An A-to-Z guide to give you a better understanding of all those racing terms:

• Terms A-F
• Terms G-O
• Terms P-Z

P

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.

Point-to-point racemeeting

A racemeeting consisting of jumping races or flat races, or both, at which amateur jockeys ride.

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.

Punt/er

Punt is a term that refers to a wager; a punter is someone who places a wager.

Q

Quality race

In a quality race, the weights are assigned as in a handicap, but with a maximum weight of 60kg and a minimum weight of 52kg. The higher weights are a further test of the horses’ quality.

R

Racecaller

Person who verbally describes a race over the public address system or for radio or television broadcast.

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. Trainers and jockeys also need to be registered by the racing authorities.

S

Scratch

When a horse is withdrawn from a race most commonly due to injury, track conditions or programming decisions for a horse.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

Shuttle stallion

A stallion that travels in the one year for breeding purposes in both the northern and southern hemispheres (where spring, the breeding season, falls at opposite times of the year).

Sire

A male horse that has fathered foals.

Sprint

A race run over less than 1400m.

Stallion

A male horse four years of age or older.

Staying race

A race of more than 2200m.

Steeplechase

A race incorporating jumps larger than hurdles. These races are called steeplechases as they used to be races across country to where the church steeple was an easily visible finishing point.

Stewards (stipendiary stewards/'stipes')

Officials at a racemeeting who have the responsibility of enforcing the rules of racing. ‘Stipendiary’ means paid or salaried, distinguishing these stewards from amateur club officials who originally performed this role.

Strapper

A person who attends to and grooms racehorses.

Swab

Saliva, urine or blood sample taken for scientific testing for traces of banned substances.

T

Tack

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

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.

Track ratings

Used to describe the racing surface (Fast: Very firm surface, Good: Firm surface, Dead: Track with give in the ground, Slow: Rain affected, Heavy: Very rain affected).

V

Victoria Racing Club

The Victoria Racing Club has control of Flemington Racecourse and organises the Melbourne Cup and all racing at the course each year. Before 2001, the VRC also was in charge of the rules of racing throughout Victoria, but that is now controlled by Racing Victoria Limited. Other racing clubs have responsibility for their own racecourses.

W

Walkover

A race with only one runner. In these races, the horse must be weighed out, mounted and ridden past the judge's box. The horse will be liable to carry extra weight in future handicaps as the winner of the race, and only half the prize money is awarded.

Weight-for-age (WFA)

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

Welter

A handicap with a higher minimum weight.