The sight of thousands of horses and humans vying to get their jockeys and drivers’ carts across the finish line first has entranced spectators for centuries. Horse racing’s hypnotic beauty is undeniable, but it’s also a brutal sport that’s riddled with injuries and even death. In a business that’s already struggling to hold onto its fan base, it’s essential for horsemen to do everything they can to keep horses healthy and sound.
The symbiotic relationship between a racehorse and its jockey is the foundation of a successful career. A horseman must carefully balance the physical and psychological needs of the animal with the financial realities of the racetrack. This can be a difficult task, especially for newcomers who don’t know the lingo.
A few basic terms can help a beginner better understand the intricacies of the sport. The following glossary contains definitions of some commonly used phrases and jargon.
home stretch: The part of the track’s final straightaway leading up to the finish line, where horses usually sprint their hardest.
pacer: A type of gait in which a horse’s front and back legs move on the same side at the same time. Most pacers wear hobbles, which are straps that connect the horse’s front and back legs on each side.
ain’t no good: A phrase used by horsemen to describe a horse that is not performing well and may be unlikely to win the race.
handicapper: A person who makes bets on races for a living. Also known as a handicapper or a horseplayer.
race horse: An animal trained to run in races, typically by a professional trainer.
racing surface: A lightning-fast track.
pacing gait: A horse’s pacing gait occurs when its front and back legs move in unison, such as when it walks. Pacing is typically performed by horses that weigh less than 2,000 pounds.
shin splints: Injuries affecting the tendons of a horse’s hind legs. Typically, the deep flexor tendon is injured, which is located on the front (posterior) leg between the knee and the foot or between the hock and the foot on the rear leg.
race book: A schedule of races for a specific track over a period of time, including allowance races, maiden special weights and graded stakes races. The race book is compiled by the track’s condition book, a set of rules governing the training and racing of horses at a particular level.
horses don’t breed at will: Unlike dogs and cats, who can be spayed or neutered after they reach puberty, horse do not attain sexual maturity until about age 6 — at which point their bones stop growing. Then, they are thrust into intensive training at just 18 months, and pushed to their limits.
Injuries, breakdowns and a growing awareness of racing industry cruelty are slowly beginning to push the sport to the edge. But the hope is that horsemen will continue to improve their practices to ensure the health and safety of their animals.