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Thoroughbred
Terms
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A
Action
Term used in describing
a horse's manner of running. ("Horse's action was
smooth and energy conserving.")
Acupuncture
A way of treating an
animal or human through the use of needles,
electrical current or moxibustion (heat and herbs)
to stimulate or realign the body's electrical
fields.
Added Money
Money racing
associations add to total purse of selected races,
which supplements nominations and other
entry/starting fees. Usually only in stakes races.
Added Weight
Additional weight a
horse is carrying beyond the race requirements.
Usually happens because the jockey exceeds the
stated limit.
Agent
Person contracted to
transact business for a stable owner or jockey, or
contracted to sell or buy horses for an owner or
breeder.
All Out
When a horse extends
itself to its fullest effort.
Allowance Race
Race for which the
racing secretary sets certain conditions to
determine weights to be carried based on the horse's
age, sex and/or past performance-..
Allowances
Weight reduction allowed
because of the conditions of the race or because an
apprentice jockey is on a horse. Weight reduction
females receive when racing against males, or that
three-year-olds receive against older horses.
Also-Eligible
Horse entered for a race
but not allowed to start unless other horses
scratch.
Anhydrosis
Horse's inability to
sweat when working or other increases in body
temperature. Also known as a "non-sweater." Most
commonly occurs when both the temperature and
humidity are high. Horses raised in temperate
regions and then transported to hot climates most
often develop this condition but even acclimated
horses can be at risk. Usually shows itself as
inability to sweat, increased respiratory rate,
elevated body temperature and decreased exercise
tolerance. Sometimes the condition can be reversed
if the horse is moved to a more temperate climate.
Apprentice Allowance
Weight concession given
to an apprentice rider: usually 10 pounds until the
fifth winner, seven pounds until the 35th winner and
five pounds for one calendar year from the 35th
winner. More rarely, a three-pound allowance is
allowed to a rider under contract to a specific
stable/owner for two years from his/her first win.
This rule varies from state to state. Apprentices do
not receive an allowance when riding in a stakes
race. All jockeys going from track to track must
have a receipt from the clerk of scales from their
track verifying the jockeys' most recent total
number of wins. Also known as a "bug," from the
asterisk used to denote the weight allowance.
Arthritis
Inflammation of a joint.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Surgery performed that
eliminates the need to open the joint with a large
incision in order to view the damaged area.
Artificial Breeding
Includes artificial
insemination or embryo transfer (transplants). Not
approved by the Jockey Club.
Atrophy
Waste away, usually used
in describing muscles.
Average-Earnings Index (AEI)
Breeding statistic that
compares racing earnings of a stallion or mare's
foals to those of all other foals racing at that
time. An AEI of 1.00 is considered average, 2.00 is
twice the average, 0.50 half the average, etc.
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B
Back at the Knee
Conformation fault. Leg
has a backward arc with center of arc at the knee
when viewed from side.
Barren
Describes a filly or
mare which was bred during last breeding season but
did not conceive.
Black Type
Boldface type, used in
sales catalogs to identify horses that have won or
placed in stakes races. Bold and all caps means a
stakes-winning horse.
Bleeder
Horse that bleeds from
lungs when small capillaries that surround air sacs
in the lungs rupture. Exact term is Exercise-Induced
Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH).
Although usually discovered by an endoscopic
exam after exercise, blood may be noticed coming
from the horse's nostrils. A common preventative
treatment is Lasix (furosemide).
Blister
A counter-irritant
causing acute inflammation. Inflammation increases
blood to the blistered area, thought to speed
healing in the original problem.
Bloodstock Agent
Broker who represents
purchaser or seller (or both) at a sale. Usually
agent works on commission, often five percent of
purchase price.
Blow-out
Short workout at
moderate pace, usually a day or two before a race.
Bone Spavin
Bony growth below hock
joint. Occurs as a result of undue concussion or
strain, causing a lameness.
Book
Group of mares bred to a
stallion in a given year. (If stallion has attracted
the farm's maximum number of mares, stallion is said
to have a Full Book.
Bottom Line
Thoroughbred's breeding
in the female (distaff) side.
Bowed Tendon
Tendonitis to the
Superficial Flexor Tendon (most common location)
below knee and running behind cannon bone. Usually
requires long layoff and can mean end of racing
career or significant limitations.
Bred/Breeder
Horse is considered
"bred" at place of birth. Breeder is owner of
dam at time of foaling.
Breeding Right
Right to breed one mare
to one stallion for one or more breeding seasons.
Breeze
Workout at a moderate
speed with less effort than handily.
Broodmare
Female (filly or mare)
that has been bred and used to produce foals.
Broodmare Prospect is a filly or mare that has
not yet been bred.
Bucked Shins
Inflammation of covering
of the front surface of the cannon bone. Young
horses are susceptible. Not career threatening, but
usually requires a layoff from training. (Called
bucked because of humped or bucked appearance on
the bone.)
Bullet
Best workout time for a
certain distance on a certain day. In the listings,
this fastest workout is marked by a printer's
"bullet."
Buy-back
Horse put through an
auction that did not reach seller's reserve and was
retained. (Consigner must still pay a fee to the
auction company based on a percentage of the
reserve.)
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C
Calk
A projection on the
heels of a horseshoe, similar to a cleat, on the
rear shoes of a horse to prevent slipping,
especially on a wet track. Also known as a
"sticker." Sometimes incorrectly spelled "caulk."
Cannon Bone
The third metacarpal
(front leg) or metatarsal (rear leg), also referred
to as the shin bone. The largest bone between the
knee and ankle joints.
Capped Hock
Inflammation of the
bursa over the point of the hock.
Carpus
A joint in the horse's
front leg. Common tern is knee.
Cast
A horse on its side or
back and wedged against a wall in a way that it
can't get up.
Caudal
Toward the tail.
