Ocean Downs - Harness Racing

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Harness Racing Terminology

BOXED IN:
A horse that is racing on the rails (or fence) and is surrounded by other horses in front, outside and behind it. A horse that is boxed in is held up and unable to gain a clear passage.

BREAK:
To start galloping and lose natural trotting or pacing rhythm. It occurs more with trotters than pacers.

BROODMARE:
A female horse, generally retired from racing, used for breeding purposes.

CARD:
Another term for program of racing. For example, a person may refer to there being eight races on the card, which simple means eight races will be staged at that particular day.

CATCH DRIVER:
A driver which doesn't train his or her own horses, and is engaged by other trainers and owners to drive their horses.

CLAIMING RACE:
A race where any of the entrants may be claimed (purchased) for a specified amount.

CLASS:
A horse which has raced adequately against better foes may find his way into the winner's circle, while a horse who has beaten inferior foes may find tougher horses not to its liking. A fairly reliable way of checking class is comparing the purses of the previous races and the present race.

COLORS:
The special colorful jacket worn by drivers when in a race. Unlike Thoroughbred racing, drivers register their own colors and wear them every time they race.

COLT:
A male 3 years of age or less.

CONDITIONED RACE:
A race where eligibility is based on age, sex, money won, or races won. For example, "3-year-old fillies, non-winners of $10,000 or 4 races."

COVER:
A horse that races with another horse in front of him is said to race with cover, as the leading horse cuts the wind resistance.

CROSS FIRE:
When a horse's hind foot strikes the opposite front foot or leg.

DAM:
The female parent, or mother, of a horse.

DEAD HEAT:
A situation in which the judges cannot separate two or more horses when judging the outcome of a race.

DISTANCED:
A horse that is out of touch with the rest of the field at the end of the race. This is often referred to as finished distanced.

DRIVER:
The person holding a license or permit to drive harness horses. There are different types of licenses, which correspond to differing levels of experience.

EARLY/LATE CLOSER:
A race requiring payments which start much closer to the actual race date than a stake "Early" and "Late" involve specified periods of time.

FILLY:
A female 3 years of age or less.

FIRST-OVER:
The first horse to make a move on the leader in a race, moving up on the outside.

FOAL:
A newly born horse. Also describes the act of a mare giving birth.

FREE LEGGED:
A pacer which races without wearing hobbles.

GELDING:
A castrated male of any age.

HANDICAPPING:
The first step in successfully picking a winner (or "handicapping") is becoming familiar with reading the racing program. Each program has a section explaining the information format used at that particular track. Probably the best place to start when handicapping Standardbreds is time. Since over 99 percent of all harness races are conducted at the one-mile distance, valid comparisons can be made among horses.

HARNESS:
The gear which is used to attach the sulky to a horse, to carry the hobbles and to enable the driver to steer the horse.

HOME STRETCH:
The straight length of the track, nearest the spectators, where the finish line is situated. It is called this because it is the final part of the track a horse travels down during a race -- on its run 'home' (or run to the finish line).

HOBBLES:
The straps which connect the front and rear legs on the same side of a horse. Most pacers wear hobbles to help balance their stride and maintain a pacing gait. The length of hobbles is adjustable and a trainer registers the length that best suits his or her horse. There are also trotting hobbles that work through a pulley system to help trotters maintain their gait.

HORSE:
A male 4 years of age or older.

INQUIRY:
Stewards may conduct an inquiry as a result of any incident which may have occurred during a race, to determine whether or not certain drivers and/or horses were responsible for the incident and whether they should receive due punishment.

INVITATIONAL:
A race for the top horses in the area. Also known a Open or Free-For-All.

LAME:
The term used to describe a horse which is limping or has difficulty walking properly.

LEASING:
As opposed to buying a harness horse, people have the option of leasing one. Just like some people lease a car instead of paying the money up-front, leasing a horse gives people use of a horse without large capital outlay. An agreement or contract must be drawn up between the two parties, and the lease must be registered with the relevant controlling body.

MAIDEN:
A horse which has not yet won a race.

MARE:
A female 4 years of age or more.

PARI-MUTUEL RACE:
A race in which wagering is allowed, held at a track licensed by a state's racing commission. Pari-mutuel races are held at licensed pari-mutuel racetracks or fairs.

PARKED:
A horse racing on the outside, with at least one horse between it and the inside rail.

PHOTO FINISH:
When two horses cross the finish too closely to identify a winner, officials call for a photograph of the race, taken exactly at the finish line, to help them determine who was ahead.

POCKET:
A horse in a pocket is unable to obtain a clear run because it has other runners situated in front, behind and to the side of it.

POST POSITION:
Generally, the closer a horse starts to the inside rail or barrier of the track (especially on smaller tracks), the better is its chance of winning. At the start, horses must either "leave" (start quickly) to get a good position or else find a place on the rail to avoid racing on the outside of other horses. When racing on the outside the horse is said to be "parked out", and loses ground on every turn. A horse on the inside has a better chance to get to the rail or quickly get a good position.

QUALIFIER:
A race in which a horse must go a mile below an established time standard to prove itself capable of competing in pari-mutuel races.

SCRATCHING:
A horse that is withdrawn (or scratched) from a race before the start.

SIRE:
The male parent, or father, of a horse.

SIRE STAKE:
Stake races designed to promote Standardbred breeding and racing within a state. Different states have different rules regulating eligibility to that state's sire stakes program. Rules include: a horse must be the offspring of a stallion standing in the state or a mare living in that state, owned by a resident of that state, or the horse was born in that state.

STAKE RACE:
A race where owners make a series of payments, starting well in advance, to keep a horse eligible. If an owner misses a payment to a stakes race, the horse becomes ineligible.

STARTER:
The person responsible for starting a harness race. The starter controls the start of the race from the back of the mobile vehicle.

SULKY:
Also known as the cart or racebike, the sulky is attached to the harness and carries the driver and which the horse pulls.

TIME TRIAL:
An attempt to have a horse beat its own best time in a non-competitive event. A time trial is not a race. Galloping horses hitched to sulkies, called prompters, are used to push a horse to its best effort.

TOTE BOARD:
Tote Board: An electronic board, usually in the infield of a track, which posts the odds, amount of money bet, results of a race and the wagering pay-offs.

WEANLING:
A baby horse, up to its first birthday.

YEARLING:
Any horse between its first and second birthday