Horse Racing Lingo

Feeling squirrely because the dogs are up on the backside? Sit chilly and read on.

Backside - The last thing you see on a person walking away from you? Well, yeah, that too. But in racing, it means the stable area at a track. This is where the horses are stabled, fed, and cared for and where some of the caretakers -- the grooms -- live. For racing people, it's the center of the universe. "Backside" also can refer to the racetrack's backstretch, the long straightaway that is farthest away from the grandstand -- in other words, the opposite of the homestretch. Now, if you really are into nuances: the terms "backside" and "backstretch" can be used interchangeably, whether you're talking about the barn area or the track itself. Got it?

Blinkers - If you've ever said someone is blinkered in his vision of the world, you're talking track. Racetrack, that is. Blinkers are stitched onto a hood that goes over a horse's head so that the blinker cups fit around -- but not over -- his eyes. They keep him looking straight ahead and typically are used on a horse that is easily distracted by anything from crowd noise to members of the opposite sex. Not available -- yet!--for human use...

Breeze - It's not the wind, but it runs like it. It's what a horse's rapid-fire morning workout is called. Can be used as a noun or a verb, as in, "Secretariat breezed five furlongs" or "Secretariat's five-furlong breeze broke the stopwatch."

Call to the post - You know: Da do da doo-te-doo, doo-te-doo, do-te-doo-da! It's the catchy bugle tune played before each race, sometimes live and sometimes on Memorex. The "post" is an insider's term for the starting gate, so the "call to" is how the track tells you the horses are on the track and heading toward the gate. As in, run to the betting window before you get shut out.

Chalk - The chalk in any race is the favorite, the horse with the lowest odds. The chalk is the horse most people have put their money on -- not that that's any guarantee he'll win. Remember: a lot of bad judgment doesn't make a horse run any faster. Coolest way to use this term and sound like a racing regular: "Hey, man -- friends don't let friends bet chalk." Best said when followed by a serious longshot tip.

Colors - The bright silks worn by jockeys. Racehorse owners select their own silks, and no two owners can have the same colors. When an owner has two horses in the same race, often the jockeys will wear different colored caps to help you distinguish which horse is which when they're running.

Dogs up - "Dogs" are markers, usually orange traffic cones, put up around the track during training hours to protect the inside portion of the track from heavy, hoofed equine traffic. Often used after bad weather has made the area closest to the rail soggy. On days when the dogs are up, a horse works along the dogs as if they were the actual inside rail of the track. So what? Well, it makes a workout -- a breeze -- a bit longer than normal, which can make a difference to all you sharpies looking to pick up a winning edge.

Groom - Not the guy walking down the aisle, but they are almost wedded to their horses. These are the horses' personal caretakers, responsible for -- surprise -- grooming the horse as well as bathing it, keeping its stall clean, and a thousand other things you wish your mom and dad still did for you. Yes, including laundry.

Handicapping - The fine intellectual art of perusing the PPs and picking a winner -- preferably one no one else had the acumen and foresight to tab. In other words, the highest calling. Not to be confused with a handicap race, which is a race in which the horses are assigned the weights they carry according to their records: horses with better racing records carry more weight, those with less experience or apparent talent carry less.

Hotwalker - Not quite as risqué as it sounds. The hotwalker is hired exclusively to walk hot horses after they exercise until they cool down. Remember how your gym coach used to nag you to keep moving after a hard run? Same principle, only the horses get a personal attendant to hold them during their baths and then lead them around until they're cooled down. Be thankful your gym coach didn't do that.

PPs - That's "past performances," i.e., the scoop on the racing record of the day's runners, found in your handy program or in the Daily Racing Form. It only looks like advanced algebra -- which actually makes it a superior way to impress your pals. To decipher it, just read the guide in front of your racetrack program or in the Form, then casually explain the runic signs to your friends: "Oh, yeah, he's got the mud mark, plus, see here, this other guy last ran in claiming company."

Post time - It's race time, and they're in the gate! Also just about the time they shut the betting windows. The betting machines automatically shut down as soon as the starting gate opens, so if you're fifth in line at post time, you're just about out of luck. Saving grace: a delay in the race. Tip: never leave a line 'til the window is closed.

Sitting chilly - When a jockey calmly bides his time in a race -- especially when everyone else is feeling the pressure of the race and starting to make premature runs for the lead -- he's said to be "sitting chilly." Shows serious nerve under pressure.

Squirrely - Said of a horse who is nervous and jumpy or who is ultra-sensitive to touch.

Stakes - Short for "sweepstakes," this generally refers to the higher class of racing. In the hierarchy of races, stakes races generally are better than other kinds of races. To get in one, you have to nominate your horse early, and the money is usually better. There are classes within the stakes category, too: "graded stakes" are better than "non-graded" ones, and the world's top races are Grade 1 races. The Kentucky Derby, for example, is a Grade 1 stakes.

Stewards - Racing's ultimate referees. They watch every move on the racetrack, review the videotapes, and blow the whistle if they think a foul -- intentional or unwitting -- has occurred. Sometimes, the guilty party gets disqualified. If an "inquiry" light goes on after a race on the infield odds board (called the tote board), then it means the stewards are mulling over something they didn't like. Here's another nuance: if the "objection" light goes on after a race, that means a rider has initiated an inquiry over something he didn't like.

Tack - Not a pushpin, but just as crucial for getting a jockey to stick to his horse. This term refers to the saddle and saddlecloth, the girth that holds the saddle to the horse, and the bridle.

Turf - This word cuts two ways, and it separates the insiders from the wannabes pretty fast. Here goes: "turf" with a little T means "grass," so a "turf race" refers to a race run on grass instead of dirt. But "Turf" with a big T refers to the whole sport of racing. When you refer to "the Turf," you're pretty much saying "the Sport of Kings."

MENU OF BETS

WIN: You bet on a horse to finish first. PLACE: Your horse must finish first or second. SHOW: Your horse must finish first, second OR third. ACROSS THE BOARD: You're betting win, place, AND show. If your horse wins, you collect on the win, place AND show bets. If your horse comes in 2nd, your collect on the place and show bets. In 3rd, you collect on the show bet. DAILY DOUBLE: Pick the winners of the first AND second races. Hard, but the payoff is sweet. QUINELLA: Pick the horses that come in first and second in a race in ANY order. EXACTA: Pick the horses that come in first and second in a race in the EXACT order. TRIFECTA: Pick the first three finishers of a race in EXACT order. SUPERFECTA: Pick the first four finishers of a race in EXACT order. PICK THREE: Pick the winners of three races in a row. PICK SIX: Pick the winners of six consecutive races. BOX: If you have two or more horses that you think will finish in the top spots, but you're not sure of the order, you can box them. WHEEL: A bet on one horse with ALL the others in the race. An "Exacta wheel #5 - all" wins if the #5 horse wins and ANY horse comes in 2nd. KEY OR PART WHEEL: A bet on one horse with SOME of the others. An "Exacta wheel #5 - 2,3,4" wins if the #5 horse wins and either the #2, #3, or #4 horse comes in 2nd.