The Australian and New Zealand punting glossary explains some of the terms, jargon and slang which are commonly used and heard on Australian and New Zealand racecourses, in TABs, on radio, and in the horse racing media. Some terms are peculiar to Australia, such as references to bookmakers, but most are used in both countries.
The emphasis in this list is on gambling terms, rather than the breeding or veterinary side of horse racing.
0-9 750s: Binoculars with magnification of 7x50 mm. 10-50s: Binoculars with magnification of 10x50 mm.
A Acceptor: A horse confirmed by the owner or trainer to be a runner in a race. Aged: A horse seven years old or older.Stratton International Horseman’s Dictionary p. 7Summerhayes Encyclopaedia for Horsemen p. 3Delbridge Macquarie Dictionary p. 30 All up: A type of bet where the winnings of one race is carried over to the next race and so forth. Any2: see Duet. Apprentice: A young jockey, usually under 21 years of age, who is still in training. Recent rule changes allow older riders just starting out to work their way through their "apprenticeship". Apprentice allowance: Reduction in the weight to be carried by a horse which is to be ridden by an apprentice jockey. Also called a "claim". It varies from 4 kg to 1.5 kg depending on the number of winners the apprentice has ridden. Recent rule changes have resulted in an increase in the maximum amount able to be claimed—from 3 kg to 4 kg. Approximates: The TAB prices horses are showing before a race begins. Asparagus: Name given to a punter who arrives on course with a stack of 'mail', hence: more tips than a tin of asparagus.
B
B.: An abbreviation for a bay horse as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books. Back: To bet on a horse. Backed in: A horse whose odds have shortened. Backed off the map: A horse which has been heavily supported resulting in a substantial decrease in odds. Back up: To race a horse soon after its latest engagement. Also, punters who keep backing a particular horse are said to "back up." Bagman: Bookmaker's employee responsible for settling bets on course. Bank teller job: A horse considered such a near certainty that a bank teller could invest ‘borrowed’ bank funds and replace them without detection. Banker: A key selection in an exotic bet which must win, or run a particular place to guarantee any return. Banker: see Dead cert. Barriers: Starting barrier used to keep horses in line before the start of a race. Each horse has a stall or place randomly allocated in the barrier draw for the race. Battler: A trainer, jockey or bookmaker who just manages to make a living from his full-time involvement in horse racing. Benchmark: Under this system, operating in New South Wales, the weight a horse carries at its next start is determined immediately after its previous race, according to the merit of that run. Each benchmark point equals half a kilogram.Racing and Sports: New Handicapping System For NSW Retrieved 2009-2-12 Best bet: The selection that racing journalists and tipsters nominate as their strongest selection of the day. In the UK, it is known as the nap. Bet back: Action taken by a bookmaker when they are heavily committed to a horse and spreads some of the risk by investing with other bookies or the totalisator. Bet until your nose bleeds: Confident instructions to a commission agent or advice to a punter indicating that the horse is so certain to win that betting should only be halted in the unlikely event of a nosebleed. Better than bank interest: Justification by a punter for backing a horse that is very short odds on. Betting exchange: Internet-based organisations which broker bets between punters for a commission. The largest is Betfair. Big bickies: A large amount of money. Big note: To skite or exaggerate a position or status – to "big note" oneself. Big Red: Nickname of the champion race horse Phar Lap. Binos (pronounced "by-nose"): Binoculars. Birdcage: Area where horses are paraded before entering the racetrack. Bite: To ask someone for a loan. Bl.: An abbreviation for a black horse, as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books. Black type: Thoroughbred sales catalogues use boldface type to highlight horses that have won or placed in a stakes race. Bleeder: A horse that bleeds from the lungs during or after a race or workout. In Australia, a first-time bleeder is banned from racing for three months. If it bleeds a second time, the horse is banned for life. Blew like a north wind: Said about a horse whose odds have lengthened dramatically during the course of betting. Blinkers: A cup-shaped device used to limit a horse's vision during a race and improve concentration. Bloused: To be caught on the line or defeated in a photo finish. Blow: When the odds of a horse increase during betting. Blown out the gate: Odds have extended dramatically due to lack of support. Boat race: A race with a number of non-triers which is said to be fixed for one horse to win. Bolter: A horse at long odds. Bowling: When a syndicate of punters (usually professional gambler/s) uses a number of unidentified people ("bowlers") to simultaneously place bets on a specific race at numerous locations. Box: Betting term denoting an exotic combination bet whereby all possible numeric outcomes are covered. Box seat: A position in a race which is one horse off the fence and one horse behind the leaders. Bridle: A piece of equipment, usually made of leather or nylon, which fits on a horse's head and includes a bit and the reins. Br.: An abbreviation for a brown horse, as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books. Breaking: Breaking into a gallop, when trotting horses start galloping. Bred: A horse is bred where it is foaled. Thus a foal conceived in New Zealand but foaled in Australian is regarded as being bred in Australia.Montgomery, E.S, "The Thoroughbred", Arco, New York, 1973 Breeder: A breeder of a foal is the owner of its dam when it is foaled. The breeder may not have had anything to do with the mating of the mare or the place where it is foaled. Bring a duffel bag: Term used by a punter who expects to take copious amounts of cash home from the track. Broodmare: A filly or mare that has been bred and is used to produce foals. Buying money: Term used by a punter when required to bet 'odds on'.
