HORSE BETTING GLOSSARY
By Justin Baumann

Filly

A female horse, age three or under.

First-Over

A horse racing on the outside without another horse directly in front of him or her. A foreshortening of the phrase first overland.

Foal

A newly-born horse. (Noun) The act of giving birth. (Verb)

Furlong

One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards. Races are measured in furlongs.

Gelding

A castrated animal.

Going

The condition of the racecourse (firm, heavy, soft, etc.). Official Jockey Club going reports progress as follows: Heavy - soft - good to soft - good - good to firm - firm.

Green Horse

A horse that has not raced, or has raced only a few times.

Handicap

A race for which a handicapper assigns weights to be carried. Also, to handicap a race, to make selections on the basis of the past performances.

Hand

Four inches. A horse's height is measured in hands and inches from the top of the shoulder (withers) to the ground, e.g., 15.2 hands is 15 hands, 2 inches. Thoroughbreds typically range from 15 to 17 hands.

Horse

A male horse, age four and up.

Inquiry

Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on the tote board on such occasions. If lodged by a jockey, it is called an objection.

In the Money

Describes the horses in a race that finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd (and sometimes 4th) or the horses on which money will be paid to bettors, depending on the place terms.

Judge

The official who declares the placing for each race.

Juvenile

A two-year-old horse.

Length

A measurement approximating the length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet, used to denote distance between horses in a race.

Long Odds

Odds which are greater than 10:1.

Maiden

A horse (male or female) who has never won a racing purse.

Mare

A female horse, age four and up.

Matinee

A program of racing conducted during the daylight hours.

Morning Line

Approximate odds printed in the program and posted before wagering begins. This is a forecast of how the morning line maker believes wagering will occur in a particular race.