betHQ
February 28, 2019
February 28, 2019
The influx of foreign horses into the Melbourne Cup has seen a proportional rise in interest in the race from the UK and further afield. This has led to something of clash of racing cultures, with Australians and UK based punters using virtually different languages to describe the events and conditions around the average horse race. If this sounds like you, and you’re trying to decode the jargon that Australian punters and race commentators use to discuss the Melbourne Cup and other major Australian races, this glossary of Australian racing terms is for you. Click on the letters below to jump to the relevant section of the glossary.
Acceptor: a horse confirmed to run in a race by its trainer or owner
Aged: a horse aged 7 or older, i.e. your average national hunt horse
Approximates: the prices displayed at a tote (TAB in Australia) ahead of a race
Backed in: a horse whose odds have shortened, or a steamer in the UK. A horse who is substantially backed in is Backed off the map
Barrier: the starting stall in a race
Best bet: a horse backed by an industry expert, known as a nap in the UK
Black typed: used to describe horses that have won or placed in a stakes race (these are usually bolded in thoroughbred sales catalogues) Bolter: a long odds entry
Checked: an incident where a horse is blocked in a race
Colours: the racing jacket and cap worn by jockets to indicate the owner
Daylight: a horse finishing second by a large margin
Dead cert: a horse virtually certain to win a race
Derby: a stakes race for 3-year-olds
Drift in: a horse moving in from the straight path to a rail during a race
Educated money: an amount invested on a horse by a stable or person with insider knowledge
First up: the first run of a horse after a spell
Flying handicap: a sprint race of under 1200 m
Get up: to win a race
Good alley: a barrier draw which favours a particular horse
Good oil: positive feedback on a horse’s chances in a race
Got at: a horse being put in a position where it can’t win a race
Grow another leg: a horse that shows it can handle heavier or wet tracks well
Hairy goat: an under-performing racehorse
Hang: to stay clear of the straight course during a race
Hoop: a jockey
Hot Pot: race favourite
Import: horse imported to Australia
Impost: the weight carried by a horse
In the red: an odds on horse
Irons: stirrups
Jumped out of the ground: a horse that comes from behind to win a race
Late mail: final insights into a race by tipsters
Lad down misere: a certainty to win a race
Let down: a final push on a horse by a jockey at the end of a race
Lug: a horse running a poor race but staying in contention
Maiden: a horse without a win in a race
Mail: tips by respected tipsters
Mentor: a horse trainer
Mudlark: a horse that performs well on wet tracks
Nags: slang term for horse races
Near side: the left side of a horse
Nose: shortest winning margin in Australian racing
Off side: the right side of a horse
On the bit: an eager horse
Ordinary cattle: a low class field in a race
Persuader: jockey’s whip
Pigskin: a jockey’s saddle
Pilot the field: to lead a race
Positilion: a jockey
Preliminary: a horse’s walk or trot to the starting stalls
Pulling: over-racing
Quality handicap: races with a minimum weight of 53kg and a maximum weight of 61kg, meeting a minimum prize money requirement
Racing plate: aluminium horseshoe
Relegated: a horse that is pushed down the finishing order in a race after a steward’s enquiry
Ridden upside down: a horse raced outside it’s usual race strategy
Salute the judge: to win a horse race
Scraping paint: running a race close to the rail
Shillelagh: jockey’s whip
Short half-head: second shortest winning margin, after a nose
Spell: the resting period between preparations
Spring Grand Slam: describes the three key Spring races, the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup
Sprout wings: to catch the leader in the final furlongs to win a race
Stakes race: Group and Listed races
Sticks: used to refer to jumps races
Stone motherless: a horse lagging behind the field in last place
Swooper: a horse that finishes races strongly
TAB: state betting pool
Toppy: the horse carrying top weight
Town: a race run on a track in a metropolitan area
Triple Crown: refers to the Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and AJC Australian Derby
Trots: harness racing
Under double wraps: a horse that wins a race easily without having to use all its speed or power
Weigh out: the weigh in for the jockey and his equipment
Weight for age: handicap race where weight is allocated according to age and sex
Welter: a handicap with a high minimum weight
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