Are you a first time racegoer? Then this section is just for you and will ensure you get the most by going through some of the racing terminology and  discussing some tips to help you enjoy the sport. 

Amateur: (rider) on racecards, their names are prefixed by Mr. Mrs. Captain, etc., to indicate their amateur status.

Apprentice: Young jockey tied by annually renewed contract to a licensed trainer while he or she is learning the business of race-riding.

Beginners’ chase: A race for horses beginning their careers over fences.

Best Turned Out: This is the prize given to the groom of the horse that is judged to look the best in the parade ring.

Bit: A two-piece device that fits into the horse’s mouth and is attached to the reins. It allows the jockey to control and steer the horse.

Blinkers: A piece of equipment that goes over the horse’s head to restrict its vision and help it concentrate in a race.

Bumper: A National Hunt Flat race with no jumps, usually used to give young horses experience before they go hurdling or chasing.

Chase (Steeplechase): A race over larger obstacles, including fences and ditches.

Conditional Jockey: The jumping equivalent of an apprentice. A young National Hunt jockey that can claim a weight allowance of up to 10lbs.

Dam: Mother of a horse.

Distance: The length of a race – 2 miles NH is the minimum and the 4 1/2 miles of the Grand National is the longest. Also, the margin by which a horse wins or is beaten by the horse in front; this ranges from a ‘short head’ to ‘by a distance’ (more than 30 lengths); a ‘length’ is measured from the horse’s nose to the start of its tail.

Filly: Female horse up to four years old.

Furlong: 220 yards (one eighth of a mile).

Going: The description of conditions underfoot on the racecourse. Official Jockey Club going reports progress as follows: Heavy – soft – good to soft – good – good to firm – firm – hard.

Graded race: A high-level National Hunt race classified as Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3. Grade 1 is the highest level.

Green: (of a horse) inexperienced.

Hand: Unit of four inches in which a horse’s height is measured, at the shoulder.

Handicap: A race in which the weights are calculated by an official assessor (called a handicapper). The better class horses carry the highest weights while the lesser class horses carry lower weights. The idea is to give all horses an equal chance of winning.

Hunter chase: A chase restricted to eligible horses and amateur riders under the race conditions.

Hurdle race: A race over smaller, more flexible obstacles than those used in a chase.

Judge: Official responsible for declaring the finishing order of a race and the distances between the runners.

Listed race: A race below Grade 3 in the usual National Hunt pattern hierarchy, but still an important quality contest.

Maiden: Horse which has not won a race.

Mare: Female horse five years and over.

Novice hurdle: A hurdle race for horses that had not won a hurdle race before the start of the relevant season, subject to the race conditions.

Novice chase: A chase for horses that had not won a steeplechase before the start of the relevant season, subject to the race conditions.

Of the Bit/Off the Bridle: Describes a horse being pushed along by his jockey, losing contact with the bit in his mouth.

On the Bit/On the Bridle: Describes a horse going well within himself, still having a grip on the bit.

Pace: ‘Up with the pace’ means close to the leaders, ‘off the pace’ means some way behind the leaders.

Photo finish: Electronic photographic device which determines minimal distances in a close finish.

Point-to-point: An amateur steeplechase, usually held on a local course, which can provide experience for horses progressing to professional racing.

Scope: The potential for physical development in a horse.

Sire: Father of a horse.

Stewards: The panel of men and women – usually a total of four – who are responsible for seeing that the Rules of Racing are adhered to.

Stewards Enquiry: Enquiry by the stewards into the running of a race.

Weigh In/Weigh Out: Weighing of jockey before and after a race to ensure that the correct weight has been carried; the announcement ‘weighed in’ signals that the result is official and all bets can be settled.