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Horse Racing Glossary and Terms
Wagering Terms
Types of wagers and various gambling related
terms
"Across the Board"
Definition: A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets. Also Known As: win, place, and show
Examples: I would like to bet $2 across the board on number four.
"Boxed Bet"
Definition: Betting all possible combinations in a multi-horse wager such as exacta or trifecta. Boxing costs more but will cover the horses finishing in any order.
Examples: I would like a boxed exacta of 1 and 4
"Breakage"
Definition: In pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or dime, those pennies that are left over. Breakage is generally split between the track and state and, in some cases, breeding or other funds, in varying proportions.
"Bridge Jumper"
Definition: A person who bets an unusually large sum on a single horse, like $100,000 to show. Refers to the fact that if they lose they may be jumping off the nearest bridge. You can make this work in your favor if you think the horse that has been bridge jumped will finish out of the money since that will result in huge pay-offs on the other horses
"Daily Double"
Definition: Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second or the last two races.
Examples: I would like a $2 daily double with 6 and 10.
"Dead Heat"
Definition: A tie between two or more horses at the finish of the race. Usually these can be separated by the photo finish camera, but sometimes they are so close you can't. In this case, all wagers are paid on both horses.
Examples: There was a deat heat for win in the 2nd race.
"Exacta"
Definition: A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked. Also Known As: Perfecta, Exactor Examples: I would like a $2 exacta of 2 over 4.
"Field Horse"
Definition: Two or more starters running as a single betting unit, when there are more entrants than positions on the totalisator board can accommodate. Most tracks can now handle enough betting interests that this is not seen as often. Also Known As: Mutuel Field
"In The Money"
Definition: Finishing first, second or third in a race.
Examples: Man O'War finished in the money 21 times in his career.
"Inquiry"
Definition: Reviewing the race to check into a possible infraction of the rules. Also, a sign flashed by officials on the tote board during such occasions. Also Known As: Steward's Inquiry
Examples: The inquiry light is flashing. There is a steward's inquiry into an incident in the stretch
"Lock"
Definition: Slang term for a horse that is certain to win. Also Known As: Sure Thing Examples: Secretariat was a lock in the Belmont Stakes.
"Minus Pool"
Definition: A mutuel pool caused when one horse is so heavily played that, after deducting the track take, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet. The racing association has to make up the difference so that all pay-offs are at least the minimum amount, usually $2.10 or $2.20 depending on the local rules
"Objection"
Definition: Claim of foul lodged by rider, trainer, patrol judge or other official. If lodged by official, it is called an inquiry. There is also an objection light that will flash on the toteboard. Also Known As: Protest
Examples: The rider of number 4 has filed an objection against number 6 for interference in the stretch run.
"Odds-On"
Definition: Odds of less than even money, such as 4-5, so the win pay-off will be less than $4.
Examples: Secretariat was the odds-on favorite in most of his races.
"Official"
Definition: Sign displayed when the race result is confirmed and the pay-offs can be released. Also can refer to a racing official such as a steward. Examples: Race 1 has now been declared official
"On The Nose"
Definition: Betting a horse to win only. Also Known As: Win bet
Examples: I would like $20 on the nose for number 4.
"Overlay"
Definition: A horse going off at a higher price than he appears to warrant based on his past performances. Also Known As: Under Bet Examples: Number 4 is a huge overlay at 20-1.
"Parlay"
Definition: Using the winnings from one bet to place the next bet. Also Known As: Let it ride
Examples: I won big on a parlay of races 3, 4, and 5.
"Photo Finish"
Definition: A result so close it is necessary to use the finish-line camera to determine order of finish. Examples: There was a photo finish in the 2nd race.
"Pick Six"
Definition: A type of wager in which the winners of all the included races must be selected. Originally this was only done for 6 races, but now there are also wagers for Pick 3 and Pick 4 at many tracks. Also Known As: Super Six
Examples: Pick 6 wagering will be offered on races 4 through 9.
"Place"
Definition: Finishing second in a race. Also a wager where you win in the horse you bet finishes first or second.
Examples: I bet $2 to place on the 4.
"Quinella"
Definition: A wager in which the first two finishers must be picked, but payoff is made no matter which of the two wins and which runs second.
Examples: I bet a quinella of horses 3 and 7.
"Show"
Definition: Third position at the finish. Also a wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better. Also Known As: Show Bet
Examples: The show bet paid $2.40.
"Straight Bet"
Definition: Betting a horse to win only. Also used with exacta and trifect wagers if you are betting the horses in exact order. Also Known As: On The Nose
Examples: I would like a straight exacta of 4 over 1.
"Superfecta"
Definition: A wager where you have to pick the first four finishers in exact order. Can also be boxed to cover more combinations, but that can get quite costly. Examples: I would like a superfecta of 2 with 6 with 1 with 9.
"Take"
Definition: Commission deducted from mutuel pools which is shared by the track and local and state governing bodies in the form of tax or money for race purses. This can range from as little as 10% to as high as 30%, with the more exotic wagers, such as the trifecta, generally having a higher take than plain win, place, or show bets. Also Known As: Takeout, Track Take
Examples: I would like a boxed exacta of 1 and 4.
"Tout"
Definition: A person who professes to have, and sells, advance information on or betting selections for a race. Tip Sheets are also sold at the track which are published by these touts. Also Known As: Tipster Examples: I got a hot tip on the 4th race from a tout.
"Trifecta"
Definition: A wager picking the first three finishers in exact order. Can also be boxed to cover more combinations. Also Known As: Triple, Trifector
Examples: I would like a $1 trifecta box of 2, 4, and 8.
"Underlay"
Definition: A horse racing at shorter odds than he should based on his past performances or potential to win. Also Known As: Over Bet
Examples: Number 2 is an underlay at 2-
"Win"
Definition: To cross the finish line first. Also a wager on a horse to finish first. Also Known As: Win Bet
Examples: I would like $2 to win on number 4.
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