A Beginner's Guide to Racing & Betting
The terminology used by racing aficionados and bookmakers may sound baffling at first, but our brief guide and video to racing and betting should help you to know your ‘naps’ from your ‘blinkers.
It’s pretty straightforward really; a group of horses race over a set distance and the fastest one wins. Except, there are a few other factors to take into account. Much like ourselves, horse’s characters vary greatly and no-one can really know how they are feeling on a given day. Add in the tactics employed by the jockeys, varying ground conditions, undulations in the track and good old fashioned bad luck and what you have is a spectacle that is far from predictable. That’s what makes racing so addictive, so Glorious.
So, how well do you know your horseracing?
On the bridle’, ‘tic-tac’, ‘how many furlongs in a mile’ - just how clued up are you on your horseracing terminology? We took our camera to the racecourse to find out…
Once you've tested your knowledge, take a look at the racing terms below then head over to our 'How to pick a winner' video.
Trainer
The person responsible for preparing a horse for the races. They plan everything, from the day to day feeding and exercise to the races in which the horse will run.
Owner
The backbone of racing, owners invest their hard-earned money in a horse and pay for it to be trained. They get the majority of the prize money.
Jockey
You know, the impossibly small person who has to guide half a ton of horse.
Groom
The lads and lasses who work in stables looking after the welfare and exercise of the horses.
Furlong
Racing’s unit of distance measurement. There are eight furlongs to a mile.
Stalls
Horses are loaded into the stalls to ensure a clean start.
Going
The underfoot conditions. This varies from ‘heavy’ to ‘firm’.
Paddock/Parade Ring
The area where the horses walk round before racing to warm up. It’s a great place to see the horses and make your selection.
Rating
Horses are afforded an official rating by the sport’s governing body (the BHA) according to their previous performances.
Handicap
A handicap race is where horses are allocated different weights to carry according to their official rating. A higher rating = more weight.
Group Races
These are the most prestigious races on the calendar, with Group One races being the pinnacle.
Steward's Enquiry
This occurs when there has been an interference in the race and the racecourse stewards are investigating. Bookies won’t pay out until the results of the enquiry are announced.
Weighed In, Weighed In
The stewards are happy that the race has been run fairly and by the rule book. Go and collect your winnings you lucky one!