Center of Distribution
The balance between the
speed and staying ability of a horse based on the
Dosage Profile.
Chef-de-Race
A list of quality sires
that pass on certain traits based on the Dosage
Profile theory.
Chestnut
1. Horse color from
red-yellow to golden-yellow. Mane, tail, and legs
(other than white markings) are same color as coat.
2. Irregular growths found on the inside of the
legs. Found just above the knees or below the hocks.
No two horses have been found to have the same
chestnuts and so they may be used for
identification. Also called "night eyes."
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Called COPD. A
hyperallergenic respiratory condition that involves
damage to the lung tissue, similar to human asthma.
Affected horses may cough, develop a nasal discharge
and have a reduced exercise tolerance. Respiratory
rate is increased and lung elasticity is diminished.
Chronic Osselet
Permanent build-up of
synovial fluid in a joint, characterized by
inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule
over the damaged area.
Claiming
Process by which a
licensed person may purchase a horse entered in a
designated race for a price set by race conditions.
When a horse has been claimed, its new owner assumes
title after the starting gate opens although the
former owner is entitled to all purse money earned
in that race.
Claiming Box
Box in which claims are
deposited before the race.
Classic
Describes distance. The
"Classic" distance in America is 1 1/4 miles. The
European classic distance is 11/2 miles.
Clerk of Scales
Official who weighs the
riders before and after a race to ensure proper
weight is (was) carried.
Climbing
When a horse lifts its
front legs abnormally high as it gallops, causing it
to run inefficiently.
Closed Knees
Condition when the
cartilaginous growth plate above the knee (distal
radial physis) has turned to bone. Indicates
completion of long bone growth and is one sign of
maturity.
Closer
Horse that runs best in
the latter part of the race, coming from off the
pace.
Coffin Bone
Major bone that is
within the hoof.
Coggins Test
Test named for its
developer, Dr. Leroy Coggins, to determine whether a
horse is a carrier of swamp fever.
Colic
Leading cause of death
in horses. Refers to abdominal pain. Sometimes colic
is a simple obstruction in the large colon,
sometimes a strangulation caused by a twist in small
or large intestine that shuts off food and blood
supply.
Colt
An ungelded (entire)
male horse four-years-old or younger.
Comparable Index (CI)
Average earnings of
progeny produced from mares bred to one sire when
these same mares are bred to other sires. A Cl of
1.00 is considered average, 2.00 is twice the
average, 0.50 half the average, etc.
Compound Fracture
Fracture where the
damaged bone breaks through the skin. Also known as
an "open" fracture.
Condition Book
Books produced by the
racing secretary that set the conditions of races to
be run at a certain racetrack.
Conditions
Requirements of a
particular race. This may include age, sex, money or
races won, weight carried and the distance of the
race.
Condylar Fracture
Fracture in the lower
knobby end (condyle) of the lower (distal) end of a
long bone such as the cannon bone or humerus (upper
front limb).
Conformation
Physical makeup of and
bodily proportions of a horse: how it is put
together.
Congenital
Present at birth.
Cooling Out
Restoring a horse to
normal temperature, usually by walking, after it has
become overheated during exercise. All horses that
are exercised are cooled out.
Coronary Band
Where the hair meets the
hoof. Also called the "coronet."
Cough
To expel air from the
lungs in a spasmodic manner. Can be a result of
inflammation or irritation to the upper airways
(pharynx, larynx or trachea) or may involve the
lower airways of the lungs (deep cough).
Coupled/Entry
Two or more horses
running as an entry in a single betting unit.
Cover
Single breeding of a
stallion to a mare. "The stallion covered 75 mares."
Cow Hocks
Conformation fault in
which the points of the hocks turn in.
Cracked Hoof
Vertical split of the
hoof wall.
Cranial
Toward the bead.
Creep Feeder
A feeding device that
allows the foal to eat but keeps its mother out.
Cribber
Horse that clings to
objects with its teeth and sucks air into its
stomach. Also known as a "wind sucker."
Crop
Number of foals by a
sire in a given year. Also a group of horses born in
the same year. Also, a jockey's whip.
Cryptorchid
A "unilateral
cryptorchid" is a male horse of any age that has one
testicle undescended. A "bilateral cryptorchid" is a
male horse of any age that has both testicles
undescended. (Horse called a ridgling.)
Cuppy
Term for a track
condition where surface is dry and loose and breaks
away under a horse's hooves.
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D
Dam
The female parent of a
foal.
Dam's Sire (Broodmare Sire)
Sire of a broodmare
(maternal grandsire of a foal).
Dark Bay or Brown
Color that ranges from
brown with areas of tan on the shoulders, head and
flanks, to a dark brown, with tan areas seen only in
the flanks and/or muzzle. The mane, tail and lower
portions of the legs are always black unless white
markings are present.
Declared
In the United States, a
horse withdrawn from a stakes race in advance of
scratch time. In Europe, a horse confirmed to start
in a race.
Deep Flexor Tendon
Present in all four
legs, but injuries most commonly affect the front
legs. Located on the back (posterior) of the front
leg between the knee and the foot and between the
hock and the foot on the rear leg. The function is
to flex the digit (pastern) and knee (carpus) and to
extend the elbow on the front leg and extend the
hock on the rear leg.
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
Joint problem that has
progressive degeneration of joint cartilage and the
underlying bone. Occurs most frequently in the
joints below the radius in the foreleg and femur in
the hind leg. Some of the more common causes include
repeated trauma, conformation faults, blood disease,
traumatic joint injury, subchondral bone defects (
OCD lesions) and excessive corticosteroid
injections. Also known as: osteoarthritis.
Derby
Stakes event for
three-year-olds.
Detention Barn
Barn where horses are
required to go until blood tests or urine samples
have been taken for testing. (See Spit Box)
Digital
Part of the limb below
the ankle joint. Includes the long and short pastern
bones and the coffin bone.
