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| ACROSS THE BOARD | A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets. |
| ALL OUT | A horse who is trying to the best of his ability. |
| ALLOWANCE RACE | A race where weights and eligibility to enter are determined by conditions set by the racing secretary |
| ALSO-ELIGIBLE | A horse entered in the race but who cannot start unless another horse is scratched |
| ALSO-RAN | A horse who finishes out of the money |
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| BABY RACE | A race for 2-year-olds |
| BACKSTRETCH | The straight way on the far side of the track |
| BLANKET FINISH | When the horses finish so close for the win you could theoretically put a single blanket across them |
| BOARD | The tote board on which odds, betting pools and other race information is displayed |
| BREAKAGE | In pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or dime, those pennies that are left over. Breakage is generally split between the track and state and, in some cases, breeding or other funds, in varying proportions |
| BULL RING | Small racetrack less than one mile around |
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| CHUTE | Extension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run at the start |
| CLAIMING RACE | A race where horses are entered for a specified price and can be claimed (purchased) from the race for that price. Claimers are horses who generally run only in claiming races |
| CLASSIC | A race for three-year-olds, such as a Derby or Oaks, that has a long standing tradition behind it. The American classics are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes |
| CLOSER | A horse who runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace |
| CLUBHOUSE TURN | Generally the turn immediately after the finish line and closest to the clubhouse |
| COLORS | Racing silks, the jacket and cap worn by jockeys. Silks can be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner |
| CONDITIONED RACE | Eligibility to enter is determined by a set of conditions such as age, sex, races won, etc. |
| COUPLED | Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit |
| CUPPY | A track surface which breaks away under a horse's hoof |
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| DAILY DOUBLE | Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second |
| DEAD-HEAT | Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the finish |
| DEAD TRACK | Racing surface lacking resiliency |
| DERBY | A stakes race for three-year-olds |
| DISTAFF RACE | A race for fillies, mares, or both |
| DISTANCED | Well beaten, finishing a long distance behind the winner |
| DRIVING | Strong urging by rider |
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| EVENLY | Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race |
| EXACTA (or PERFECTA) | A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked |
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| FAST TRACK | The optimum condition for a dirt track, dry, fast and even |
| FIELD HORSE (or MUTUEL FIELD) | Two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than positions on the totalisator board can accommodate |
| FIRM | A optimum condition for a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track |
| FIRST TURN | Bend in the track beyond the starting point |
| FRONT-RUNNER | A horse who usually leads (or tries to lead) the field for as far as he can |
| FURLONG | One-eighth of a mile; 220 yards; 660 feet |
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| GOOD TRACK | Condition between fast and slow, generally a bit wet |
| GRADED RACE | The most important or prestigious races in North America are assigned grades (I, II, or III) based on the quality of previous winners and the race's influence on other races or championships |
| GROUP RACE | European equivalent to North American graded races |
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| HANDICAP | Race where the racing secretary or track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried |
| HEAD OF THE STRETCH | Beginning of the straight run for the finish |
| HEAVY | Condition of track when wet similar to muddy but slower |
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| IN THE MONEY | Finishing first, second or third |
| INQUIRY | Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on tote board on such occasions |
| INVITATIONAL | A stakes race open only to horses who are invited to enter. Generally no entry fee is charged |
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| LENGTH | Length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet |
| LOCK | Slang for a "sure thing" winner |
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| MAIDEN RACE | Horses who have not yet won a race are referred to as maidens, hence a race for non winners |
| MINUS POOL | A mutuel pool caused when one horse is so heavily played that, after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet. The racing association usually makes up the difference |
| MORNING LINE | Approximate odds quoted before wagering begins |
| MUDDY | Deep condition of racetrack after being soaked with water. Horses who run will on wet tracks are generally referred to as mudders |
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| NECK | Unit of measurement, about the length of a horse's neck; a quarter of a length |
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| OAKS | A stakes race for 3-year-old fillies |
| OBJECTION | Claim of foul lodged by rider, patrol judge or other official. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry |
| ODDS-ON | Odds of less than even money. In England it is simply called "on," thus a horse "5-4 on" is actually at odds of 4-5 |
| OFFICIAL | Sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official |
| ON THE NOSE | Betting a horse to win only |
| OVERLAY | A horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances |
| OVERNIGHT RACE | A race where entries close a specific number of hours before running (such as 48 hours), as opposed to a stakes race where nominations close far in advance |
| OVERWEIGHT | Surplus weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the assigned weight |
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| PADDOCK | Area where horses are saddled and kept before post time |
| PASTEBOARD TRACK | Lightning fast racing strip |
| PHOTO FINISH | A result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish |
| PLACE | Second position at finish |
| PLACE BET | Wager on a horse to finish first or second |
| POLE | Markers at measured distances around the track, marking the distance from the finish. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start |
| POOL | Mutuel pool, the total sum bet on a race or a particular bet |
| POST | Starting point or position in starting gate |
| POST PARADE | Horses going from paddock to starting gate past the stands |
| POST POSITION | Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts |
| POST TIME | Designated time for a race to start |
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| QUINELLA | Wager in which first two finishers must be picked, but payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second |
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| ROUTE RACE | A race run at a mile or longer, generally around two turns |
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| SADDLE CLOTH | Cloth under the saddle on which number denoting post position is displayed |
| SCALE OF WEIGHTS | Fixed weights to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year |
| SCRATCH | To be taken out of a race |
| SHOW | Third position at the finish |
| SHOW BET | Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better |
| SLOPPY | A track that is wet on surface with firm bottom |
| SLOW | A track with some moisture in it that is not fast, between good and heavy |
| SPRINT RACE | A race run at less than a mile, generally with only one turn |
| STAKE | A race for which an owner must pay an entry fee to run his horse. The fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, and are generally added to the amount put up by the track to make up the total purse |
| STARTING GATE | Mechanical device with stalls for horses to stand in until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race |
| STRAIGHT | Betting to win only |
| STRETCH | Final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish |
| STRETCH RUNNER | Horse who finishes fast in the stretch |
| STRETCH TURN | Bend of track into homestretch |
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| TAKE (or TAKEOUT) | Commission deducted from mutuel pools which is shared by the track and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax |
| TOUT | Person who professes to have, and sells, advance information on a race |
| TRACK RECORD | Fastest time for a distance at a particular track |
| TRIFECTA (or TRIPLE) | A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order |
| TURF COURSE | Grass course |
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| UNDERLAY | A horse racing at longer odds than he should |
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| WARMING UP | Galloping horse on way to post |
| WIN | Cross the finish line first |
| WIN BET | Wager on a horse to finish first |
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