A typical raceday consists of 6 - 8 races, taking place roughly at half hour intervals. So, there’s plenty of time between races to enjoy a drink or something to eat and take in the runners and riders for the next race.
Here we explain some of the important things you need to understand at the course, such as:
However, before you set off why not check the British Horseracing Authority website for some useful information about your race day, including:
One of the first things you need to do when you get to the racecourse is buy yourself a racecard. It contains useful information about the course including a map indicating the various facilities.
The racecard will tell you everything you need to know about the races and runners you’re about to see and will help you select the horse with the best chance of winning.
Sometimes it also contains useful information such as which trainers or jockeys have a good record at that particular course.
Most racecards include a diagram explaining how to read the card – here’s an idea of what to expect.
The best thing about horse racing is that no one knows who is going to win any given race at any given time. However, here are a few handy tips to help you try to pick a winner
‘Form’ is simply the information and facts about a horse's past performances. You can find a summary of form in your racecard, and in the national newspapers. If you would like a more detailed analysis, then the Racing Post (which you can buy at the course) has a wide range of statistical information.
There will always be people around who think they will be able to tell you the winner of every race on the day, but in reality they probably know no more than you!
However, if you’re looking for some reliable and official sources of information from professional pundits, try researching these websites before you go to the course:
If you have purchased Grandstand or Members tickets you will have access to the Pre-Parade Ring or the Parade Ring, where you can go and have a look at the horses before they race. The sort of signs you should be seeking in a potential winner are:
With your research done and the first race approaching, now is the time to place your bet and watch the race unfold.
If you own Grandstand or Members tickets you can take a closer look at each horse before the race. Which one catches your eye? If you're unsure what you should be looking for, take a quick peek at our guide to picking a winner which gives you some good pointers.
You are now ready to place your bet. There are three ways in which racegoers can place a bet at the racecourse:
The Grandstand will give you the best views of the race. However, there also TV screens around the course if you do not have Grandstand tickets. Some of the bigger meetings also have giant screens on which you can follow the action.
However, one of the best places is to stand right by the rails so you can see the horses thundering past, an absolutely breathtaking spectacle. It’s also often possible to stand next to one of the hurdles or fences so you can get a sense of the energy and power of the horses as they fly past.
If you have Grandstand or Members tickets you can share the triumph of the winners as they are presented with their trophies in the Winner's Enclosure. Or if you’ve got a winner of your own head back to the same place you placed your bet and collect your winnings!
Racing terminology
At the races you might hear a lot of terms and phrases which you have never heard before.
Why not print out this page and take it with you to help you understand any new or unfamiliar phrases!
Amateur
You can identify a non-professional rider on any racecard as their title Mr, Mrs, Ms, Captain etc appears in front of his or her name
Apprentice
A young jockey contracted to a trainer while learning how to race ride
Bay
The colour of a horse which has a brown body and black mane and tail
Blinkers
This is a type of hood that fits over a horse’s head to prevent the horse from seeing sideways and helps it concentrate its attention ahead during a race
Blown up
When a horse starts to drop out of contention in a race due to lack of fitness
Broken down
When a horse sustains an injury - normally a tendon/soft tissue injury requiring a long rest to recover
Bumper
A flat race for young Jump bred horses yet to race over hurdles or steeplechases and that have not run under the rules of Flat racing
Chestnut
The colour of a horse with a “ginger” body, mane and tail
Claimer
An apprentice Flat race jockey or a race in which all horses my be bought (or claimed) for a specific price (usually in brackets after the horse’s name in the racecard) after the race
Clerk of the Course
The person responsible for the overall management of a racecourse during the raceday
Clerk of the Scales
The person responsible for checking a jockey's weight against the allocated weight the horse is allowed to carry
Colours
Shirts or ‘silks’ worn by jockeys to identify a horse to a particular owner
Colt
A young, ungelded (see gelding) male horse aged four years old or younger
Conditional Jockey
A young Jump jockey (under 26) who receives a weight allowance for inexperience until he has ridden a certain number of winners
Conditions
The make-up of a race, as in the number of runners, the ground conditions, if it’s a sharp or a galloping track, etc. Different conditions suit the physique and running style of different horses
Cut in the ground
A description of the ground condition, when there is give in the surface, also called ‘soft going’
Declare
When a trainer formally notifies the authorities that he/she intends to run a horse in a certain race. The runners and riders for each meeting are "declared" the day before, or 48 hours before for Flat Racing and big Jumps races
Distance