C
C: The class of a harness racehorse which stands for Country Assessment; M stands for Metropolitan Assessment. A C11 M6 pacer has won an equivalent of 11 country class races and 6 metropolitan class races. C.: An abbreviation for a colt, as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books. Calcutta: Sweepstakes conducted prior to a big event with each horse being raffled and then auctioned to the highest bidder. Carry the grandstand: Said of a horse allocated a big weight in a handicap race. Cast: A horse situated on its side or back, and wedged in the starting stalls, such that it cannot get up. Cast a plate: Lost a racing plate. Ch.: An abbreviation for a chestnut horse, as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books. Chaff bandit: a derogatory term for a horse with little hope of winning; as in "stealing" its food. Chaff burner: Derogatory term for a horse. Checked: Incident during a race when a horse is blocked, causing it to change stride, slow down or change direction. Claim: see Apprentice allowance. Clerk of the course: Mounted racecourse officials who manage horses and jockeys on the race track, and lead the winner of a race back to the mounting yard. Coat-tugger: A racecourse conman who will tip a horse to a punter, and if the horse wins, is always present when the punter collects, to demand a portion of the winnings. Colourful racing identity: Euphemism for a criminal. Colours: Coloured racing jacket and cap worn by jockeys to indicate the owners of a horse. Colt: An entire (ungelded) male under four years of age. Connections: The owners and trainer of a horse. Cop a minty wrapper: To receive a very light "sling" or gratuity. Correct weight: After a race, the weight carried by at least the placegetters is checked, and 'correct weight' is the signal by the stewards that bets can be paid. Could not lay it with a trowel: Said by bookmakers of a horse that has been completely neglected in the betting ring. Cricket score odds: Very long odds, usually 100 to 1 or better. Crucified: see Slaughtered. Crusher: A bookmaker who takes top odds from his colleagues and then offers prices on the same horse or horses at reduced odds. Cuts his own hair: An expression to indicate a person is very careful about investing any money.
D
Daily double: Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two nominated races. Dam: The mother of a horse. Daylight: Often called as second placegetter in a race where the winner has won by a wide margin. Dead cert: Dead certainty, a horse or team that is considered highly likely to win. Dead heat: A tie between two or, rarely, more horses for a win or place in a race. Dead 'un: A horse deliberately ridden to lose. Deductions: The percentage reduction in odds, for win and place bets, when a horse is scratched from a race after betting on that race has commenced. Derby: A stakes event for three-year-olds. Desperate: A hopeless gambler; one who has no control over their tendency to bet. Dip: A pickpocket on a racecourse; someone with light fingers. Dishlickers: A colloquial term for greyhound racing. Dogs are barking it: A big tip which has become common knowledge. Doing plenty: Having a rough trot on the punt. Donkey-licked: To be defeated convincingly. Double carpet: 33/1 outsider. Drift: When the odds of a horse increase or ease. Drift in: A horse moving from a straight path towards the rail during a race. Drongo: A horse or person who was disappointing, slow or clumsy. Drum: Good information, a tip. Drum: To be placed second or third in a race; to run "the drum." Dutch book: To bet on a number of horses, at varying odds, such that whichever bet wins, a set profit is guaranteed. Duet: Exotic bet to select two of the three placegetters in a race. Duffer in the wet: Does not run well on slow or heavy tracks.
E
Each way: To bet for a win and a place. Early crow: When someone, usually a race caller, calls the winner of a race prematurely and incorrectly. Educated money: An amount invested on a horse from a stable or informed source. Emergencies: Substitutes, or replacements, for horses which are scratched from a race which is limited to a number of starters. The 'emergency starters' are drawn up by ballot or lottery to take the place of any runner that is withdrawn. Emu: A person who picks up discarded betting tickets on a racecourse, hoping that some will be of value. The person strikes a similar pose to Australia's largest native bird when feeding. Entire: Any male horse with both testicles in the scrotum. Equipment: Includes regular tack and gear which must be approved. See Gear changes. Even money: Odds of 1–1. A total return of $2 for a $1 outlay. Exacta: Exotic bet to select the first two finishers in a race in the exact order of finish. Exotics: Any bet other than a win or place e.g. quinella, trifecta, quadrella, superfecta, treble, exacta.
F f.: An abbreviation for a filly, as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books. Facing the breeze: Horse on the outside that can't get past the leader in trotting races. Failed to give a yelp: Said of a horse that, although expected to go well, runs down the track. Farrier: A person who shoes the horses. Favourite: The horse which is quoted at the shortest odds in a race. Field bet: To incorporate all of the runners in a race in one combination of an exotic bet. Filly: A female thoroughbred less than four years of age. Firm: To shorten in the betting, generally because of the weight of money being invested.