Digital Cushion
Area beneath the coffin
bone in the back of the foot that separates it from
the frog. Serves as a shock absorber for the foot.
Distaff Race
Race for female horses.
DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide, a
topical anti-inflammatory.
Dogs
Rubber traffic cones
placed at certain distances out from the inner rail,
when the track is wet, muddy, soft, yielding or
heavy, to prevent horses during the workout period
from churning the footing along the rail.
Dorsal
Toward the back or
spine.
Dorsal Displacement of the Soft
Palate
Condition in which the
soft palate, located on the floor of the airway near
the larynx, moves up into the airway. A minor
displacement causes a gurgling sound during exercise
while in more serious cases the palate can block the
airway. Sometimes known as "choking down," but the
tongue does not actually block the airway. The base
of the tongue is connected to the larynx, of which
the epiglottis is a part. When the epiglottis is
retracted, the soft palate can move up into the
airway (dorsal displacement.) This condition can
sometimes be managed with equipment such as a figure
eight noseband or a tongue tie. In more extreme
cases, surgery might be required.
Dosage
There are many Dosage
Theories, however, the one most commonly thought of
as Dosage is by Dr. Steven Roman. The system
identifies patterns of ability in horses based on a
list of prepotent sires, each of whom is a
chef-de-race. The Dosage system puts these sires
into one of five categories: brilliant,
intermediate, classic, solid and professional, which
quantify speed and stamina. Sires can be listed in
up to two chef-de-race categories. Each generation
of sires is worth 16 points, divided up by the
amount of sires, i.e., the immediate sire is worth
16 points while the four sires four generations back
are worth four points apiece.
Dosage Index (DI)
Mathematical reduction
of the Dosage profile to a number reflecting a
horse's potential for speed or stamina. The higher
the number, the more likely the horse is suited to
be a sprinter. The average Dosage index of all
horses is about 4.0.
Dosage Profile
Listing of Dosage points
by category. Used to develop the Dosage index.
Driving
Horse that is all out to
win and under strong urging from its jockey.
Drop Down
Horse meeting a lower
class of rival than it had been running against.
Dwelt
Extremely late in
breaking from the gate.
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E
Eased
A horse that is gently
pulled up during a race.
Endoscope
Instrument used to
inspect a hollow organ or body cavity.
Engagement
Stakes nomination, a
jockey's riding commitment
Entire
An ungelded horse.
Entry Fee
Fee paid by an owner to
enter a horse in a stakes race.
Entrapped Epiglottis
Condition in which the
thin membrane lying below the epiglottis moves up
and covers the epiglottis. The abnormality may
obstruct breathing. Usually treated by surgery to
cut the membrane.
Entry
Two or more horses
running under the same owner; sometimes trained by
the same trainer. These become a single betting
unit.
Epiphysitis
Inflammation in the
growth plate at the ends of the long bones (such as
the cannon bone). Symptoms include swelling,
tenderness and heat. Although the exact cause is
unknown, contributing factors seem to be high
caloric intake (either from grain or a heavily
lactating mare) and a fast growth rate.
Equipment
Added racing equipment,
such as bandages, bar shoe, blinkers, hood, nose
band, shadow roll, tongue tie.
Estrus
Heat. Associated with
ovulation. Estrous cycle: Time between consecutive
ovulations.
EVA (Equine Viral Arteritis)
Highly contagious
disease characterized by swelling in the legs of all
horses and swelling in the scrotum of stallions. Can
cause abortion in mares and can be shed in the semen
of stallions for years after infection.
Evenly
Neither gaining nor
losing position during a race.
Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage
Bleeding
Experimental Free Handicap
Year-end projection of
the best North American two-year-olds of the season,
put together by a panel, under the auspices of The
Jockey Club.
Extended
Running at top speed.
Extensor Tendon
Tendon that extends the
knee joint, ankle joint, pastern and foot and flexes
the elbow. The muscles begin above the knee and
attach to the coffin and pastern bones.
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F
Fault
Weak points of a horse's
conformation.
Fetlock
Joint located between
the cannon bone and the long pastern bone.
Filly
Female horse
four-years-old or younger.
Firing
Medical treatment used
on a horse's legs to encourage healing by increasing
circulation. Method involves numbing the leg and
creating a number of pin-sized holes in the leg with
a hot electrically heated tool. Also known as pin
firing.
Fissure
Longitudinal crack in
bone, which is only through the surface of the bone.
Flatten Out
A very tired horse that
slows considerably, dropping its head on a straight
line with its body.
Float
Dental procedure in
which sharp points on the teeth are filed down.
Foal
Baby horse.
Foal Heat
First time a mare comes
into season after giving birth, about nine days
afterward.
Foal Sharing
Arrangement between
owner of a stallion share or season and broodmare
owner to breed them and to share the foal.
Founder
See laminitis.
Founding Sires
The Darley Arabian,
Byerly Turk and Godolphin Barb. Every Thoroughbred
must be able to trace its parentage to one of the
three founding sires.
Frog
V-shaped, pliable
support structure on the bottom of the foot.
Full Brother, Fill Sister
Horses that have the
same sire and dam.
Furlong
One-eigbth of a mile,
220 yards, 660 feet.
Furosemide
Medication used in the
treatment of bleeders, commonly known under the
trade name Lasix or Salix, which acts as a diuretic,
reducing pressure on the capillaries.
Futurity
Race for two-year-olds
in which the owners make a continuous series of
payments over a period of time to keep their horses
eligible.
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G
Gait
Footfall pattern of a
horse in motion. Thoroughbreds have four natural
gaits-walk, trot, canter and gallop. Thoroughbreds
compete at a gallop.
Gap
The opening in the rail
where horses enter and leave the racetrack.
Gastric Ulcers
Ulceration of a horse's
stomach. Often causes symptoms of abdominal
distress.
