Horse Racing Betting Dictionary
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Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Age
Every horse shares "birthday" of January first. A horse becomes one year old on the first of January after he or she is born, and turns two, one year later - regardless of the actual date of his or her birth.
Allowance Race
A race other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights.
B
Blanket Finish
Or photo-finish in which two or more horses are very close at the finish line (one can "throw a blanket over them"). Very common in American Quarter Horse racing.
Break
When a horse gallops, instead of trotting or pacing, it's on a break. The driver must get the horse out of the way of the others, must not improve his position, and must attempt to get the horse back on its proper gait. A horse is not automatically disqualified by making a break.
Bullring
A racetrack with either a half-mile or 5/8ths mile oval.
C
Claiming Race
Race in which horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price.
Colt
A male horse, age three or under.
D
Daily Double
A type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second.
Dead Heat
A tie. Two or more horses finishing equal in a race.
Derby
A stakes event for three-year-olds.
Dividend
The amount that a winning or placed horse returns for every $1 that was bet.
Double Quinella
A wager type that requires the selection of the first two finishers, regardless of order, in each of the two specified contests. This wager type is also known as quinella double.
E
Entry
A horse entered in a race is called an entry. On rare occasions, two or more horses are said to be coupled and run as an entry, comprising a single wagering unit. A wager on one horse of an entry is a wager on both.
Exacta
A wager that picks the first two finishers in a race in the exact order of finish. Also referred to as Perfecta.
Exacta Box
A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are covered.
Exotic
Any wager other than win, place or show.
Exposure
The amount of money one actually stands to lose on a game or race.
Extended
Forced to run at top speed.