Betting Terms | Racing Terms
Betting Terms
Allways
Bet selection that covers all combinations. (eg. Trifecta bet with runners 1, 5 & 7 allways = combinations of 1,5,7 / 1,7,5 / 5,1,7 / 5,7,1 / 7,5,1 /7,1,5)
Synonyms: shut the gate, boxed.
Bookmakers
People who are licensed to accept bets on the result of a race based on their provision of odds to the customer.
Synonyms: book, bookie.
Boxed
See Allways.
Each Way
When a horse or greyhound is backed to either win or run a place.
Even Money
The odds when you double your money. eg. for one (50 cent) unit, the dividend would be $1.
Field
All the runners in a race.
Form
Statistics and comment as to the performance of a runner, useful in deciding which runner to bet on.
In the Red
The odds of a horse or greyhound which is odds on; less than even money. eg. Dividend declared would be anything up to $1.Synonym: odds on.
Leg In
To nominate one runner to win with a selection of other runners. This is possible on Forecast, Quinella, Trifecta, Quartet and Superfecta (eg. Quinella bet with selection 4 to win, from runners 5, 7, 8 & 9 to come second, in any order).
Long Odds
More than 10/1. eg. dividend of $5.50 or more.
Odds Against
The odds when you will win more than double your money. eg. dividend would be anything more than $1.
Odds On
See In the Red.
Place
Synonyms: tiki, drum, show.
Placegetter
The first, second and third runners to cross the finishing line with the tip of their noses.
Roughie
A horse or greyhound that starts at long odds.
Shut The Gate
See Allways
Stake
The amount of money that is bet.
Totalisator
The system of betting on races in which the winning bettors share the total amount bet, minus a percentage for the operators of the system, taxes etc.
Synonyms: tote, parimutuel.
Trifecta
Synonym: tri.
Win
Synonyms: on the nose, straight out.
Win & Place
Synonym: each way.
Winner
The first runner that crosses the finishing line with the tip of its nose.
TOP
Racing Terms
Betting Terms
Acceptor
One who is officially listed to start in a race.
Barrier
The positions in the starting stalls where the runners start the race from. Barrier position (1) is closest to the running rail.
Synonym: position.
Barrier Draw
The ballot held by the race club to decide which starting stall each runner will occupy.
Blinkers
A device to prevent a horse from having sideways vision and keep its attention to what's in front of it.
Correct Weight
Horses are allocated a weight to carry which is checked before a race. After a race, the first five placegetters weigh in, and correct weight must be signalled before bets can be paid out.
Dead Heat
When 2 or more runners finish together and cannot be separated by the judge after consulting the photofinish.
Declaration of Weights
The publication of weights allocated to each horse nominated for a race by the handicapper.
Division Race
A race in two or more heats due to the number of starters exceeding the safety limits.
Emergency
Replacement runner in a race when an official acceptor is scratched prior to a particular time before the race.
Even Time
When a horse runs each 200 metres in 15 seconds.
Flashing Light
A flashing light above the starting stalls that shows starters are ready to start.
Furlong
A description of distance on a race track. 1 furlong = 200 metres.
Gait
In harness racing, a horse's pacing or trotting action.
Handicapper
The official who decides the weights to be carried in handicap events, and the grading of horses and greyhounds.
Handicap Race
Where the weights carried by the horses are allocated by a handicapper to equalise their chances of winning.
Highweight Race
Where the minimum weight allocated is not less than 57kg.
Judge
The person who declares the official placings for each race.
Maiden Race
An event restricted to starters, which at the time of the nomination have not won a totalisator race.
Margins
The official distance between placed animals at finish of a race, expressed in lengths. A length is the average length of a horse - 2.4 metres. When the margins are small, the judge uses terms like Neck or Head.
Mobile Start
A harness racing start effected from behind a moving barrier gate.
Nominations
The complete list of runners entered by owners and trainers for a race.
Photofinish
When the finish of a race is so close that the judge requires the photo taken by a special camera to make his decision.
Synonyms: camera, developed print.
Protest
When a jockey/owner/trainer/steward alleges interference by one party against another during a race that may have affected the outcome of a race. If a protest is upheld by officials, the runner that caused the interference is placed directly after the horse interfered with. If a protest is dismissed by officials, the original result of the race stands.
Race Caller
The person who describes the race over the public address system at a racecourse.
Runner
A participant in a race (ie. horse or dog).
Synonym: starter.
Running Rail
The rail that defines the track configuration.
Scratching
A runner that is withdrawn from a race after being listed as an acceptor.
Stake
The prize offered to the winner/s in a race (eg. trophy or prize money).
Standing Start
In harness racing, starters start from a standing position, once the barrier across the track is released.
Starter
See Runner.
Starting Stalls
Mechanical gates that ensure all horses start in unison, In greyhound racing the term is starting boxes.
Stewards
The people who control the days' racing by ensuring that every runner competes on its merits and imposing penalties for any breach of the rules of racing.
Straight
From the home turn to the winning post.
Track Conditions
In order from good to bad: fast, good, dead, slow, heavy.
Synonym: state of the track.
Weight-For-Age Race
Where weights are allocated on a set scale, according to age and sex of the horses.
Winning Post
The finishing line of a race.
Synonym: the post.