10 Horse Racing Words You Have To Learn As A Beginner

If you are new to the world of horse racing, we are happy to welcome you. As a sport, horse racing is one of the most thrilling and exciting ways to enjoy. Today, horse racing is popular almost anywhere in the world, which means it's been diffusing largely during the latest decades. Probably, the advent of the internet gave an extra bit of speed to the diffusion of horse racing even outside the UK and Europe. The UK is actually home to the oldest horse racing events.

Consider that horse racing has a pretty decent level of popularity in Asia and in particular in Japan. This website https://www.raceinjapan.com/ is a comprehensive resource for anyone who wants to go deep into horse racing and learn more about this attractive sport.

You Are In The Right Place To Start Learning More

Many people get closer to horse racing because they have parents or friends who can teach them some basics about it. Other people are simply in love with horses and outdoor sports. And there are also a significant number of horse-racing obsessed people who love challenges and breathtaking races.

Either you want to learn more about horse racing because you want to become a rider and take part in horse racing events or you want to start betting on the next races, you'd better get acquainted with the fundamental vocabulary used for horse racing. You will hear the following basic words so often when listening to TV reports during a competition. So, let's get started with these basic words and short phrases:

Across the board
It's a particular bet that enables you to bet on a horse to come in first, second, and third position. You get money if your chosen horse finishes in one of those three positions. This kind of bet is reasonably safer than most betting options, that's why it's recommended to beginners.
Backside
This word refers to the stable area where the racehorses live. The backside is on the opposite side of the track. This term is pretty informal but very common when it comes to horse racing.
Colt
This term refers to a male horse up to 4 years old. If the horse gets neutered, you can't call it "colt" anymore, but you'll use another term, "gelding". Keep in mind that in certain competitions most horses are colts.
Derby
It's a particular horse racing competition for 3-year-old horses only. One of the world's most famous derbies is the Kentucky Derby, where nearly all the horses who run are colts, only a few are geldings, and even fewer are female horses.
Exercise rider
Horses need regular and daily training and the exercise rider is the person who takes the horse in the morning for a training session. One of the specific features of exercise riders is that they are very strong, both men and women, and they can ride up to 10 horses per morning. Also, exercise riders take care of the horses and prepare them for the competition.
Furlong
A furlong is an old measurement for race distances used in the US and dated back to the 14th century. Turned it into the actual measurement system, a furlong is equal to an eighth of a mile. The origin of this old measurement comes from the length of a furrow in a field.
Groom
It might sound weird, but the word "groom" doesn't refer to marriages, at least when used for horse racing. A groom is a man or a woman who feed horses in the early morning (as early as 4 a.m.!) and take care of the horses after the competition, as well.
Handicappers
This term refers to the people who bet on horses by studying the horses' history, including past performances, their jockeys' physical shape, their training, and a lot before placing a bet on a race. Handicappers also look for the less-likely horses who pay high at the betting windows.
In the money
This phrase means that a horse is finished first, second, or third, although "in the money" is more used for second and third positions rather than for the first one.
Juvenile
With this term, you can refer to horses aged 2 years old. Anyway, this term is above all used in the Breeders' Cup World Championships that hosts races for juvenile colts and fillies (female horses).