Gate Card
C card, which the
starters issue, stating that a horse is properly
schooled in starting gate procedures.
Gelding
Male horse that has been
neutered by having both testicles removed.
Get
Offspring of a sire.
Girth
Elastic and leather band
that passes under a horse's belly and is connected
to both sides of the saddle.
Grab a Quarter
Injury to the back of
the hoof or foot caused by a horse stepping on
itself. A very common injury during racing.
Generally, the injury is minor.
Graded Race
A system of race
classification, established in 1973, for select
stakes races in North America. These are denoted by
Roman numerals I, II, or III. They care capitalized
when used in a race's title. (Similar to the
European Group Races.)
Grandam
A horse's second dam.
Grandsire
A horse's grandfather
Gravel
Infection of the hoof
resulting from a crack in the white line (the border
between the insensitive and sensitive laminae). An
abscess usually forms in the sensitive structures
and eventually breaks at the coronet as the result
of the infection.
Gray
Horse color where the
majority of the coat is a mixture of black and white
hairs. The mane, tail and legs may be either black
or gray unless white markings are present.
Grayson-jockey Club Research
Foundation
Charitable organization
devoted to equine medical research.
Green Osselet
Inflammation and
swelling in the fetlock joint of young horses,
particularly on the front of the joints where the
cannon and long pastern bones meet.
Groom
Person who cares for a
horse in a stable. Known as a lad or girl in
Britain.
Group Race
European system of
classifying select races, similar to North American
graded races. Denoted by Arabic numerals 1, 2, or 3.
Capitalized when used in a race's title.
Growth Plates
Located at the end of
long bones where they grow in length.
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H
Half-brother, Half-sister
Horses out of the same
dam but by different sires. Horses with the same
sire and different dams are not considered
half-siblings in Thoroughbred racing.
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.
Handicap
1) Race for which the
track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried.
2) To make selections on
the basis of past performances.
Handily
1) A work (usually in
the morning) with maximum effort.
2) A horse racing well
within itself, with little exertion from the jockey.
Handle
Amount of money wagered
in the paramutuels on a race, a program, during a
meeting or for a year.
Hand Ride
Urging a horse with the
hands and not using the whip.
Hard Boot
Term for a well-traveled
breeder. Usually connotes a breeder or trainer whose
methods may be considered old-fashioned--"Whose
boots are caked with mud and therefore hard."
Heel Crack
Crack on the heel of the
heel Also called a "sand crack."
Hematoma
Blood-filled area
resulting from injury.
Hock
Large joint just above
the shin bone in the rear legs. Corresponds to the
level of the knee of the front leg.
Homebred
Horse bred by its owner.
Hoof
Foot of the horse.
Horse
When reference is made
to sex, a horse is an ungelded male five-years-old
or older.
Horsing
Behavior of a mare in
heat.
Hot Walker
Person who walks horses
to cool them out after workout or races.
Hung
Horse that does not
advance its position in a race when urged by the
jockey.
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I
Icing
When a horse is stood in
a tub of ice or ice packs are applied to the legs to
reduce inflammation and/or swelling.
Impaction
Type of colic caused by
a blockage of the intestines by ingested materials
(constipation).
Impost
Weight carried or
assigned.
In Foal
Pregnant mare.
In Hand
Running under moderate
control, at less than top speed.
Insensitive Laminae
Layer just under the
wall of the hoof. Similar to the human fingernail.
It is an integral structure that helps to attach the
hoof wall to the underlying coffin bone.
In the Money
Horse that finishes
first, second or third.
Isolation Barn
Facility used to
separate sick horses from healthy ones.
ITW
Intertrack wagering.
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J
Jail
Requirement that a horse
which has been claimed that next runs in a claiming
race must run for a claiming price 25 percent higher
for the next 30 days.
Jockey Club
Organization dedicated
to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and
racing. The Jockey Club serves as North America's
Thoroughbred registry, responsible for the
maintenance of "The American Stud Book," a register
of all Thoroughbreds foaled in the United States,
Puerto Rico and Canada; and of all Thoroughbreds
imported into those countries from jurisdictions
that have a registry recognized by The Jockey Club
and the International Stud Book Committee.
Jockey Fee
Fee paid to rider for
competing in a race.
Jog
Slow, easy gait.
Jumper
Steeplechase or hurdle
horse.
Juvenile
Two-year old horse.
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K
Key Horse
In wagering, a single
horse used in multiple combinations in exotics.
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L
Lactic Acid
Organic acid normally
present in muscle tissue, produced by anaerobic
muscle metabolism as a by-product of exercise. An
increase in lactic acid causes muscle fatigue,
inflammation and pain.
Laminae
Part of the hoof. (See
insensitive laminae and sensitive laminae.)
Laminitis
Inflammation of the
sensitive laminae of the foot. There are many
factors involved, including changes in the blood
flow through the capillaries of the foot. Many
events can cause laminitis, including ingesting
toxic levels of grain, eating lush grass, systemic
disease problems, high temperature, toxemia,
retained placenta, excessive weight-bearing as
occurs when the opposite limb is injured, and the
administration of some drugs. Laminitis usually
manifests itself in the front feet, develops
rapidly, and is life-threatening. In mild cases,
however, a horse can resume a certain amount of
athletic activity. Laminitis is the disease that
caused the death of Secretariat. Also known as
"founder."
Lasix
See furosemide.
Lateral
Toward the side and
farther from the center. Pertains to a side.
Lathered (up)
See washed out.
Length
Measurement
approximating the length of a horse, used to denote
distance between horses in a race.
Ligament
Band of fibrous tissue
connecting bones, which serve to support and
strengthen joints and to limit the range of motion.
Lunge
1) Horse rearing and
plunging.
2) Method of exercising
a horse on a tether ("lunge line").
