Horses Trainer & Their Location

RACING JARGON BUSTER

When visiting the races for the first time, it is easy to be put off by some of the weird and wonderful phrases you hear around the Racecourse but once you are up to speed, it is all part of the fun. Here are some of the most common racing terms you are likely to hear when you are racing. Brush up on them and you will sound likeaseasoned professional in no time! BACKWARD A young horse which needs time to mature, both physically and mentally. CHASE Short for steeple chase, meaning a race over fences as opposed to the smaller hurdles. HORSES who run over fences are called ‘chasers’. CONNECTIONS The owner and trainer of a horse. DISTANCE The length of a race, which over jumps ranges from two miles to four and a half miles. FENCES The larger obstacles onaJump racing course which are roughly four and a half feet high and made of birch. Horses usually start over hurdles before graduating to fences. FURLONG The unit of measurement for all races in Great Britain. One furlong is 220 yards or 200 metres (one eighth of a mile). GELDING A male horse who has been castrated – almost all male horses who run over jumps are geldings. GOING Description of the ground on the racecourse depending on how soft it is, ranging from heavy (very soft) to firm (not soft at all). HANDICAP A type of race in which the higher the horse’ s official rating, the more weight it carries, in order to give all horses a theoretically equal chance. HURDLES The smaller obstacles on a Jump racing course which are roughly three and a half feet high. MARE A female horse over four years old. Younger female horses are called fillies. NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE Also known as a ‘bumper’, a race without hurdles or fences which allows young horses to get used to racing. NOVICE A horse in its first season jumping either fences (novice chaser) or hurdles (novice hurdler). OFFICIAL RATING A numerical expression of a horse’s ability, in pounds, which determines how much weight it must carry if it races inahandicap. OFF THE BRIDLE Describes a horse being encouraged by its jockey because the horse is struggling to keep up with the leaders. If a horse is described as ‘on the bridle’ it is deemed to be going well. PHOTO FINISH A high-speed electronic camera which captures pictures of the horses as they pass the winning line, allowing the winner to be determined in close finishes. RUN FREELY Describes a horse running too fast, usually early inarace. If a horse uses too much of its energy too early, it tends to compromise its chance of finishing well. STAY/STAYING ON Horses that stay have the stamina required to run overacertain distance. ‘Staying on’ refers to when a horse’s stamina kicks in at the end of a race. STEWARD A roving official employed by the British Horseracing Authority who is responsible for seeing that the rules of racing are adhered to. STEWARDS’ ENQUIRY Held after a race if an incident in which the rules of racing may have been broken has occurred. The result of the race is not official until the stewards’ enquiry has finished. TRAVELLING The way a horse is galloping during the course of a race. WEIGH IN/OUT The process jockeys must undergo before and after a race to ensure the correct weight has been carried.