Glossary of Terms

An explanation of some of the terms

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  • Sire - father of the horse in question. Would normally have been a very good racehorse himself before retiring to stallion duties.

  • Dam - mother of the horse in question.

  • Broodmare - a female horse used for breeding. Usually of good pedigree and/ or good racing background.

  • Colt - a young male horse

  • Filly - a young female horse

  • Gelding - a castrated male horse.

  • Furlong - a unit of distance used in describing a race. For example: 8f is eight furlongs and equates to a mile in distance. 10f - ten furlongs, a mile and a quarter. 12f - a mile and a half and so on.

  • Stud - Two uses:

    • a stallion (usually used only in the USA)

    • a horse breeding farm.

  • trip - usually used to describe the distance to which a horse is best suited.

  • Going - the ground conditions of a race, soft, firm, heavy and so on.

  • Black type - a race of such a standard it entitles the horse or race won to be highlighted in heavy black type in a sales catalogue. It is thought to improve the value of a horse.

    • Black type races themselves are graded in standard as follows:

      • Group 1 - highest level possible on the flat. Derby, Guineas, St Leger would be examples.

      • Group 2 and Group 3

      • Listed.

    • Below these races are non black type races:

      • Handicaps - which themselves have several classes or levels.

      • Sellers

  • Stakes race - a black type race.

  • Classic race - there are five classics in Ireland and the UK, they are open to three year olds only:

    • 1000 Guineas - 8f for fillies only.

    • 2000 Guineas - 8f for colts and fillies.

    • Oaks - 12f for fillies only.

    • Derby - 12f for colts and fillies.

    • St Leger - 14f for colts and fillies.

  • Rating - once a horse has run three times it gets a rating from the official racing handicapper. Tamayuz for example was rated 126. This rating is reassessed after every race.

  • Handicap - the weight a horse needs to carry in a type of race (a handicap) where all are given a theoretical even chance of winning. The weight is determined by the horses rating. Depending on the horses rating, it would carry more or less weight than it’s competitor which may have a higher or lower value.