Allowance: The deduction in the weight a horse must carry. This can be a result of the age or the gender of the horse or the type of jockey (amateur).

Banker: A supposedly certain bet.

Blinkers: A type of headgear fitted to a horse that limits its field of vision, mainly from each side. Blinkers are designed to help horses concentrate in races.

Boxed In: When a horse cannot obtain a clear run during a race due to other horses being in close proximity.

Bridle: A piece of tack that fits over a horse’s head and to which the bit and reins are attached.

Bumper: Also known as a National Hunt Flat race, and usually run over two miles without any obstacles. Commonly used as a way to give horses race experience before tackling hurdles and fences

Chase/ Steeplechase: A race run over fences which are the larger obstacles as opposed to hurdles which are smaller

Colt: An uncastrated male horse aged four years old or younger. A colt older than four is referred to as an entire or horse (if still racing) or stallion (if at stud).

Dam: Mother of a horse

Draw: A term in Flat racing denoting a horse’s position in the starting stalls.

Filly: A female horse aged four or younger.

Flat: Racing with no fences or hurdles to be jumped.

Form: A horse’s race record which is denoted by figures next to its name in a racecard. The form may also include some letters, for example F denoting a fall.

Furlong: An imperial unit of distance measurement in horseracing. A furlong is an eighth of a mile or a little more than 201 metres. There are 8 furlongs in a mile.

Gelding: A horse who has been castrated, often to improve its temperament.

Hacked Up: A phrase used to describe a horse who has won comfortably.

Handicap: A type of race in which horses carry different weights depending on their overall rating, which is determined by the handicapper.

Hurdles: The obstacles jumped during a hurdle race. They are smaller than fences and therefore take less jumping. Sometimes referred to as flights.

Juvenile: A two-year-old horse.

Listed race: A race type one step below Grade 3/Group 3 contests

Maiden: A horse who has yet to win a race

Mare: A female horse aged five or older.

National Hunt: Known as jumps racing. One of two racing codes, the other being Flat. National Hunt racing is best known in Britain and Ireland.

Novice: A race for horses who are in their first season in that code of racing.

Off The Bridle: A term to describe a horse not travelling well.

On the Bridle: A term to describe a horse travelling well.

Outsider: A horse whose chance of winning is considered unlikely by the market.

Parade Ring: The area of a racecourse where horses are paraded before each race.

Pulled Up: A horse who is brought to a halt during a race by its jockey.

Silks: An owners colours. All owners have different colours.

Sire: Father of a horse

Sprinter: A horse who competes in races run over a short distance, usually over six furlongs or less.

Stalls: The box from which horses begin Flat races.

Stewards Enquiry: An inquiry held at the racecourse on a raceday after any given race. The panel is advised by the stewards.

Turn of Foot: A term to describe marked exceleration during a race.

Under Starters Orders: Before a race, the starter brings the field of horses into order to prepare them for the start of the race.

Undulating: A track that does not have a flat terrain. Gowran Park is often referred to as an undulating track

Weighed In: very horse in a race has to carry a certain amount of weight. To ensure it does, all jockeys must weight out both before and after a race. The ‘weighed in’ announcement made after the race means the result stands.