend, who is struggling because he rarely goes out, needs more racing.
LONG: It is more commonly known as the 200 metres, but the still widespread use of imperial distance units shows how closely tied the races can remain to the past. Similarly, a race over one mile is 1600m, but 1609.34m is more precise.
Castration: Sterilized male horse. Horses are gelded according to a belief held by their trainers and owners (although the horse would undoubtedly disagree), which helps them focus on the racetrack or reduce excess body weight without being distracted by the opposite sex.
Mudbirds love wet runways.Credit: john shakespeare
Exit Bets: The colloquial reference to the last race on the card is the last chance for punters in the back to get off the track in front. Of course, gamble responsibly.
Handicap: A race where horses are given weights based on their performance. Better performing horses carry more weight. All elite races are generally handicap, with a few notable exceptions such as the Melbourne and Caulfield cups.
HEAD: As you can imagine, the margin of defeat is as narrow as a horse’s head. The same goes for the “neck” and “nose”, also known as the short half-head.
In red: In the days of fractional odds, odds on horses with high odds (under $2) were shown in red on bookmakers’ betting boards. Bettors who lose on an odds-on favorite may be left red-faced and in the red.
Bounce: It is often accompanied by the word “slow” meaning that the horse is moving slowly.
He knocked on the door: A horse that tired significantly and finished well away from the winner. It has nothing to do with pregnancy.
Spread: A bettor may bet on the horse, increasing his odds in the belief that the runner has no chance of winning. The bettor must be careful not to place a certainty (misère) on winning. Then there are horses that cannot run straight, but lie down depending on which way they go.
Let down: When a horse is let down, he is asked to do his best towards the end of the race. More often than not, punters who backed a horse that didn’t disappoint feel let down.
Maiden: A horse that didn’t win a race. Virgins tend not to be disappointed like others.
Mare: Female horse four years old and over. Recently a shortened term has been used for “nightmare” – like “having a mare”.
– Mudlark: A horse that exhibits superior performance on wet surfaces. Non-racing fans may remember a scene in Seinfeld where Kramer supports the mudfield because his “dad was a mudman and his mother was a mudman.”
Key conditions for ‘Fender’: The famous Melbourne Cup in 1976, which was affected by heavy rain.Credit: age library
From/away from string: A jockeyed horse is engaged to encourage them to run faster – either by using, ahem, persuasion (see below) or by giving the reins more loosely – this is a bit out of the question. The later your horse stays, the better. It can also be applied socially to a friend who puts in a lot of effort for little in return.
Quickly: A location near the front of a race. The Pacers have a statistically better chance of winning.
On the nose: Backing a horse only to win. It has nothing to do with a bad smell, but you may end up giving your friends a thumbs up if you fail to tip the winner.
Parade: The horses meet their jockeys in the mounting area where they are introduced to the public by walking laps of the enclosure so punters can assess their condition and behaviour.
Whips are used to “persuade” the horse.Credit: john shakespeare
Convincing: A colloquial and veiled reference to the jockey’s whip used to encourage a horse to run faster.
Plunge: A sudden influx of money from a bet on a horse. Not to be confused with wavy necklines.
Gradual: It is the term often used by a trainer or jockey for a racehorse being developed and has nothing to do with politics. It can also be used with “go over the notes” and “go up”.
Pull: A horse that races excessively is said to be pulling. You don’t want your horse to do this. Imagine a dog walking faster than you allow and how much unnecessary energy he expends fighting you.
Quaternary: The affectionate name for quadrella, a type of betting that requires you to pick the winner of four races, usually the last four races on the card. The mood of successful four-way bettors often contrasts with the mood of those who fail to get out.
Numbers game: betting on horses.Credit: Phil Carrick
Quinella: This is a bet where you must pick the first two place receivers in any order, unlike Exacta which requires the first two place receivers in exact order.
Equipment: A male horse whose testicles have not fallen into the scrotum. It should definitely not be confused with emasculation.
Massacre: Have no fear, a horse that was slaughtered is still alive and well, they lost a race they should have won because the jockey walked them so badly.
Sprinter: A horse that competes best over distances of 1400 meters or less. For example, Black Caviar.
Remainder: A horse that competes best at distances over 2000 metres. For example, Makybe Diva.
Raid: A horse that races at or near the back of the field, usually in the middle or outside of the course, before making a late run in the straight. He is no relation to former V/AFL player and coach John “Swooper” Northey.
Winning the Trifecta is a good thing. A Meatloaf trifecta, not so much.Credit: john shakespeare
In three widths: Also three deep. A position on the field in which a horse runs over the fence three times. Although they cover extra distance in turns, being on rails may be preferable as they are less likely to get stuck.
Top weight: The horse wearing saddle cloth number 1. It may be called “toppy” by the racing public and those who want to appear more knowledgeable. Extra points if you say you’ll support the “toppy at the end.”
Trio: A betting mode where you have to choose who will take the first three places in exact order. It is often used in conjunction with the “boxed trifecta”, where horses can finish in any order. Losing punters can be heard whining about the Meat Loaf trio when they take two-thirds.
Weight for age: System in which weights are distributed to horses according to their age and gender. Top quality racehorses run to avoid handicaps in such races; here they are weighted according to their abilities and therefore carry a higher weight.
