Up to Triple Crown Articles

posted November 26, 2007 at 17:53 in Triple Crown Articles

When reading footnotes of past performances or talking racetrack talk, knowing what the terminology means is important.

For example, it’s helpful for horsebetting players to ascertain what kind of trip a thoroughbred enjoyed or suffered through. For bad trip handicappers, like myself, the “B,” “C” and “S” words are essential:

Bobbled: A bad step at or near the gate in which a horse appears to stumble.

Checked: A runner pulled up by his jockey for an instant because of being cut off or racing in tight quarters.

Steadied: A horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually while in close quarters.

Racing jargon could fill a mini-dictionary and runs the gamut from:

“A”: Acey-deucy -- Uneven stirrups, popularized by Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro, who rode with his left (inside) iron lower than his right to achieve better balance on turns.

to:

“Z”: Zantac -- Trade name for the drug ranitidine, a medication used to treat ulcers.

While my horse racing vocabulary is extensive, years ago I had to check on some expressions I wasn’t clear about. They included:

Airing – Not running at best speed in a race.

Hung – A tiring horse that holds position.

On the muscle -- A fit horse.

Rank -- When a horse refuses to settle under a jockey’s handling in a race.

You’ll find racing glossaries on assorted websites. Here are some terms to get you started:

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. Actually, it’s three wagers.

Angled in (out): When the rider on an unimpeded horse elects to alter his mount’s running path inside to avoid potential congestion, generally a gradual move when the animal enters stretch; when jockey alters his mount’s running path outside to avoid potential congestion, generally when horse enters stretch.

Baby race: A contest for 2-year-olds.

Bleeder: Horse that bleeds from the lungs when small capillaries surrounding organ’s air sacs rupture; medical term is “exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.”

Blood may be seen coming out of the horse's nostrils although typically discovered by a fiber optic endoscopic examination after exercise. Hot, humid weather and cold are known to exacerbate the problem.

Climbing: When a horse lifts the front legs abnormally high while galloping, causing the animal to run inefficiently.

Conditions: Requirements of a particular race that may include age, sex, money, races won, weight carried and distance of the contest.

Driving: A horse that’s all out to win and under strong urging from the jockey.

False favorite: Horse that’s a favorite despite being outclassed by others in the field.

Good (track): Dirt track that is almost fast or a turf course slightly softer than firm.

Lasix: Medication that acts as a diuretic and aids in breathing.

Maiden (race): A horse or rider that hasn’t won a race; a race for non-winners.

Overlay: A horse going off at higher odds than appears to warrant based on its past performances.

Past performances: A horse’s racing record, earnings, bloodlines and other data, presented in composite form.

Point(s) of call: Horse’s position at various locations on the track noted on a chart, which vary with distance of a race.

Rabbit: A speed horse expected to set a fast pace for the half of an entry, usually a come-from-behind horse.

Ridden out: Horse that finishes a race under mild urging.

Route: Distance of a race that’s a mile or longer.

Socks: Solid white markings extending from top of the hoof to ankles.

Speed figure: Handicapping tool used to assign a numerical value to a horse’s performance.

Tight: Ready to race.

Washed out: Horse that becomes so nervous that the animal sweats profusely.

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