Glossary of horse racing terms

Bloodstock Sales:

The selling of horses at auction

Boxwalking:

A horse who constantly walks around the stable in which he or she is housed

Broodmare:

Female breeding horse

Classic Races:

Five top races for three-year-old colts and fillies

Colt:

Male horse under five years of age

Covering:

The mating of horses

Dam:

Mother of a horse

Filly:

Female horse under five years of age

Foal:

New-born horse

Gallops (on the…):

Training ground on which horses are given a run

Graded Stakes:

Top American races

Grandsire:

Grandfather of a horse

Group 1:

The top category of race in which a horse can compete

National Hunt:

Racing that involves horses jumping fences and hurdles

Pinhooker:

A person who buys and sells horses in the hope of financial profit

Rating system:

Horses are ranked according to their performance on racecourses – the top being ‘rated’ 120-plus, while those below 45 are not greatly valued

Shuttle Stallion:

Male breeding horse who is transported between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, where mares are biologically receptive at different times of the year

Sire:

Father of a horse

Stallion:

Male breeding horse

Staying Horse:

One who is able to run comfortably over a distance exceeding one mile and a half

Stud:

A farm where horses mate

Teaser:

Horse used by studs to detect – by smell – a receptive female

Thoroughbred:

A breed of horse used for racing

Weaving:

A horse who, as a result of stress, constantly sways his or her head from side to side

Windsucking:

A stressed horse who bites at anything in reach, whilst sucking in air

Yearling:

A horse aged about one year