Horse Racing Terms: A Glossary for New Bettors
Horse racing has its own vocabulary, and the program assumes you know it. This glossary defines the horse racing terms you will see on a program, a tote board and a betting ticket, in plain language.
Four terms to learn first
A furlong is one eighth of a mile. A maiden is a horse that has not won a race. A scratch is a horse withdrawn before the race. Post time is when the race is scheduled to start.
Betting terms
Horse racing betting terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Across the board | A win, place and show bet on one horse. |
| Box | A bet covering your horses in every finishing order. |
| Key | A bet with one horse fixed in a position and others around it. |
| Wheel | A key bet using every other horse in the race. |
| Exotic | Any bet other than win, place or show. |
| Chalk | The betting favorite. |
| Longshot | A horse at high odds. |
| Overlay | A horse whose odds are higher than its real chance deserves. |
| Underlay | A horse whose odds are lower than its real chance deserves. |
| In the money | Finishing first, second or third. |
| Handle | The total amount bet on a race or a day. |
| Takeout | The share of the pool the track keeps before paying winners. |
| Breakage | Rounding payouts down, usually to the nearest 10 cents. |
| Carryover | Pool money rolled to the next day when nobody hits a bet such as the Pick 6. |
| Morning line | The track oddsmaker's estimate of final odds, printed in the program. |
| Tote board | The display showing live odds, pools and payouts. |
| Pari-mutuel | A pool betting system where winners split the pool after takeout. |
Race types and class
Types of horse races
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Maiden race | A race for horses that have never won. |
| Claiming race | A race where every horse is for sale at a set price. |
| Allowance race | A step above claiming, with conditions on past wins or earnings. |
| Stakes race | A higher-class race with a large purse, often with entry fees. |
| Graded stakes | The top stakes races, ranked Grade 1 (highest), Grade 2 and Grade 3. |
| Handicap race | A race where weights are assigned to even out the field. |
| Purse | The prize money for a race. |
Terms on the program
Program and race day terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Post time | The scheduled start time of a race. |
| Post position | The starting gate stall a horse breaks from. |
| Scratch | A horse withdrawn from a race before it starts. |
| Also-eligible | A horse that gets into the race only if another scratches. |
| Coupled entry | Two or more horses that run as one betting interest. |
| Past performances | The record of a horse's previous races, printed in the program or racing form. |
| Speed figure | A number rating how fast a horse ran, adjusted for the track that day. |
| Workout | A timed training run between races. |
| Blinkers | Equipment that limits a horse's side vision to help it focus. |
| Colt | A male horse aged four or younger. |
| Filly | A female horse aged four or younger. |
| Gelding | A castrated male horse. |
| Mare | A female horse aged five or older. |
Track, distance and finish terms
Track and finish terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Furlong | One eighth of a mile, or 220 yards. |
| Length | About the length of a horse, used to measure margins. |
| Dirt and turf | The two main racing surfaces. Turf is grass. |
| Fast track | A dry dirt surface. |
| Sloppy track | A wet dirt surface with standing water. |
| Photo finish | A finish so close the camera decides the order. |
| Dead heat | A tie between two or more horses. |
| Inquiry | A review of the race by the stewards. |
| Objection | A foul claim made by a jockey or trainer. |
| Front-runner | A horse that likes to lead early. |
| Closer | A horse that runs best late. |
A scratch affects your ticket. Straight bets on a scratched horse are refunded. In multi-race bets, rules vary by track, and you often get the post-time favorite instead.
Ready to use the terms? Start with how to bet on horses, then read every bet type explained. For sports betting vocabulary, see our sports betting glossary.
Horse racing terms people ask about
What does scratch mean in horse racing?+
A scratch is a horse withdrawn from a race before it starts. Win, place and show bets on a scratched horse are refunded.
What is a maiden race?+
A race for horses that have never won. A horse "breaks its maiden" with its first win.
What is a claiming race?+
A race where every horse entered can be bought for a set price by a licensed owner or trainer.
How long is a furlong?+
One eighth of a mile, or 220 yards. A six-furlong race is three quarters of a mile.
What does chalk mean in horse racing?+
The chalk is the betting favorite. A "chalky" result means favorites won.
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