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M
Magnetic Therapy
Physical therapy
technique using magnetic fields. Low-energy
electrical field created by the magnetic field
causes dilation of the blood vessels and tissue
stimulation. Magnetic therapy may be used on soft
tissue to treat such injuries as tendonitis or bony
injuries such as bucked shins.
Maiden
1) A horse or rider that
has not won a race.
2) A female that has
never been bred.
Maiden Race
Race for non-winners.
Mare
Female horse
five-years-old or older.
Mash
Soft, moist mixture, hot
or cold, of grain and other feed that is easily
digested by horses.
Medial
Pertaining to the middle
in anatomy.
Metacarpal (fracture)
Usually refers to a
fracture of the cannon bone, located between the
knee and the fetlock joint in the front leg. Also
may refer to a fracture of the splint bone.
Middle Distance
In racing, roughly from
one mile to 1 1/8 miles.
Minus Pool
Mutual pool caused when
a horse is so heavily played that, after deductions
of state tax and commission, there is not enough
money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on
each winning bet. The racing association usually
makes up the difference.
Monorchid
Male horse of any age
that has only one testicle in his scrotum--the other
testicle was either removed or is undescended.
Morning Line
Probable odds on each
horse in a race, as determined by a mathematical
formula used by the track handicapper, who tries to
gauge both the ability of the horse and the likely
final odds as determined by the bettors.
Muddy (track)
Condition of a racetrack
which is wet but has no standing water.
Mudder
Horse that races well on
muddy tracks.
Mutual Pool
Short for paramutuel
pool. Sum of the wagers on a race or event, such as
the win pool, daily double pool, exacta pool, etc.
Muzzle
1) Nose and lips of a
horse.
2) A guard placed over a
horse's mouth to prevent it from biting or eating.
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N
Name (of a Thoroughbred)
Names of North American
Thoroughbreds are registered by The Jockey Club.
They can be no longer than 18 characters, including
punctuation and spaces.
Nasogastric Tube
Long tube that is
capable of reaching from the nose to the stomach.
Navicular Bone
Small, flat bone within
the confines of the hoof that helps - along with the
short pastern bone and the coffin bone - to make up
the coffin joint.
Navicular Disease
Degenerative disease
that affects the navicular bone (small bone in the
back of the foot), navicular bursa and deep flexor
tendon. Generally considered a disease of the front
feet. Both front feet are often affected, but one
will usually be more noticeable than the other.
Near Side
Left side of a horse.
Side on which a horse is mounted.
Night Eyes
See chestnuts.
Nom de Course
Name adopted by an owner
or group of owners for racing purposes.
Nominator
One who owns a horse at
the time it is named to compete in a stakes race.
Non-Sweater
See anhydrosis.
Nose Band
Leather strap that goes
over the bridge of a horse's nose to help secure the
bridle. A "figure eight" nose band goes over the
bridge of the nose and under the rings of the bit to
help keep the horse's mouth closed. This keeps the
tongue from sliding up over the bit and is used on
horses that do not like having a tongue tie used.
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O
Oaks
Stakes event for
three-year-old fillies.
OCD Lesion
Cartilaginous or bony
lesion that is the result of a failure in
development.
Off Side
Right side of horse.
Oiling
Administration of
mineral oil via nasogastric tube to relieve gas or
pass blockage. Preventative procedure commonly used
in long van aides to prevent impaction with
subsequent colics. See colic.
On the Bit
When a horse is eager to
run.
On the Board
Finishing among the
first three.
On the Muscle
Denotes a fit horse.
Open Knee
Condition of young
horses in which the physis of the knee has not
closed; an immature knee. Often used to describe the
status of the physis immediately above the knee and
is an indicator of long bone growth in
two-year-olds.
Osselet
See arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Permanent form of
arthritis with progressive loss of the articular
cartilage in a joint.
Out of the Money
Horse that finishes
worse than third.
Over at the Knee
Leg that looks like it
has a forward arc, with its center at the knee when
viewed from the side.
Overcheck
Strap that holds the bit
in place.
Overgrirth
Elastic band that goes
completely around a horse, over the saddle, to keep
the saddle from slipping.
Over-Reaching
Toe of hind shoe
striking the forefoot or foreleg.
Overlay
Horse going off at
higher odds than it appears to warrant based on its
past performances.
Overnight
Sheet published by the
racing secretary's office listing the entries for an
upcoming racing card.
Overnight Race
Race in which entries
close a specific number of hours before running
(such as 48 hours), as opposed to a stakes race for
which nominations close weeks and sometimes months
in advance.
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P
Paddle
See toe-in.
Paddock Judge
Official in charge of
paddock and saddling routine.
Paint
Counter-irritant used to
increase blood supply, blood flow and to promote
healing in the leg. A mild form of blistering.
Palpation
Physical entrance by a
veterinarian through a mare's anus to feel or
"palpate" her ovaries and uterus to determine
breeding soundness, follicular activity (readiness
to breed), uterine condition, or pregnancy.
Parlay
Multi-race bet in which
all winnings are subsequently wagered on each
succeeding race.
Parrot Mouth
Horse with an extreme
overbite.
Paramutuel
Form of wagering
originated in 1865 by Frenchman Pierre Oiler in
which all money bet is divided up among those who
have winning tickets, after taxes, takeout and other
deductions are made. Oiler called his system "paiier
mutuel" meaning "mutual stake" or "betting among
ourselves." As this wagering method was adopted in
England it became known as "Paris Mutuals," and soon
after "paramutuels."
Past Performances
A horse's racing record,
earnings, bloodlines and other data, presented in
composite form.
Pastern (bones)
Area between the fetlock
joint and the hoof. The joint between the long and
short pastern bones is called the "pastern joint."
Can also be used to describe the area of the limb or
to describe a specific bone: long pastern bone.
Patrol Judge
Official(s) who observe
the progress of a race from various vantage points
around the track.
