CARD – a term for a program of racing. For example, twelve races on the card simply means twelve races will be run on that particular day.
CHALK – the favourite or the most heavily bet horse in a race
CHART – statistical “picture” of a race from which past performances are compiled. Shows the position and margin of each horse at designated points of call, age, weight carried, owner, trainer, purse, odds, payoffs, times and other data.
CHECKED – when, during a race, a jockey or driver has to slow or stop the motion of his horse due to close quarters or interference
CHESTNUT – the light reddish-brown to golden orange colour of a horse with no black points. Mane and tail are usually of matching colour.
CHUTE – a straight extension of the racetrack at the head of either the back or home stretches so that races do not have to start on a turn
CLAIMING – buying a horse out of a race for the entered price
CLAIMING RACE – race in which all horses entered are subject to being claimed or purchased for a specified price regardless of where they finish. The horse goes to the new owner but any purse money won goes to the former owner.
CLASSIC – race of traditional importance
CLERK OF SCALES – an official whose chief duty is to weigh the riders before and after a race to be sure proper weight is carried
CLOCKER – one who times workouts and races
CLOSER – a horse who runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace
CLUBHOUSE TURN – generally, the first turn after the finish line, closest to the Clubhouse end of the grandstand
COLOURS – the colourful shirt and cap cover worn by a jockey which signifies the owner or stable of the horse they are riding - silks
COLT – male horse under five years of age (thoroughbreds) or under four years of age (standardbreds)
CONDITION BOOK – book issued by racing secretary which sets the conditions of races to be run
CONDITION RACE – a race with conditions limiting it to a certain class of horse based on age, sex, money won or races won. Example: Fillies, three-year-olds, non-winners of two races other than maiden or claiming etc.
CONTRACT RIDER – jockey riding under contract to a stable
COUPLED – two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit
COVER – when a horse runs behind another horse moving on the outside of the field, it faces less wind resistance (i.e. it is racing with cover)
CUPPY (TRACK) – a surface which breaks away under a horse’s hoof
CUSHION – surface of track or a layer of the track
DAILY DOUBLE – type of wager calling for the selection of the winners of the first and second races on the card
DAM – the mother of the horse
DEAD-HEAT – two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the wire
DEAD TRACK – racing surface lacking resiliency
DISQUALIFICATION – change of order of finish by officials for an infraction of the rules
DISTAFF (DISTAFF RACE) – female; a race for fillies, mares, or both
DISTANCED – well beaten, finishing a great distance behind the winner
DQ – disqualified
DRIVING – strong urging by rider or driver
DROPDOWN – a horse facing a lower class of rivals than he had been running against
EASED – chart caller’s assessment of a horse that is being deliberately slowed by the jockey or driver to prevent injury or harm to the horse
EASILY – running or winning without being pressed by rider/driver or opposition
EIGHTH – a furlong; 220 yards; 660 feet, 1/8 of a mile
ELIGIBLE – qualified to start in a race, according to conditions
ENTRY – two or more horses owned by the same stable or (in some cases) trained by the same trainer and thus running as a single betting unit
EQUIPMENT – whip, blinkers, etc. Gear worn by a horse, jockey or driver in a race.
EQUIVALENT ODDS – mutuel price horses pay for each $1 bet
EVENLY – neither gaining nor losing position nor distance during a race
EXACTOR – a wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked
EXERCISE RIDER – male or female rider who is aboard a horse for morning workouts
EXOTIC BET – a wager on a race that is something other than win, place or show
EXTENDED – forced to run at top speed
EXTRA WEIGHT (ADDED WEIGHT) – more weight than conditions of race require