Age

Every horse shares a "birthday" of January first. A horse becomes one year old on the first of January after he or she is born, and turns two, one year later - regardless of the actual date of his or her birth.

Allowance Race

A race other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights.

Blanket Finish

Or photo-finish in which two or more horses are very close at the finish line (one can "throw a blanket over them"). Very common in American Quarter Horse racing.

Break

When a horse gallops, instead of trotting or pacing, it's on a break. The driver must get the horse out of the way of the others, must not improve his position, and must attempt to get the horse back on its proper gait. A horse is not automatically disqualified by making a break.

Bullring

A racetrack with either a half-mile or 5/8ths mile oval.

Claiming Race

Race in which horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price.

Colt

A male horse, age three or under.

Daily Double

A type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second.

Dead Heat

A tie. Two or more horses finishing equal in a race.

Derby

A stakes event for three-year-olds.

Dividend

The amount that a winning or placed horse returns for every $1 that was bet.

Double Quinella

A wager type that requires the selection of the first two finishers, regardless of order, in each of the two specified contests. This wager type is also known as quinella double.

Entry

A horse entered in a race is called an entry. On rare occasions, two or more horses are said to be coupled and run as an entry, comprising a single wagering unit. A wager on one horse of an entry is a wager on both.

Exacta

A wager that picks the first two finishers in a race in the exact order of finish. Also referred to as Perfecta.

Exacta Box

A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are covered.

Exotic

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.