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Abandoned |
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A race meeting which has been cancelled because a club did not receive sufficient nominations to be able to stage it, or because of inclement weather which made racing on the track unsafe. A race meeting may also be abandoned part way through because of inclement weather. |
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Acceptor |
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A runner officially listed to start in a race. |
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Accumulator |
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(Also, Parlay) A multiple bet. A kind of 'let-it-ride' bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the accumulator. |
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Acey-Deucy |
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Uneven stirrups, popularized by jockey Eddie Arcaro, who rode with his left (inside) iron lower than his right to achieve better balance on turns. |
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Across the Board |
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(See 'Place') A bet on a horse to win, place or show. Three wagers combined in one. If the horse wins, the player wins all three wagers, if second, two, and if third, one. |
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Action |
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1) A horse's manner of moving. |
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Acupressure |
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Utilizing stimulation on acupuncture points to treat an animal. |
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Acupuncture |
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A centuries-old means 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. |
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Added Money |
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Money added to a purse by the racing association or by sponsors, state-bred programs or other funds added to the money paid by horse owners as nomination, entry, sustaining and other fees. |
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Added Purse |
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Purse money that was enhanced by payments made by owners and/or breeders. |
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Added Weight |
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A horse carrying more weight than the conditions of the race require, usually because the jockey exceeds the stated limit. |
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Adequan |
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Brand name for polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, used in the treatment of certain arthritic conditions. |
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Age |
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All thoroughbreds share the same official birthday, January 1. That makes it easy to enforce the age restrictions that go with every race. |
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Age of a Horse |
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Computed on the basis of a calendar year. All race horses have January 1 of the year they were born as their official birth date, regardless of their foaling date. |
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Aged |
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This usually refers to a horse of seven years or older. |
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Agent |
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A person empowered to transact business of a stable owner or jockey. Also, a person empowered to sell or buy horses for an owner or breeder. |
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Aired |
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A workout wherein a horse runs as if it were only out for exercise. |
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Airing |
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Not running at best speed in a race. |
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Ajax |
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UK slang term for 'Betting Tax'. |
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All Clear |
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Signified by a siren at the end of a race, the all clear means that the stewards deem the finishing order of horses is correct and bets may be paid out. It also means that no protest or objection has been made by the connections of any horse in the race. |
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All Out |
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A horse who is trying to the best of his ability. |
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All-Out |
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A workout or race performance where a horse shows maximum exertion. |
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Allowance Race |
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A race for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights to be carried based on the horse's age, sex and/or past performance. |
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Allowances |
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Reductions in weights to be carried, allowed because of the conditions of the race or because an apprentice jockey is on a horse. Also, a weight reduction female horses are entitled to when racing against males, or that three-year-olds receive against older horses. |
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Also Ran |
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Any selection not finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a race or event. |
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Also-Eligible |
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Horses that originally entered in the race that will not run unless other horses are scratched (declared) out of the body of the race. |
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Also-Ran |
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A horse that finishes out of the money (first, second or third). |
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Altered |
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A horse that has been castrated (gelded). |
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Amateur Race |
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A contest involving amateur riders where, in most cases, there is no wagering. |
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Anemia |
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This is a blood condition where the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin or both are found to be below the normal limits. |
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Angular Limb Deformity |
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A limb that is not conformationaly correct because of developmental problems in the angles of the joints. |
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Anhydrosis |
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Inability to sweat in response to work output or increases in body temperature. Also known as a "non-sweater." Most are athletic horses though frequently the condition appears in pasteured horses not being ridden. Most commonly occurs when both the temperature and humidity are high. Horses raised in temperate regions and then transported to hot climates are most prone to develop the condition but even acclimated horses can be at risk. Clinical signs include inability to sweat, increased respiratory rate, elevated body temperature and decreased exercise tolerance. The condition can be reversed if the horse is moved to a more temperate climate. |
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Ante Post |
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(Also, Futures) Bets placed in advance predicting the outcome of a future event. Ante-post prices are those on major sporting events, usually prior to the day of the event itself. In return for the chance of better odds, punters risk the fact that stakes are not returned if their selection pulls out or is cancelled. |
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Anterior Enteritis |
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Acute inflammation of the small intestine producing signs of abdominal distress, such as colic and diarrhea. |
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Apprentice |
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A rider who has not ridden a specified amount of winners within a specific time period. These riders get weight allowances on all their mounts based on the number of winners they have. 10 pounds until the fifth winner, 7 pounds until the 35th winner and five pounds for one calendar year after the date of the 5th winner. |
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Apprentice Allowance |
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Weight concession 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 fifth winner. Also, three pounds are sometimes permitted for an additional year when riding for original contract holder. This rule varies from state to state. |
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Apprentice Rider (Bug Rider) |
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A student jockey. The term "bug" comes from the weight concession symbol found in the program (an asterisk "*") which looks like a bug. |
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Apprentice Weight (Bug Weight) |
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An apprentice rider is allowed to carry less weight due to his/her inexperience. When this weight concession is allowed the program denotes the weight in the program with an asterisk "*". |
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Approximates |
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The approximate price a horse is quoted at before a race begins. Bookmakers use these approximates as a guide to set their boards. |
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Apron |
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The (usually) paved area between the grandstand and the racing surface. |
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Arbitrage |
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Where a variation in odds available allows a punter to back both sides and guarantee a win. |
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Arthritis |
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Inflammation of a joint. An increase in the amount of synovial fluid in the joint is a result of this inflammation. Accumulation of synovial fluid in the fetlock joint is called a "wind puff" or "wind gall." In young horses, a swelling in the fetlock joint, particularly on the front of the joint where the cannon and long pastern bones meet, is called a "green osselet." This swelling is a result of inflammation and reactive changes of the front edges of these two bones and adjacent cartilage. If the green osselet does not heal, a "chronic osselet" might develop with a permanent build-up of synovial fluid in the joint and inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule over the damaged area with secondary bone changes following the initial inflammation. |
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Arthroscope |
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A tiny tube of lenses used for viewing areas inside a joint. Usually attached to a small video camera. |
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Arthroscopic Surgery |
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Utilizing an arthroscope to perform surgery, eliminating the need to open the joint with a large incision in order to view the damaged area. |
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Artificial Breeding |
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Includes artificial insemination or embryo transfer (transplants). Not approved by The Jockey Club. |
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Arytenoid Cartilages |
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Triangular cartilages in the upper part of the entrance to the larynx. Movements of the arytenoid cartilages control the diameter of the laryngeal opening. |
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Assistant Starter |
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The employee of a horse racetrack who, under direct supervision of the starter, helps place the starting gate for a race, leads horses into the gate, helps jockeys and handles horses while in the gate until the start. |
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Assistant Trainer |
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In many cases one trainer may have many horses under his care and these horses are spread out at several race tracks. Knowing a person can not be in two places at once, the Trainer will assign an assistant trainer to act in his absence. |
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At the Post |
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The time when the horses have arrived and are ready to be loaded into the starting gate. |
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Ataxia |
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Loss or failure of muscular coordination. |
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Atrophy |
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To waste away, usually used in describing muscles. |
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Attack |
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To challenge the leading horse during a race, in an attempt to take the lead. An attack can sap the horse's energy, or even that of the leader, and may leave both of those horses with little in reserve for the finish. |
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Attendance |
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The attendance figure at a given race track site usually includes the patrons that passed through the turnstiles, patrons that gained access with passes, and employees. |
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Auxiliary Starting Gate |
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A second starting gate used when the amount of horses in a race exceeds the capacity of the main starting gate. |
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Average-Earnings Index (Aei) |
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A 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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