Pedigree
Written record of a
thoroughbred's immediate ancestors. Usually one that
gives four generations, called a four-cross
pedigree.
Periosteitis
Inflammation of the
tissue (periosteum) that overlies bone. Periosteitis
of the cannon bone is referred to as "bucked shins,"
while periosteitis of the splint bone is called a
"splint." May be heard in the expression: Popped a
splint.
Phenylbutazone
See bute.
Physis
The growth plate at the
end of the long bones (such as the cannon bone) that
lets the bone grow in length.
Pinched Back
Horse forced back due to
racing in close quarters.
Pin Firing
Thermocautery used to
increase blood flow to the leg to promote healing.
See Firing.
Pinhooker
Person who buys a horse
with the specific intention of re-selling it at a
profit.
Placing Judge
Official who posts the
order of finish in a race.
Points of Call
Horse's position at
various locations on the racetrack where it’s
running position is noted on a chart. The locations
vary with the distance of the race.
Pony
Any horse or pony that
leads the parade of the field from paddock to
starting gate. Also, a horse or pony which
accompanies a starter to the starting gate.
Popped a Splint
See: periosteitis.
Post
1) Starting point for a
race.
2) An abbreviated
version of post position: He drew post four.
Posterior
Situated behind or
toward the rear.
Preferred List
Horses with prior rights
to starting, usually because they have previously
been entered in races that have not filled with the
minimum number of starters.
Prep
Workout (or race) used
to prepare a horse for a future engagement.
Prop
When a horse suddenly
stops moving by digging its front feet into the
ground.
Public Trainer
Trainer whose services
are not exclusively engaged by a single stable and
who accepts horses from a number of owners.
Pulled suspensory
Suspensory ligament
injury (suspensory desmitis) in which some portion
of the fibers of the ligament have been disrupted
and some loss of support of the distal limb may have
occurred.
Pull Up
To stop or slow a horse
during or after a race or workout.
Purse
Total monetary amount
distributed after a race to the owners of the
entrants who have finished in the (usually) top four
or five positions. Some racing jurisdictions may pay
purse money through other places.
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Q
Quarantine Barn
1) A U.S. Department of
Agriculture structure used to isolate foreign horses
for a short period of time to ensure they are not
carrying any diseases. The structure may be at a
racetrack, airport or specially designated facility.
Horses must be cleared by a federal veterinarian
before being released from quarantine.
2) Any facility used to
keep infected horses away from the general equine
population.
Quarter Crack
Crack between the toe
and heel, usually extending into the coronary band.
Quinella
Wager in which the first
two finishers must be picked in either order.
Similar to a "boxed" exacta or perfecta.
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R
Rabbit
A speed horse running as
an entry with another, usually come-from-behind
horse. The rabbit is expected to set a fast pace to
help the chances of its stablemate.
Racing Secretary
Official who writes
conditions of races and assigns weights for handicap
events.
Rank
Horse that refuses to
settle under a jockey's handling in a race, running
in a headstrong manner without respect to pace.
Receiving Barn
Structure used by horses
shipping in for a race who do not have a stall at
that racetrack.
Refuse
When a horse will not
break from the gate.
Reins
Long straps, usually
made of leather, that are connected to the bit and
used by the jockey to control the horse.
Reserve
Minimum price, set by
the consignor, for a horse in a public auction: The
horse did not reach its reserve.
Ridden Out
Horse that finishes a
race under mild urging, not as severe as driving.
Ridgling
Term describing either a
cryptorchid or monorchid. Also spelled "ridgeling."
Ring Bone
Osteoarthritis of joints
between the pastern bones ("high ring bone") or just
above the coronet ("low ring bone").
RNA
"Reserve not achieved."
(Used in results of a sale.) See reserve.
Roan
Horse color where the
majority of the coat of the horse is a mixture of
red and white hairs or brown and white hairs. The
mane, tail and legs may be black, chestnut or roan
unless white markings are present.
Roaring
Whistling sound made by
a horse during inhalation while exercising. It is
caused by a partial or total paralysis of the nerves
controlling the muscles which elevate the arytenoid
cartilages which thereby open the larynx. In severe
cases, a surgical procedure known as "tic-back
surgery" (laryngoplasty) is performed, in which a
suture is inserted through the cartilage to hold it
out of the airway permanently. Paralysis almost
exclusively occurs on the left side, most frequently
in horses over 16 hands high.
Rogue
Ill-tempered horse.
Route
Generally, a race
distance of longer than 11/8 miles.
Router
Horse that performs well
at longer distances.
Rundown
Abrasions of the heel.
Rundown bandages: Wrappings to minimize rundown
abrasions.
Run-Out Bit
Special type of bit to
prevent a horse from bearing out (or in).
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S
Saddle cloth
Cotton cloth which goes
under the saddle to absorb sweat. It usually has the
horse's program number and sometimes, in major
races, its name.
Saddle Pad
Piece of felt,
sheepskin, or more usually, foam rubber, used as a
base for the saddle.
Saucer (fracture)
Stress fracture of the
front of the cannon bone that can be straight or
curved.
Scale of Weights
Fixed weights to be
carried by horses according to their age, sex, race
distance and time of year.
Schooling
Process of familiarizing
a horse with the starting gate and teaching it
racing practices. A horse may also be schooled in
the paddock.
Schooling List
List of horses eligible
to school at the starting Rate before being
permitted to race.
Scratch
To be taken out of a
race before it starts. Trainers usually scratch
horses due to adverse track conditions or a horse's
adverse health. A veterinarian can scratch a horse
at any time.
Second Call
Secondary mount of a
jockey in a race in the event the primary mount is
scratched.
Second Dam
Grandmother of a horse.
Also known as a "granddam."
Sensitive Laminae
Area of the hoof that
contains nerves and vessels.
