QUALIFIER – a race where a harness horse must contest a mile, below an established time standard, to prove itself capable of competing in pari-mutuel races
QUARTER - one-quarter of a mile; 440 yards; 1,320 feet.
QUARTER POLE - marker one-quarter mile from the finish.
QUINELLA - a wager in which the first two finishers must be picked in either order.
RABBIT - a horse that is considered to have little chance of winning a race but is entered purely to ensure a fast pace, softening up the competition for the benefit of the entry mate.
RACING SECRETARY - official who drafts conditions of races and assigns weights for handicap events.
RAIL RUNNER - horse who prefers to run next to inside rail.
RESERVED - held off the pace.
RIDDEN OUT - refers to a horse that wins under a vigorous hand ride but is not being whipped.
RIDGLING - a horse with one nut.
ROMP - running (or winning) with utmost ease.
ROUTE - race distance of a mile or longer.
ROUTER - horse who perfoms well at distance races.
RUNDOWN BANDAGES - (or WRAPS) - bandages on the hind legs.
SADDLE CLOTH - a cloth under the saddle on which a horse's wagering number is displayed.
SCALE OF WEIGHTS - fixed imposts to be carried by horses in a race according to age, distance, sex, and time of year.
SCRATCH - to be taken out of a race.
SECOND CALL -a second engagement of a jockey who already is listed for a mount in a race.
SET DOWN - a suspension. Also, put to a drive, or asked to run by the jockey.
SEVEN FURLONGS - seven-eighths of a mile; 1,540 yards; 4,620 feet.
SEX ALLOWANCE - fillies and mares, according to their age and time of year, are allowed to carry less weight when meeting males.
SHOW - third position at the finish.
SHOW BET - wager on a horse to finish in the money, third or better.
SILKS - jacket and cap worn by riders which designate owner of the horse.
SIX FURLONGS - three-quarters of a mile; 1,320 yards; 3,960 feet.
SIXTEENTH - one-sixteenth of a mile; 110 yards, 330 feet.
SLOPPY - condition of track. Wet on surface with firm bottom.
SLOW - footing that is not fast, between good and heavy.
SOLID HORSE - contender.
SOPHOMORE - three-year-old horse.
STAKES-PLACED - finishing first, second or third in a stakes race.
STAKE - a race for which the owner must pay a fee to run his horse. Some stakes races are by invitation and require no payment or fee.
STAKES HORSE - one capable of competing in such events.
STALLION - entire male horse.
STARTER RACE - an allowance or handicap race restricted to horses who have started for a specific claiming price or less.
STARTING GATE - a mechanical device having partitions (stalls) for horses in which they are confined until the starter releases the doors in front to begin the race.
STATE-BRED - a horse bred in a particular state and thus eligible to compete in special races restricted to state-breds.
STEADIED - a horse being taken in hand by his rider, usually because of being in close quarters.
STEPS UP - a horse moving up in class.
STEWARDS - officials of the meeting responsible for enforcing the rules.
STRETCH - final straight portion of the racetrack to the finish.
STRETCH CALL - position of horses at the eighth pole, usually about halfway down the stretch.
STRETCH RUNNER - horse who finishes fast.
STRETCH TURN - bend of track into homestretch.
STRIDE - manner of going. Also distance covered after each foot has touched the ground once.
STUD - male horse used for breeding.
STUD BOOK - registry and genealogical record of the breeding of Thoroughbreds maintained by the Jockey Club.
SUBSCRIPTION - fee paid by owner to nominate horse for a stakes race or to maintain eligibility for a stakes race.
SUSPEND (or SUSPENSION) - a punishment for infraction of rules.