Acceptor: A horse that has been declared by the owner or trainer to run in a race.

All Clear: Also known as "Correct Weight". Horses are given specific weights to carry depending on the type of race they are in (handicap, welter, weight-for-age, etc.). The weight allocated can be based on the age, sex, and/or experience of each horse.

The riders of the first five horses past the post have to be weighed in after each race to ensure that they carried the allotted weight. The weight carried includes the jockey, gear (saddle, etc) and any lead that is required to make up that weight.

Protests must be lodged by riders before "correct weight" is announced by the Course Broadcaster. This is announced after the Stewards have indicated that the weights carried were correct and that there is no protest.

Also Ran: A horse that ran in a race but did not earn prizemoney for that run.

Anti-Rearing Bit: Commonly called a "rearing bit". This is a circular-shaped bit with three rings and a dip at the top used when leading horses. The dipped section goes inside the mouth, and the rest of the bit lies under the jaw. The bit is attached to the head collar.

Racehorses on racecourses must be led with bits in their mouths (with a head collar with a rearing bit or a bridle) for safety.

Apprentice: Junior jockey normally aged under 21. Apprentices are given weight allowances, or claims, depending on the number of races they have won.

Apprentice Allowance: A reduction in the weight to be carried by a horse if it is ridden by an apprentice jockey. Often called a "claim".

In the South Australian Metropolitan area, apprentices who have ridden less than 20 winners claim 3kg; more than 20 but less than 40 claim 2kg; and more than 40 but less than 60 claim 1.5kg. When apprentices have ridden more than 60 winners there is no claim permitted in the metropolitan area. This includes metropolitan, group and listed races only.

In the country, apprentices who have ridden less than 20 winners claim 3kg; more than 20 but less than 50 claim 2kg; and more than 50 but less than 80 claim 1.5kg. When apprentices have ridden more than 80 winners there is no claim permitted in the country. This includes all races.

Australian Stud Book: Registry of thoroughbreds, maintained in each country where thoroughbreds are raced. In Australia the Australian Stud Book is administered by the Australian Jockey Club.

Bandage: These are used for support, or for protection against injury, when horses are exercised, transported or during a race.

Barriers: A set of gates which is used to keep horses in line before the start of a race. Each horse has a barrier allocated in the barrier draw for the race.

Binoculars : An instrument used to magnify images at a distance. Used by race callers to see horses during a race.

Bit : A bar (usually made of stainless steel) which sits in the horse's mouth and is attached to the bridle. It is attached to the reins, jockeys use the reins and bit to steer and control the horse by applying pressure to the reins.

Bit Lifting Device: This is generally fitted to keep the bit high and stable in the horse's mouth.

Sometimes trainers fit the device for horses that have a tendancy to get their tongue over the bit or to distract the horse so that the horse focuses on the device and rider rather than become distracted.

Bleeder: A horse that suffers from bleeding (exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage). It occurs when the lungs of horses pre-disposed to bleeding are under pressure which causes small capillaries that surround the lungs' air sacs to rupture so that the lungs bleed.

The first-time a horse bleeds it is banned from racing for three months. If it bleeds in a race after that, the horse is banned for life as they are dangerous.

Blinkers: Used to limit a horse's vision to prevent the horse from reacting to incidents during a race and to generally improve concentration. They can be used on one or both eyes.

Bookmaker: A person who conducts betting at a race meeting. They must be licensed by a race club or industry body.

Box: Totalisator term describing the selection of three or more horses in a multiple bet, which may finish in any order.

Bridle: The equipment used on the horse's head, it includes the bit and the reins and is usually made of leather or PVC.

Broken-Down: When a horse has a serious injury that will prevent it racing (temporarily or permanently), usually of the legs.

Broodmare: A female horse used to produce foals.

Bute: An anti-inflammatory medication. Horses must race drug-free in Australia, so it must not be in their systems on raceday.

Checked: When a horse's path is blocked, causing it to change stride, slow down or change direction.

Cheekers: Rubber attachments to a bridle to prevent the bit slipping through a horse's mouth.

Chute: Extension of the racetrack used to provide a straight run for race starts.

Classic: A race for three-year-old horses at set weights.