Sesamoid Bones
Two small bones (medial
and lateral sesamoids) located above and at the back
of the fetlock joint. Four common fractures of the
sesamoids are apical (along the top of the bone),
abaxial (the side of the sesamoid away from the
ankle joint), mid-body (sesamoid broken in halo and
basilar (through the bottom) fractures.
Sesamoid (fracture)
Fracture of the sesamoid
bone. Fractures can be small chips or involve the
entire bone. Surgical repair is often done by
arthroscopy.
Sesamoiditis
Inflammation of the
sesamoid bones.
Set
Group of horses being
exercised together.
Set Down
1) A suspension: The
jockey was set down five days for careless riding.
2) When a jockey assumes
a lower crouch in the saddle while urging the horse
to pick up speed: The horse was set down for the
drive to the wire.
Sex Allowance
Female horses, according
to their age and the time of year, are allowed to
carry three to five pounds less when meeting males.
Shadow Roll
A (usually sheepskin)
roll that is secured over the bridge of a horse's
nose to keep it from seeing shadows on the track and
shying away from or jumping them.
Shank
Rope or strap attached
to a halter or bridle by which a horse is led.
Shedrow
The stable area. A row
of barns.
Short
Horse in need of more
work or racing to reach winning form.
Sire
1) The male parent.
2) To beget foals.
Slipped
A breeding term meaning
spontaneous abortion.
Sloppy
Racing strip that is
saturated with water; with standing water visible.
Slow (track)
A racing strip that is
wet on both the surface and base.
Snip
Small patch of white
hairs on the nose or lips of a horse.
Socks
Solid white markings
extending from the top of the hoof to the ankles.
Soft (track)
Condition of a turf
course with a large amount of moisture. Horses sink
very deeply into it.
Sophomore
A three-year-old horse.
Called a sophomore because age three is the second
year of racing eligibility.
Spit Box
Term describing a barn
where horses are brought for post-race testing.
Tests may include saliva, urine and/or blood.
Spit the Bit
Term referring to a
tired horse that begins to run less aggressively,
backing off on the "pull" a rider normally feels on
the reins from an eager horse.
Splint
1) Either of the two
small bones that lie along the sides of the cannon
bone.
2) The condition where
calcification occurs on the splint bone causing a
bump. This can result from response to a fracture or
other irritation to the splint bone. A common injury
is a "popped splint."
Sprint
Short race, less than
one mile.
Stakes
Race for which the owner
usually pays a fee to run a horse. The fees can be
for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering
and starting, to which the track adds more money to
make up the total purse. Some stakes races are by
invitation and require no payment or fee.
Stakes-Placed
Finished second or third
in a stakes race.
Stakes Horse
Horse whose level of
competition includes mostly stakes races.
Stallion
Male horse used for
breeding.
Stallion Season
Right to breed one mare
to a particular stallion during one breeding season.
Stallion Share
A lifetime breeding
right to a stallion; one mare per season per share.
Stall Walker
Horse that moves about
its stall constantly and frets rather than rests.
Star
Any of a number of white
markings on the forehead. (The forehead is defined
as being above an imaginary line connecting the tops
of the eyes.)
Starter Race
Allowance or handicap
race restricted to horses that have started for a
specific claiming price or less.
State-bred
Horse bred in a
particular state and thus eligible to compete in
races restricted to state-breds.
Stayer
Horse that can race long
distances.
Steadied
Horse being taken in
hand by its rider, usually because of being in close
quarters.
Step Up
Horse moving up in class
to meet better competition.
Stewards
Officials of the race
meeting responsible for enforcing the rules of
racing.
Stifle
Large joint above the
bock which is made up by the femur, the patella and
the tibia.
Stirrups
Metal D-shaped rings
into which a jockey places his/her feet. They can be
raised or lowered depending on the jockey's
preference. Also known as "irons."
Stockings
Solid white markings
extending from the top of the hoof to the knee or
hock.
Stress (fracture)
Fracture produced by the
stress created by a repetitive loading cycle on the
bone, commonly found in athletic training. Usually
seen in the front of the cannon bone as a severe
form of bucked shins. Also seen in the tibia and
causes a hard-to-diagnose hind limb lameness.
(Home) Stretch
Final straight: portion
of the racetrack to the finish.
Stretch Runner
Horse that runs its
fastest nearing the finish of a race.
Stripe
White marking running
down a horse's face, starting under an imaginary
line connecting the tops of the eyes.
Strangles
Slang name for distemper
in a horse. Term derives from fact that in severe
cases it occurs in the windpipe area and can
strangle a horse.
Stud
Male horse used for
breeding.
Stud Book
Registry and
genealogical record of Thoroughbreds, maintained by
the Jockey Club of the country in question.
Subscription
Fee paid by owner to
nominate a horse for a stakes race or to maintain
eligibility for a stakes race.
Substitute Race
Alternate race used to
replace a regularly scheduled race that does not
fill or is canceled.
Suckling
Foal in its first year
of life, while it is still nursing.
Superficial Flexor Tendon
Present in all four
legs, but injuries most commonly affect the front
legs. Located on the back (posterior) of the front
leg between the knee and the foot and between the
hock and the foot on the rear leg. The function is
to flex the digit (pastern) and knee (carpus) and to
extend the elbow on the front leg and extend the
hock on the rear leg. Functions in tandem with the
deep flexor tendon.
Suspensory Ligament
Originates at the back
of the knee (front leg) and the back of the top part
of the cannon bone (hind leg), attaching to the
sesamoid bones. The lower portion of the ligament
attaches the lower part of the sesamoid bones to the
pastern bones. Its function is to support the
fetlock. The lower ligaments that attaches the
sesamoid bone to the pastern bones are the distal
sesamoidean ligaments.
Swayback
Horse with a prominent
concave shape of the backbone, usually just behind
the withers (saddle area).
