A Glossary Of Horse Racing Phrases And Their Meanings

Ante-post Betting days, weeks or months before thePhoto finish A photograph that shows the winner in a
race is due to take place.close finished race.
Course specialist A horse that runs well at a particularSchooled A horse that has been trained to jump.
track.Spread plate When a horseshoe falls off or detaches
Gelding Castrated horse.from a horses hoof.
Going The description of the ground conditions. Heavy,Steamer A horse whose price shortens dramatically in
soft, good to soft, good, good to firm, firm, hard.the betting prices.
Green An inexperienced horse.Stewards A panel of men and women who are
Jolly Betting talk for the horse that is the race favorite.responsible for seeing that the rules of racing are kept
Maiden A horse that has not won a race.to.
Odds-on Odds when the winnings are less than theSteward's enquiry An enquiry by the stewards into the
stake.running of a race.
Off the bit Describes a horse being rousted along byRun Free This phrase is used to describe a horse that
the jockey.has gone off too fast in the early stages of a race.
On the bit Describes a horse going well within himself.Tic-tac A bookmaker's method of relaying betting
Over The top This phrase means a horse has passedodds information on the racecourse by means of hand
is peak ability for the current season.signals.
Plater A horse that usually runs in selling races.Walk over A race with only one runner.