If you want to win a horse race then it is important to have some kind of strategy. A lot of people do not have a plan and this can cause them to lose a lot of money. It is best to get help from a professional because they can help you make the right decision about which horses to bet on. There are a lot of people out there who will try to tell you what they think about the horse race but it is always best to get advice from someone who knows what they are talking about.
APPRENTICE ALLOWANCE- Weight concession granted to an apprentice rider (normally 10 pounds until the fifth winner, then seven pounds for one calendar year from the 35th). A horse with an allowance is said to be “in hand.”
BANDAGE- Strips of cloth wound around the lower part of the legs of a racehorse for support or to protect against injury. BLOODWORK- A test performed on a racehorse before it runs in order to determine the condition of its lungs, heart and other organs. A horse that passes this test is declared fit to run.
CROWN- A prize awarded to the winner of a race.
DOG- A wooden barrier placed a certain distance out from the inner rail during workout period to prevent horses during exercise, when track is wet, muddy, soft yielding or heavy, from churning the footing along the rail and potentially damaging their feet.
EASED- Chart caller’s assessment that a horse is being deliberately slowed down by the jockey in order to prevent injury or harm to the animal.
FRACTION- A fraction of the race distance divided by the total number of laps or yards in the race. A tenth of the race is a hundredth of a mile, or 100 yards. A quarter of the race is a 25th of a mile, or 400 yards.
POST POSITION- Position of stall in starting gate from which a horse will start. PRINCESS CROWN- The award to the winner of a three-race series of Grade I races in which the contestants are all fillies or mares, and that is open to horses aged four years and older.
POLE- Markers at measured distances around the track, marking the distance from the finish (the quarter pole is a quarter of a mile from the finish).
TRACK BIAS- A racing surface that favors a particular running style or position on the racetrack.
TRAINER- An employee of a horse racing stable who is responsible for the care and training of the horses under his or her charge.
Do horses know when they win or lose a race? They do. They have a different morning routine when they are scheduled to race and their feeding is slightly altered. They walk a little differently and when they see the grooms put on the bridle they know it is race day. They also have a special inclination to gallop that day.