Horse Betting Glossary

• Each Way - UK term for betting on a horse to win and/or 'Place'. An each way bet is when you have the same amount on the horse for a win and for a place. Bookmakers will give you one quarter of the win odds for a place in fields of eight or more and one third of the win odds in fields of six or seven horses.
  
• Each Way Double - Two separate bets of a win double and a place double.
  
• Each Way Single - Two bets. The first is for the selection to win; the second for it to be placed (each way).
  
• Eclipse Award - Thoroughbred racing's year-end awards, honoring the top horses in 11 separate categories.
  
• Enclosure - The area where the Runners gather for viewing before and after the race.
  
• Equibase (Company) - A partnership between The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations to establish and maintain an industry-owned, central database of racing records. Equibase past-performance information is used in track programs across North America.
  
• Equivalent Odds - Mutuel price horses would pay for each $1 bet.
  
• Evenly - Neither gaining nor losing position or distance during a race.
  
• Even Money Bet (or Evens) - A 1:1 bet. A $10 wager wins $10.
  
• Exacta - (Also, Perfecta) A wager that picks the first two finishers in a race in the exact order of finish. (Straight Forecast in the UK.)
  
• Exacta Box - A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are covered.
  
• Exotic (wager) - 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.
  
• False Favorite - A horse that is a race favorite despite being outclassed by others.
  
• Faltered - A horse that was in contention early in the race but drops back in the late stages.
  
• Fast (track) - Optimum condition for a dirt track that is dry, even, resilient and fast.
  
• Favorite - The most popular horse in a race, which is quoted at the lowest odds because it is deemed to have the best chance of winning the race.
  
• Feature Races - Top races.
  
• Fence - The inside fence is the inside running rail around the race track, while the outside fence is the outside running rail.
  
• Field - 1) All the runners in a race. 2) Some sportsbooks or bookmakers may well group all the outsiders in a competition under the banner headline of 'Field' and put it head to head with the favorite. This is known as favorite vs the field betting and is common in horse and golf betting.
  
• Field Horse - Two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than positions on the totalisator board can accommodate.
  
• Filly - Female horse four-years-old or younger.
  
• Firm (track) - A condition of a turf course corresponding to fast on a dirt track. A firm, resilient surface.
  
• First Up - The first run a horse has in a new campaign or preparation.
  
• Fixed Odds - Your dividend is fixed at the odds when you placed your bet.
  
• Fixture - See 'Meeting'.
  
• Flag - A bet consisting of 23 bets (a 'Yankee' plus 6 'Single Stakes About' bets in pairs) on 4 selections in different event.
  
• Flash (US) - Change of odds information on tote board.
  
• Flat race - Contested on level ground as opposed to a steeplechase.
  
• Flatten Out - When a horse drops his head almost in a straight line with his body, generally from exhaustion.
  
• Foal - A baby horse, usually refers to either a male or female horse from birth to January 1st of the following year.
  
• Fold - When preceded by a number, a fold indicates the number of selections in an accumulator (e.g. 5-Fold = 5 selections).
  
• Forecast - A wager that involves correctly predicting the 1st and 2nd for a particular event. This bet can be straight, reversed or permed. (USA, Perfecta or Exacta).
  
• Form - Statistics of previous performance and comment as to the expected current performance of a runner, useful in deciding which runner to bet on.
  
• Form Player - A bettor who makes selections from past-performance records.
  
• Front-runner - A horse whose running style is to attempt to get on or near the lead at the start of the race and stay there as long as possible.
  
• Frozen (track) - A condition of a racetrack where any moisture present is frozen.
  
• Full Cover - All the doubles, trebles and accumulators involved in a given number of selections.
  
• Furlong - One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards or 660 feet (approx. 200 meters).
  
• Futures - (Also, Ante Post) Bets placed in advance predicting the outcome of a future event.
  
• Gait - Harness horses are divided into two distinct groups, pacers or trotters, depending on their gait when racing. The gait is the manner in that a horse moves its legs when running. The pacer is a horse with a lateral gait, whereas a trotter or square-gaiter has a diagonal gait.
  
• Gate - Another term for barrier, or position a horse will start from.
  
• Gelding - A male horse that has been castrated.
  
• Gentleman Jockey - Amateur rider, generally in steeplechases.
  
• Going - The condition of the racecourse (firm, heavy, soft, etc.).
  
• Good (track) - Condition between fast and slow, generally a bit wet. A dirt track that is almost fast or a turf course slightly softer than firm.
  
• Graded Race - Established in 1973 to classify select stakes races in North America, at the request of European racing authorities, who had set up group races two years earlier. Always denoted with Roman numerals I, II, or III. Capitalized when used in race title (the Grade I Kentucky Derby). See 'Group Race' below.
  
• Graduate - Winning for the first time.
  
• Grand - GBP£ 1,000 (also known as a Big'un).
  
• Green - An inexperienced horse.
  
• Group Race - An elite group of races. Established in 1971 by racing organizations in Britain, France, Germany and Italy to classify select stakes races outside North America. Collectively called 'Pattern Races'. Equivalent to North American graded races. Always denoted with Arabic numerals 1, 2, or 3. Capitalized when used in race title (the Group 1 Epsom Derby). See 'Graded Race' above.
  
  Back to Top