The simple A-Z of horse racing jargon . . .

Accumulator

A bet with several selections that all need to win to return a large profit.

All Weather

Racing on an artificial surface. Southwell has a fibresand surface whilst Kempton, Lingfield and Wolverhampton have polytrack.

Ante Post

A bet placed well in advance of the race, which is automatically lost if the selction is a "non runner".

Apprentice

A young jockey who receives a weight allowance over the more experienced riders. The weight allowance decreases with victories.

Arbitrage

A bet that locks in profits, regardless of the outcome.

Banker

A bet considered a near certainty.

Bar

The shortest odds not mentioned in a betting summary.

Betting Exchange

Online betting facility that matches backers and layers.

Blinkers

Head attachment that restrict the field of vision of a horse.

Bumper

A National Hunt race over the flat with no hurdles or fences.

Canadian

A bet with five selections including doubles, trebles, fourfolds and a fivefold.

CD (C&D)

Abbreviation for "course and distance". Denotes a horse that has won over the same course and distance as the race taking place.

Co-favourite

A favourite that is the same odds as at least two other horses.

Dam

The female parent of a horse.

Dead Heat

When the finishing position of two or more horses cannot be seperated.

Double

A bet on two horses where both need to be successful in order for the wager to be won.

Draw

The starting stall number from which a horse begins the race.

Drifter

A horse whose odds get bigger as a result of lack of support in the betting market.

Dutching

Backing two or more selections in one race in order to achieve the same returns regardless of which selection wins.

Each Way

A bet on a horse to place as well as win, with place terms determined by the number of runners and type of race.

Evens

Betting odds that return the same as the amount wagered in the event of the win.

Exacta

A bet placed with the Tote that requires the first two in the race to be named in the correct order.

Favourite

The horse in a race that has the shortest odds.

Forecast

A bet where the backer is required to nominate the finishing order of the first and second horses with the dividend calculated based on the Starting Price of the selections.

Furlong

Standard racing unit of distance that is 200 metres in length. There a 8 furlongs in a mile.

Going

The condition of ground in a race, which can range from soft to heavy.

Green

Term for an inexperienced horse that runs excitedly and uneconomically.

Handicap

A race where horses carry different weight according to their official ratings.

Hedging

Backing another horse in a race in which you alraedy have had a bet in order to limit your risks.

Heinz

A bet with six selections including doubles, trebles, fourfolds, fivefolds and a sixfold.

IBAS

An independent service that resolves disputes between punters and bookmakers.

Lay

Betting on a horse not to win a race.

Level Stakes

Using the same stakes for every bet.

Lucky 15

A bet on four selections including singles, doubles, terbles and a fourfold.

Lucky 31

A bet on five selections including singles, doubles, trebles, fourfolds and a fivefold.

Lucky 63

A bet on six selections including singles, doubles, trebles, fourfolds, fivefolds and a sixfold.

Maiden

A horse that has not won a race.

Monkey

Bookmaker slang for £500.

Nap

A tipster's main bet selection at a given meeting.

Non Runner

A horse that has been declared to run in a race but is no longer participating.

Odds On

A bet that returns profits smaller than the amount staked on the wager.

On The Bit

A horse that wins without any effort needed from the jockey.

Over-round

The margin built into a bookmaker's odds in order to ensure profits regardless of the result.

Over-weight

The event that a jockey weighs more than the horse is assigned to carry in a race.

Patent

A bet on three selections including three singles, three doubles and a treble.

Placepot

A bet with the Tote where a placed horse must be named for each of the first six races on a racecard.

Pony

Bookmaker slang for £25.

Rag

The complete outsider in the field of runners.

ROI

Return on Investment.

Rule 4

The betting rule which covers deductions from winning bets if a horse is withdrawn after the betting market has been set up but before the horses go under starters orders. The amount of the deduction depends upon the odds of the withdrawn horse.

Scoop6

A bet with the Tote where a winning horse must be named for each of six televised races.

Silks

The colours worn by jockeys.

Sire

The male parent of a horse.

Stake

The amount wagered on a bet.

Starting Price (SP)

The odds of a horse when the race starts calculated by compiling an average of the odds offered by on-course bookmakers for the horse.

Steamer

A horse whose odds have dramatically shortened as a result of support in the betting market.

Stewards Enquiry

An investigation into the outcome of a race, which can result in place reversals or jockey suspensions.

Tissue

A betting forecast designed to predict the odds of each runner in a race.

Tote

Betting system that pays dividends calculated upon receipts rather than set prices.

Treble

A bet on three horses where all need to win in order for the wager to be successful.

Trifecta

A bet placed on the Tote that requires the first three finishing horses to be named in the correct order.

Trixie

A bet on three selections including three doubles and one treble.

Yankee

A bet on four selections including six doubles, four trebles and one fourfold.