Thoroughbred Terminology

This is a bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the bettor collects three ways; if it finishes second, two ways; and if third, one way, losing the win and place bets.

Originally a "sweepstakes" in which the owner put up "stakes," such as nominating fees, entry fees and starting fees, all of which went to the winner. Today the racetrack adds money to these fees, and this is called added money. In most stakes races, these fees as well as a major portion of the added money go to the winner of the race.

A race for which the racing secretary writes certain conditions that determine the weights to be carried based on factors such as how many races and/or money each horse has won.

A horse that does not finish among the first three.

A horse officially entered to run in a race but who will not be permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number.

New riders start out as apprentices and are given weight allowances until they have ridden a certain number of winners within a specified period of time. Also known as a "bug," from the asterisk used to indicate the weight allowance, it usually means 10 pounds until the jockey rides his fifth winner, seven pounds until the 35th winner and five pounds for one calendar year after the 35th winner. Apprentices do not receive any weight allowance when riding in a stakes race.