HORSE RACING

Racing Terms
Asterisk (*) - Denotes an apprentice jockey

Backstretch - The straightway on the far side of the track

Blinkers - Eye cups a horse wears, which can keep it focused on a race

Blowout - A short workout a day or two before a race to keep the horse sharp

Box - When multiple horses are selected in exacta and trifecta wagers, when you can't predict the exact order

Chalk - The most heavily bet horse in a race

Clubhouse turn - The turn to the right side of the grandstand

Dead Heat - A tie between 2 or more horses

Exacta - wager in which you must pick the first and second place horses in a race

Far turn - The turn into the backstretch

Fast track - A track in it's best condition

Field - Tracks usually limit a race to 12 betting interest. If there are more than 12 horses, they are covered if you bet the 12 horses.

Fractional times - The running times at various points in a race

Gelding - A castrated horse

Handicapper - One who carefully selects horses through a detailed strategy

Homestretch - The straightway leading to the finish line

In the money - A horse that finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd

Juvenile - A 2 year old horse

Morning Line - Educated guess made by the oddsmaker on how the public will bet

Muddy - A track the is wet

Odds on Favorite - A horse that will pay less than even money ( under $4 on a $2 bet )

Part-Wheel - Used when you feel relatively sure what position a certain horse will finish in, but your other selections make you a little nervous. The horse your sure about is your key horse.

Place - Your horse can finish 1st or 2nd

Show - Your horse can finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd

Approximate Win Payoffs ( on a $2 bet )
odds_____payoff
1/5 _____$2.40
2/5 _____$2.80
3/5 _____$3.00
4/5 _____$3.60
1/1 _____$4.00
6/5 _____$4.40
7/5 _____$4.80
3/2 _____$5.00
8/5 _____$5.20
9/5 _____$5.60
2/1 _____$6.00
5/2 _____$7.00
3/1 _____$8.00
7/2 _____$9.00
4/1 _____$10.00
9/2 _____$11.00
5/1 _____$12.00
10/1 ____$22.00
How Much Wagers will Cost
$1.00 Exacta Boxes
AB with AB =$2
ABC with ABC =$6
ABCD with ABCD =$12
ABCDE with ABCDE =$20

$1.00 Exacta Part-Wheels
AB with ABC =$4
AB with ABCD =$6
AB with ABCDE =$8
ABC with ABCD =$9
ABC with ABCDE =$12
ABC with ABCDEF =$15

Trifecta Boxes
ABC with ABC with ABC =$6
ABCD with ABCD with ABCD =$24
ABCDE with ABCDE with ABCDE =$60

Trifecta Part-Wheels
A with BC with BCD =$4
A with BC with BCDE =$6
A with BC with BCDEF =$8
AB with ABC with ABCD =$8
AB with ABC with ABCDE =$12