NEAR SIDE – left side of a horse; the side on which it is mounted
NECK - a unit of measurement; a quarter of a length.
NOD - lowering of head. Winning in that manner.
NOSE - smallest advantage a horse can win by.
OBJECTION - claim of foul lodged by a rider.
ODDS-ON - odds of less than even money.
OFFICIAL - sign displayed when result is confirmed. Also racing official.
OFF TRACK - an off track refers to a wet racing surface.
ON THE BOARD - finishing among the first four.
ON THE NOSE - betting a horse to win only.
OVERLAY - a horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances.
OVERNIGHT LINE - prices quoted the night before the race.
OVERNIGHT RACE - a race in which entries close a specific number of hours before running (such as 48 hours) as opposed to a stakes race for which nominations close weeks and sometimes months in advance.
OVERWEIGHT - extra weight carried by a horse when the rider cannot make the required weight.
PADDOCK - the area where horses are saddled.
PADDOCK JUDGE - official in charge of the paddock and saddling routine.
PARIMUTUEL - a form of wagering that originated in France in which all money bet is divided up among those who have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other deductions are made.
PAST PERFORMANCES - a compilation in the Daily Racing Form of a horse’s record, including all pertinent data, used as a basis for handicapping.
PATROL JUDGES - officials who observe the progress of a race from various vantage points around the track.
PHOTO FINISH - a result so close it is necessary to use a finish-line camera to determine order of finish.
PLACE - second position at finish.
PLACE BET - wager on a horse to finish first or second.
PLACING JUDGES - officials who determine the order in which horses reach the finish line.
POCKET - boxed in, shut off. Running in a position with horses in front and alongside.
POLE - markers at measured distances around the track, marking the distance from the finish. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start.
POST - starting point or position in the starting gate.
POOL (mutuel pool) - total sum wagered.
POST PARADE - horses going from paddock to starting gate past the stands.
POST POSITION - position of stall in starting gate from which a horse starts.
POST TIME - designated time for a race to begin.
PREP (or PREP RACE) - a workout or a race to prepare a horse for a future engagement.
PURSE - prize money.