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This is a bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the bettor collects three ways; if it finishes second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets.

A race for which the racing secretary writes certain conditions that determine the weights to be carried based on factors such as how many races and/or money each horse has won.

A horse officially entered to run in a race but who will not be permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number.

The straightway on the far side of the racetrack. Also used as a reference to the stable area.

A term that describes a broodmare that was bred in the last breeding season but did not conceive.

Once called the "Rogue's Badge," blinkers are a common piece of racing equipment today. The eye cups on the blinkers, depending on modifications, block side and rear vision in either or both eyes. The use or disuse of blinkers must be approved by the stewards and the change reported on the official program.

This term describes a horse or rider who has won the first race of his career.

A breeze is working a horse at a moderate speed and involves less effort than a workout that is denoted handily.

Or "bug boy;" an apprentice jockey so-called because of the "bug" or asterisk in the official program to denote that the weight carried includes the apprentice allowance.

When a horse goes through a public auction and does not reach a minimum (reserve) price set by the consignor, it is a buy-back and is retained. The consignor must pay a fee to buy back the horse.

Any horse entered in a claiming race is subject to be purchased for a set price. Claims must be made before the race and only by licensed owners or their agents.

The jockey's silk or nylon jacket and cap provided by the owner. Distinctive colors are registered by the owner with The Jockey Club and with the state racing authority. The practice of using individually registered colors was introduced at Newmarket, England in 1762.

The shape or proportionate dimensions of a horse; the physical makeup.

The loose, top surface of the racetrack.

The female parent of a foal.

When officials order a change in the order of finish in a race for an infraction of the rules, there is a disqualification.

A horse that is slow in breaking from the starting gate is said to have "dwelt."

The year-end awards in Thoroughbred racing that honor the top horses in 11 categories; plus the leading owner, trainer, jockey, apprentice jockey, and breeder; plus members of the media who have demonstrated excellence in their coverage of the sport.

Two or more horses in a race, owned by the same stable, or trained by the same trainer are termed an "entry" and coupled as a single betting unit, a bet on one being a bet on both.

A rider who is licensed to exercise a horse during morning training sessions.

A blacksmith specializing in the shoeing, or plating, of horses. In early days he was also a horse doctor.

This word has two meanings in racing. The entire group of starters in a race is known collectively as the "field." However, a "field horse" is one of a group designated by the track handicapper in a case where there are more starters than there are betting units provided by the pari-mutuel equipment. Rightly called the "pari-mutuel field," this group runs as a single betting unit. For example in the 1951 Kentucky Derby, there were only 12 betting units but 20 horses started. Seven started as individual betting units; four stables had entries of two horses each; the remaining five ran as the "field" and one of these, Count Turf, was the winner.

Horses that have the same sire and dam.

A race for 2-year-olds for which they are entered while still foals.

Horses out of the same dam but by different sires. Horses with the same sire and different dams are not half siblings.

A unit of four inches by which a horse's height is measured, placing one hand above the other from the ground to the withers or the point where the saddle sits. A horse that measures 16 hands is 5 feet 4 inches tall at the withers.

One who assigns the weights to be carried in a handicap race. Also one who makes selections in a race based on a thorough study of the past performance of each horse.

The aggregate amount of money wagered on a race, a day, a meeting or a season.

A stable hand who leads a horse around the shedrow or walking ring in the "cooling out" process following a race or a workout. Walking hots is usually the first job given to a novice stable employee.

The area within the inner rail of a racetrack.

The stirrups are referred to as irons.

A piece of equipment under the saddle containing thin slabs of lead used to bring a rider's weight up to that assigned to the horse.

A horse that wins a race but was not considered a favorite. Odds are high on a longshot, resulting in high-money payoffs to winning bettors.

Occurs when an outstanding horse is so heavily played that after the deduction of the state tax and commission, not enough money remains in the pool to pay off the legally prescribed minimum. The racetrack will make up the difference.

Odds of less than even money ($1 to $1). A winner at a payoff of under $4.00 is "odds-on."

A race in which entries close a relatively short time before the running, perhaps only 48 hours, as opposed to a stakes race for which nominations close weeks and sometimes months in advance.

Depending on conditions each horse carries an assigned weight. When the jockey cannot make the weight, overweight is allowed but not more than 5 pounds. The overweight is either posted on an information board or announced on the public address system prior to the race.

A form of wagering originated in 1865 by Frenchman Pierre Oller. All the money bet is pooled and divided up among those who have winning tickets, minus taxes, takeout and other deductions.

Buying a young horse with the intention of reselling it at a profit. A pinhooker is one who engages in this practice.

To finish second in a race is to place.

A horse's position in the starting gate from the inner rail outward. Is decided by a drawing at the close of entries prior to the race.

The starting point for a race.

Technically, a race to which the owners do not contribute to the prize. There was a time when the prize money was contained in a purse and hung on a wire which crossed the finish line. The terms "taking down a purse" and "going under the wire" thus once had literal meanings.

On a one-mile track, the pole at the turn into the stretch a quarter of a mile before the finish.

A colt with one or both testicles undescended.

A cloth that goes under the saddle to absorb sweat and usually has the horse's program number on it and sometimes, in major races, its name.

To scratch a horse is to withdraw him from a race. There is a deadline for scratches after which permission must be obtained from the stewards.

In all races other than handicaps or where conditions state otherwise, fillies and mares are allowed to carry weight below the scale, usually 3 pounds for 2-year-old fillies and 5 pounds for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and older, prior to September 1, and 3 pounds thereafter.

A horse that drops out of contention in the stretch or close to the finish is said to have been "short," the inference being that with more work or preparation he might have lasted to the finish and perhaps have been the winner.

The third-place finisher in a race is said to show.