Classifications / Ratings: A system used to compare top class horses between countries and years.

A handicapping panel assesses horses that have finished in the first six in a Group 1 race, or the first four in a Group 2 or 3 race and allocate weights for those horses in the categories of sprint, middle-distance, intermediate and staying.

Clerk of the Course: The Clerks of the Course assemble the horses in a race into numerical order in the saddling paddock and then escort the horses to the mounting yard.

The Clerks of the Course also escort the winning horse back to the mounting yard at the completion of the race. It is traditional that these horses are grey in colour but it is not essential.

Clerk of Scales: official who checks weight of jockeys with saddles against allocated weights before and after each race.

Colour: Three are six colours acceptable to the Australian Stud Book, these are bay, black, brown, chestnut, grey and white and six combined colours allowable, these are bay/brown, brown/black, grey/bay, grey/black, grey/brown and grey/chestnut.

- Black: Black hairs are general throughout the body coat, limbs, mane and tail. Hairs of other colours are not present but white hairs may be present as markings, flecking or ticking.

- Bay: The colour of the body coat may vary from a dull red brown to a yellow brown, approaching chestnut. The mane and tail are always black, as are the points, that is the lower parts of the legs, the muzzle and the tips of the ears.

- Brown: Black hairs are general throughout the body coat, limbs, mane and tail, but brown hairs are present on the muzzle, the eyelids and often on the flanks. The descriptions "bay or brown" and "brown or black" are acceptable for horses which may be difficult to describe precisely.

- Chestnut: The colour of the body coat and limbs may vary from a light washy yellow, through golden and reddish shades to a dark liver. The mane and tail may be darker or lighter than the body coat, while the lighter coloured chestnuts can have a flaxen mane and tail.

- Grey: The body coat consists of an uneven mixture of chestnut or brown or black hairs and white hairs. The horse's coat does not contain grey hair. The foal has coloured hair at birth but with increasing age white hairs replace the coloured hairs to produce an appearance of grey. The white hairs usually appear first on the face and eventually the whole coat can appear white. The transitional stages between the coloured coat and the white coat can be described as grey-chestnut, grey-bay, grey-brown or grey-black. The mane, tail and points of a young grey horse contain a higher proportion of coloured hairs than the body coat.

- White: This colour is not well defined in the thoroughbred and is very rare. The foals are born white, or predominantly white. Coloured hairs may be present on the poll, ears, or the tail. Tufts or patches of coloured hair may be present on the body. Some white horses have blue eyes.

Colours: The colours (silks) worn by the jockey in a race. These must be registered and are usually those of the Trainer or Owner/s of each horse.

Colours (Club): Substitute colours when owners' or trainers' colours are not available. Each Club has its own colours. For example, in Adelaide, the SAJC's colours are Blue with a Gold SAJC logo.

Colic: Horse's stomach disorder, which can develop into a serious illness.

Colt: An entire male horse under four years of age.

Correct Weight : signalled when all placed jockeys have correctly weighed in and there is no protest. Tote and bookmakers pay out on the correct weight.

Conditions: The eligibility requirements for horses to run in a particular race.

Country Course: A course other than a Metropolitan Course.

Dam: The mother of a horse.

Dead Heat: When two or more horses tie for any placing.

Derby : A stakes event for three-year-old racehorses.

Document of Description: Also known as a passport. This document is supposed to accompany every thoroughbred and includes identification and ownership information for the horse. The Stewards check these for every horse at every race meeting.

Emergency acceptor: Reserve horse for a race in which there are more intended runners than the barrier limit permits. The emergency will make the field when a runner in the field has been scratched.

Entire: Any male horse with both testicles in the scrotum (a colt or stallion).

Even Time: Also known as "Evens". A galloper running 200m in 15 seconds in training workouts. Under race conditions the average time for 200m is 12 seconds.

Farrier: A person who tends to the feet of horses. Favourite: The horse that has the most bet on it in a given race has shortest price odds and is called the favourite.

Filly: A female horse under four years of age.

Flying Race: A sprint race generally of less than 1200 metres (eg. A flying welter)

Foal: A newborn horse.

Form: Past performances of the horse.