Swipe
A groom.
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T
Tack
Rider's racing
equipment. Also applied to stable gear.
Taken Up
Horse pulled up sharply
by its rider because of being in close quarters.
Tattoo
Permanent, indelible
mark on the inside of the upper lip used to identify
the horse.
Teaser
Male horse used at
breeding farms to determine whether a mare is ready
to receive a stallion.
Tendon
Cords of strong, white
(collagen) elastic fibers that connect a muscle to a
bone or other structure and transmit the forces
generated by muscular contraction to the bones.
Thermography
Diagnostic technique
using instruments that measures temperature
differences. Records the surface temperature of a
horse. Unusually hot or cold areas may be indicative
of some underlying pathology (deviation from the
normal).
Thoroughbred
A Thoroughbred is a
horse whose parentage traces back to any of the
three founding sires: the Darley Arabian, Byerly
Turk and Godolphin Barb, and who has satisfied the
rules and requirements of The Jockey Club and is
registered in "The American Stud Book" or in a
foreign stud book recognized by The Jockey Club and
the International Stud Book Committee. Any other
horse, no matter what its parentage, is not
considered a Thoroughbred for racing and/or breeding
purposes.
Tie-back Surgery
Procedure (laryngoplasty)
used to suture the arytenoid cartilage out of the
airway. See roaring.
Tight
Ready to race.
Tightened
Race used to give a
horse a level of fitness that cannot be obtained
through morning exercises alone.
Toe-in
Conformation flaw in
which the front of the foot faces in and looks
pigeon-toed, often causing the leg to swing outward
during locomotion ("paddling").
Toe-out
Conformation flaw in
which the front of the foot faces out, often causing
the leg to swing inward during locomotion
("winging").
Tongue Tie
Strip of cloth-type
material used to stabilize a horse's tongue to
prevent it from "choking down" in a race or workout
or to keep the tongue from sliding up over the bit,
rendering the horse uncontrollable. Also known as a
"tongue strap."
Top Line
A Thoroughbred's
breeding on its sire's side.
Tout
Person who professes to
have, and sells, advance information on a race. Also
used as a verb meaning to sell or advertise: He's
touting the four horse.
Trail Off
Used to describe a fit
horse losing its competitive edge.
Trapped Epiglottis
See entrapped
epiglottis.
Trip
An individual horse's
race, with specific reference to the difficulty (or
lack of difficulty) the horse had during
competition.
Triple Crown
Used generically to
denote a series of three important races, but is
always capitalized when referring to historical
races for three-year-olds. In the United States, the
Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
In England the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and St.
Uger Stakes. In Canada, the Queen's Plate, Prince of
Wales Stakes and Breeders' Stakes. See appendix for
a list of races, dates and winners.
Tubing
Inserting a nasogastric
tube through a horse's nostril into its stomach for
the purpose of providing oral medication.
Turn Down(s)
Rear shoe that is turned
down 3/4-inch to one inch at the ends to provide
better traction on an off-track. Illegal in many
jurisdictions.
Twitch
Restraining device
usually consisting of a stick with a loop of rope or
chain at one end, which is placed around a horse's
upper lip and twisted, releasing endorphins that
relax a horse and curb its fractiousness while it is
being handled.
Tying Up (acute rhabdomyolysis)
Form of muscle cramps
that ranges in severity from mild stiffness to a
life-threatening disease. A generalized condition of
muscle fiber breakdown usually associated with
exercise. The cause of the muscle fiber breakdown is
uncertain. Signs include sweating, reluctance to
move, stiffness and general distress.
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U
Ultrasound
1) Diagnostic
ultrasound: A technique which uses ultrasonic waves
to image internal structures.
2) Therapeutic
ultrasound: a therapy to create beat and stimulate
healing.
Underlay
A horse racing at
shorter odds than seems warranted by its past
performances.
Under Wraps
Horse under stout
restraint in a race or workout to keep it from
pulling away from the competition by too large a
margin.
Untried
1) Not raced or tested
for speed.
2) A stallion that has
not been bred.
Unwind
Gradually withdrawing a
horse from intensive training.
Upset Price
Minimum amount at which
bidding may start at a public auction. This varies
depending on the sale.
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V
Valet
Person employed by a
racing association to clean and care for a jockey's
tack and other riding equipment.
VEE (Venezuelan Equine
Encephalomyelitis)
Highly contagious
disease affecting the central nervous system that
can cause illness or death in horses and humans.
Ventral
Down; toward the belly.
V.M.D.
Veterinary Medical
Doctor.
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W
Walkover
Race in which only one
horse competes.
Washed Out
Horse that becomes so
nervous that it sweats profusely. Also known as
"washy" or "lathered (up)."
Weanling
Foal that is less than
one-year-old that has been separated from its dam.
Weight-for-Age
An allowance condition
in which each entrant is assigned a weight according
to its age. Females usually receive a sex allowance
as well. (Compare with a handicap race.)
White
Horse color, extremely
rare, in which all the hairs are white. The horse's
eyes are brown, not pink, as would be the case for
an albino.
Wind Sucker
See cribber.
Withers
Area above the shoulder,
where the neck meets the back.
Wobbler Syndrome
Neurological disease
associated with general incoordination and muscle
weakness. Can be caused by an injury to the spinal
cord in the area of the cervical (neck) vertebrae or
is associated with malformation of the cervical
vertebrae.
Work
To exercise a horse by
galloping a predetermined distance.
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X
Xeroradiography
Costly type of x-ray
procedure that gives higher resolution on the edges
of bones and better visualization of soft tissue
structure.
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Y
Yearling
Horse in its second
calendar year of life, beginning January 1 of the
year following its birth.
Yielding
Condition of a turf
course with a great deal of moisture. Horses sink
into it noticeable.
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Z
Zantac
Trade name for the drug
ranitidine, a medication used to treat ulcers
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