Horse Racing: Glossary of Terms

Allowances: Any approved reductions in the weight that is carried by a horse in a race. Allowances are given under certain specified conditions, including when an apprentice jockey is riding, when a female horse is racing against male horses, or when 3-year-old horses are racing against older horses.

Apprentice: A jockey in training, an apprentice rider must ride a certain number of winners in a specified period of time before completing his or her apprenticeship. An apprentice is also known as a bug boy (see "bug boy" below).

Backed: A horse on which a lot of bets have been placed is said to be "backed."

Boxed (in): Being trapped between, behind or inside of the other horses during a race, therefore inhibiting a jockey from breaking away from the rest of the field.

Bug Boy: See "apprentice" (above) — Apprentice jockeys are called bug boys because the asterisk next to their names in racing programs looks like a bug.

Closer: A horse that runs best in the latter part of the race

Colors: Refers to the racing silks worn by riders (a jacket and cap), which are colored to denote the owner(s) of the horse.

Colt: A male horse under 5 years of age

Derby: A stakes event for 3-year-old horses

False Favorite: A horse that is a race favorite despite being outclassed by others

Field: The horses in a race

Filly: A female horse under 5 years old

Foal: A horse under 1 year old, regardless of sex

Furlong: One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards

Gelding: A castrated adult male horse

Graded Race: Established in 1973 to classify select stakes races in North America; graded races are always denoted with Roman numerals I, II or III; grade is capitalized when used in a race title — The Grade I Kentucky Derby (Also see "stakes race" below).

Mare: A female horse 5 years or older

Master: A master is also known as a trainer.

On the Board: Finishing among the first three

Paddock: The area where horses are saddled before being taken onto the track

Purse: The prize money for a race

Sophomores: Three-year-old horses — they are called sophomores because it is the second year they are eligible for racing.

Stakes Race: A race in which the owner of the horse usually must pay a fee to run a horse — some stakes races are by invitation and require no payment or fee.

Stallion: An adult male horse that has not been castrated

Stick: A jockey's whip

Stud: Male horse used for breeding

Stud Book: An official record of the pedigrees of purebred horses

Tack: A rider's racing equipment

Thoroughbred: A thoroughbred is a horse whose parentage traces back to any of the three foundation sires for the breed: the Darley Arabian, Byerly Turk and Godolphin Barb. Thoroughbreds must also satisfy the rules and requirements of The Jockey Club and be registered in the American Stud Book or in a foreign stud book recognized by The Jockey Club and the International Stud Book Committee. Any other horse, no matter what its parentage, is not considered a thoroughbred for racing and/or breeding purposes.

Triple Crown: Used generically to denote a series of three important races. In the United States, Triple Crown is used to denote the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes; in England, it is used for the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes; and in Canada, it is used with the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes and Breeders' Stakes.