Furlong: A measure of races until the introduction of metrics in 1972. A furlong is 220 yards, which is about 200m. Formerly races over a mile were also referred to as eight furlong races, whereas since 1972 they are over 1600m.

Gelding: A male horse with both testicles removed. Horses are gelded to prevent them becoming too heavy and to moderate their behaviour.

Group Race: Stakes races are races of high quality, categorised into Group 1, 2 and 3 and Listed races in order of importance.

Hand: A unit of measure used to determine the height of a horse. A hand is about 10cm, with the horse being measured from the the ground to the highest point of the wither (ridge between the shoulder bones). Most thoroughbreds are around 16 hands.

Handicap: A race that has weights assigned to horses by the handicapper according to ability to equalise each horse's chances of winning, the Melbourne Cup is Australia 's richest handicap.

Handicapper: The person who assigns handicaps to competitors.

Hanging: A term used to describe a horse that is not running straight. Jockeys must make all endeavours to ensure their horses run in straight lines during races.

Head Collar: Along with a leadrope, the head collar is used to lead horse.

Horse: A term used in a specific Stud Book sense for any entire male four years old or older. In its general every day sense the term applies to any male or female of the equine species.

Hosing Down Stalls: This is where the horses are hosed down after the race.

Hurdle Race: Jumps race over brush hurdles.

Identification of Horses: Every thoroughbred is identifiable and registered with the Australian Stud Book.

To have a foal entered into the stud book, breeders must have the foal's identity validated through a process undertaken by themselves, veterinarians and the stud book.

Breeders must notify the stud book when thoroughbreds are covered and when the corresponding offspring is born. When foals have been freeze-branded, the stud's veterinarian identifies the foal according to its markings (colour, white markings, brands and whorls) and takes a blood sample.

At the time that the horse is identified, breeders must present their produce in a place and under such circumstances that the horse can be handled and examined thoroughly. At this time they must give the veterinarian preprinted labels received from the Australian Stud Book and a DNA kit and instructions for attachment to the sample containers.

The veterinarian will take samples from the foal and despatch the samples to the Australian Equine Genetics Research Centre. All samples must bear an Australian Stud Book preprinted label or they will be discarded. The veterinarian must also lodge the original of the Identification Certificate with the Stud Book within 15 days, and provide the breeder with a copy of the Identification Certificate for that horse, to be used to later register that thoroughbred.

Infield: Area inside the racetrack.

Inside Racing: The official publication of Racing Victoria.

Invitation Race: A race that only invited horses may enter.

Irons: Better known as stirrups. Combined with the reins, stirrups provide the jockey with the leverage to control a horse. They can be raised or lowered depending on the jockey's preference.

Jockey: licensed person to ride in races.

Jockey Weights: thin slabs of lead carried under the saddle, when the jockey is lighter than the horses allocated handicap weight. The lead is usually carried in a special lead-bag.

Judge: official who judges the finish of a race. He notifies the results of winning and placed horses, their placed margins and race times.

Leg: A race that forms part of a double or treble in betting.

Keeper of the Stud Book: Also known as the Registrar of Racehorses. The manager of the Australian Stud Book organisation.

Lead: As in lead weight. If jockeys are too light to make the weight allotted a horse, they make up the difference between their weight and that which has to be carried by putting thin slabs of lead in the pockets of the saddle, or in a special bag under a saddle.

Length: A measurement used to describe the distance between horses in a race.

Listed Race: A stakes race below a group race in quality.

Lugging-Bit: A bit with a metal ring attached to give the jockey more control, especially with a horse that hangs.

Maiden Race: A race restricted to horses which at the time of starting have never won on the flat a race at a registered meeting.

Maiden: 1) A horse or rider that has not won a race.

2) A female broodmare that has never been bred from.

Mare: A female horse four years old or older.

Metropolitan Course: A course in the Metropolitan area. In South Australia these include, Morphettville Racecourse, Cheltenham Park, and Victoria Park.

Middle-Distance: A race that is run over between 1400 and 2199 metres.

Mounting Yard: Here the horses are paraded in numerical order prior to each race and jockeys are issued with their instructions from trainers and owners and mount their horses.

Following each race, all competitors dismount in the mounting yard. The first five horses past the winning post fill the placegetters stalls and their jockeys weigh in.

No one is permitted to have any physical contact with the jockey before they weigh in.

Moveable Running Rail: A running rail that can be moved to maintain the racing surface so that horses racing on a given track run over each part of the track as little as possible or over the more resiliant parts of the track more often than the less resilient parts.

Mud Lark: A horse that runs well on heavy (very rain-affected) tracks.

Near Side: Left side of a horse from which the horse is always approached, led and mounted.

Oaks: A stakes race for three-year-old fillies.

Odds: Betting price (dividend) for a horse in a race.

Odds-on: When a horse's price is less than even-money; eg, $1.90

Official: Person employed by a racing club to perform duties in relation to a race meeting; eg, Stipendiary Steward, Starter, etc.

Off Side: Right-Hand side of the horse.

"On the Bit": When a horse is galloping easily and is not being ridden hard by the jockey.

Owner: person who owns a racehorse. For racing purposes, a person who leases a horse is also regarded as the owner.

Open Race: A race with no restrictions on entry.

Parade Ring: on leaving the Saddling Enclosure, the horses parade in front of the main grandstand before going to the start. (also called Mounting Yard)

Pacifiers: Mesh eye-covers used to calm horses down. These cannot be used in wet weather for safety reasons as mud can stick to them.

Past Performances: A horse's racing record.

Penetrometer: A device used for measuring the hardness of the track by measuring the extent to which it penetrates the ground.

Photo-Finish: A finish where it is difficult for the judge to determine the winner, so a camera is used to take a photo of the finish line as the horses cross the line.

Plates: Light, thin horse-shoes, usually aluminium used for racing.

Pool: Total amount of money invested on the tote on various forms of betting.

Pre-Race Blood Testing: Blood samples taken from the horses for analysis before the race. Any irregularities are reported to the Stewards and may result in a horse being withdrawn from the race.

Point to Point Race Meeting : A race meeting consisting of jumping races or flat races, or both, at which amateur jockeys ride.

Principal Club: The major club in each state or district which govern racing in that area. The club is a member of the Australian Conference of Principal Racing Clubs which controls racing nationally.

Protest: A protest may be lodged with the Stewards by the owner, trainer or jockey of a horse if they believe that interference during a race has caused a horse to finish in a lower placing than it should have.

The official results and the announcement of "correct weight" are delayed until the Stewards have finished their inquiry into the matter.

When their decision has been made, the official results are recorded, "correct weight" is announced and dividends can be paid on bets.

Punter: Punt is a term that refers to a bet, a punter is someone who places bets.

Quality Race: In a quality, the weights are assigned as in a handicap, but with a maximum weight of 60kg and a minimum weight of 52kg.

Race Caller: Person who verbally describes a race.

Registered: In relation to a horse it means that the horse has been named and accepted under that name by the Registrar of Racehorses to compete under the rules of racing.

To be registered a horse must, under the rules of racing, be first accepted into the Australian Stud Book or Australian Non Thoroughbred Register.

Rig: A male horse which is a cryptorchid.

A unilateral cryptorchid has one undescended testicle in the abdomen; the other testicle may be in the scrotum or it may be removed. A bilateral cryptorchid has two undescended testicles (double rig).

Rules of Racing: Official set of rules which govern racing nationally and are supplemented by the Local Rules of Racing for each state.

Saddle-Cloth: Cloth under the saddle which displays the horses number in the race. This number corresponds with the racebook and totalisator board.

Saddling Enclosure: Area in front of the main grandstand where all horses competing in a race are paraded before the race. Immediately after each race the jockey rides the horse back to the Saddling Enclosure to unsaddle. (also called Mounting Yard)

Scratched: When a horse is withdrawn from a race most commonly due to injury, track conditions or programming decisions for a horse.

Shin Sore: Inflammation of the membrane of the cannon (shin) bone. Young horses are most likely to be affected and it is usually remedied with a spell (rest in the paddock for a period of weeks).

Shoe: A u-shaped metal plate nailed to the horse's hoof.

Shuttle Stallion: Any stallion which commutes between hemispheres to cover mares but may not cover mares in both hemispheres every calendar year.

Sire: A male horse that has produced foals.

Skull Cap: Protective helmet worn by all jockeys in a race. The jockey's coloured cloth caps cover the skull caps.

Sprint: A race run over less than 1400 metres.

Stallion: A male horse four years of age or older.

Starter: Official who starts the race.

Starting Barrier: a mobile frame construction containing a number of stalls into which the gorses are positioned at the race start. Each horse has a separate stall allocated by a ballot. The starter presses a button and the horses are released simultaneously when the front gates spring open.

Starting Price: last betting odds available for a horse at the start of a race.

Starting Time: the time appointed as the time at which the race will get under way. There are usually 35 minutes between each race, and the interstate or provincial events.

Staying Race: A race of more than 2200 metres.

Steeple Chase: A race incorporating jumps. These races are called steeple chases as they used to be a race to the church steeple.

Steward's Observation Towers : located at strategic positions around the track enabling the stewards to have a closer view of the race in progress.

Steward's Patrol Film : recorded video film to assist stewards, and show head-on and lateral views of the race field.

(Stipendary) Stewards : Officials appointed by the Principle Club to run race meetings in accordance with the rules of racing. Stewards have the power to fine; suspend or disqualify and licensed person for contravening the rules. Stewards can also inquire into the conduct of persons connected with horses or attending racecourses. Stewards determine all protests at race meetings and decide when a race is clear for announcement of correct weight.

Stone Bruise: Bruising sustained by the horse's unprotected soft sole. Caused by a sharp object, usually a stone.

Straight: straight part of the track stretching from the home turn to the finishing line.

Strapper: A person who attends and grooms racehorses.

Swab: Post-race urine sample taken from a horse for analysis to detect the presence of drugs or other illegal substances in the horse's internal system.

TAB Race: A race on which UNITAB conducts off-course totalisator wagering.

Tack: Horse equipment (saddle, bridle, grooming equipment, etc.).

Tip: Freely given advice on probable race winners.

Tips: Half racing plates worn by some horses for a race.

Tongue Tie: A strap or piece of stocking used to tie down a horse's tongue to prevent the tongue getting over the bit which affects a horse's breathing and the control of the jockey over the horse.

Totalisator (Tote): The alternative form of betting to placing bets with the bookmakers. Bets placed on the Tote form the "pool" so the odds fluctuate as bets are placed (the more a horse is bet on, the lower the dividend). The dividends paid to punters are their share of the "pool" after a percentage is taken out.

Trackman: a person who times horses at training sessions. Sometimes referred to as a clocker.

Training Tracks: tracks used to condition horses for racing, usually located adjacent to the main racetrack. They consist of turf tracks, sand, dirt, woodchip and synthetic Equitrack (sand mixed with polymer binding agents).

Track Ratings: Most tracks are fully turfed and on race days the track condition is classified as either:-

Fast: dry and springy; best for producing good times.

Good: the ideal galloping surface with a good grass cover.

Dead: not completely dried out from recent rain; surface has some "give" in it.

Slow: rain-affected and horses are marking the track.

Heavy: heavy rain has soaked the track, times are slow and horses are cutting the surface quite visibly.

Turnover: amount of money invested on a race or race meeting.

Walk-Over: A race with only one runner. In these races, the horse horse must be weighed out, mounted and ridden past the judge's box.

The horse will be liable to carry extra weight as the winner of the race and only half the prizemoney is awarded.

Warned Off: A person warned-off a racecourse is one who is not permitted to enter a racecourse or associate with licensed persons.

Weanling: a foal who has been weaned (taken away) from its mother.

Weigh-in: each winning or placed jockey is weighed-in after each race to check if he/she has carried the correct weight.

Weight for Age: A race in which weights are apportioned to horses according to their age or sex or both, and remains a Weight for Age race even if there are penalties and allowances; or the race is confined to horses of the same age. Females usually receive a sex allowance as well.

Whip: regulation racing crop used by jockeys to steer, control and encourage a horse's performance during a race.

Welter: A handicap with a higher minimum weight.

Yearling: horse which is one-year old. The horses' birthday in Australia is 1 August.