The length of a race. Five furlongs is the shortest, four and a half miles (the Grand National) the longest. Also refers to the margin by which a horse wins or is beaten. This can range from ‘a short head’ to ‘a distance’ which is in excess of 30 lengths
Draw
A Flat racing term denoting a horse's position in the starting stalls
Evens or Even Money
When your stake equals your winnings e.g. £5.00 at evens wins a further £5.00
Favourite
The horse (or horses – if there is a joint favourite) in a race with the shortest (smallest) odds. Other phrases used to describe the favourite include "market leader" and "the jolly"
Field, the
Term for the runners in a race, for example "a field of 8 are on their way to the start for the next race"
Filly
A female horse four years old or younger
Form
A horse's race record. Denoted by figures next to its name in a racecard e.g. 1=1st, 2=2nd etc
Furlong
The unit of distance measurement in horseracing. One eighth of a mile or 220 yards or 201 metres
Galloping track
Generally a wide-open track that suits bigger horses with big strides e.g. Newbury or Ascot
Gelding
Refers to horses who have been castrated ("gelded") as the temperament of a stallion is usually not ideal for an extended racing career
Get the trip
Usually said of a horse that stays the particular distance of the race
Going, the
The conditions underfoot on the racecourse. Official BHA going ranges are: heavy – soft – good to soft – good – good to firm – firm – hard
Green
A horse is described as "green" or "running green" when he or she shows signs of inexperience
Grey
A horse with a coat that is a mixture of black and grey hairs. It's mane, tail and legs may be either black or grey unless white markings are present. As grey horses get older they become lighter in colour, almost white - they too are still referred to as "grey"
Hacked up
When a horse has won easily
Handicap
A handicap race in which the weight each horse is to carry is individually allotted (by the official handicapper) according to past performance to make the chances of all horses in the race more equal
Hands & heels
Riding a horse without using a whip
Handy
A description of a horse who is in a prominent position during a race
Hurdle
The smaller of the two obstacles in Jump racing, typically about 3’6” in height
Judge
The official responsible for declaring the finishing order and declaring the distances between runners
Juvenile
A two year old horse (Flat) or a three year old horse (Jump)
Length
The length of a horse from its nose to the start of its tail. Lengths are also used to measure the finishing distances between horses. These are in fact calculated with reference to the finishing time of each horse, with a formula, which takes into account factors such as the code of racing and the state of the ground conditions, applied to convert these times into the distance in lengths between each horse.
Maiden
A horse that has not yet won a race or a female horse that has never had a foal
Mare
A female horse five years and over
National Hunt Flat race
A flat race for young horses bred specifically for Jump Racing which have yet to race over hurdles or steeplechases and that have not run under the rules of Flat racing
National Hunt
This is the old name for Jump Racing, which covers racing over steeplechases and hurdles. It is also used to describe horse which have been specifically bred for Jump Racing
Objection
A complaint by one jockey against another regarding breach of rules during a race
Odds-on
Where the potential winnings are less than the stake e.g. £5 at 4/5 wins £4, although your stake is returned as well
Off the pace
When a horse isn't keeping up with other horses in a race
Open ditch
A steeplechase fence with a ditch on the take-off side
Over the top
A horse past his peak for the season
Pace
The speed at which a race is run. Up with the pace means close to the leaders, off the pace means some way behind
Paddock/Parade Ring
The area where horses can be viewed prior to a race
Pattern
The elite races, divided in Flat Racing into Groups One, Two, Three and Listed and in Jump Racing into Grades One, Two, Three and Listed
Pecked/Nodded
When a horse's head nearly lands on the ground after jumping a fence
Penalty
Additional weight carried by a horse on account of previous wins. In a handicap, penalties are added to the allotted weight of a horse if it has won since the weights for the race were published
Photo finish
Electronic photographic equipment which decides who has won in a close finish
Ping
"To ping" is a verb often used to describe when a horse is jumping in particularly good style or starting very swiftly from the starting stalls
Racing Plate
Lightweight horseshoes specially fitted for racing
Refused
When a horse stops instead of jumping over a fence or refuses to race at the start of the race
Run free
A horse going too fast too early, which then can’t settle into the race
SP/starting price
The official price of a horse at which bets are settled in betting shops
Saddle
Equipment that enables a rider to sit on a horse
Schooling
Teaching a horse to race or jump. A "well-schooled" horse is less likely to show signs of inexperience or "greeness" (see above)
Scope
A horse is said to have scope if it is likely to improve with age and as it grows into its frame
Spread a plate
When a racing plate or horseshoe comes off, sometimes causing delay as the horse is re-shod
Starting Stalls
Used to accommodate horses in a line at the start of a race. Used in flat racing only
Stayers
Horses who have a lot of stamina and are more likely to show up best over 2 miles on the Flat or 3 miles and further over Jumps
Steeplechase
A horse race over fences, open ditches and water jumps
Stewards
The group of people responsible for ensuring adherence to the rules of racing
Stiff track
A track that requires a lot of stamina, such as one with a long home straight or an uphill finish, such as Cheltenham
Tight track
Generally a narrow track with tight turns that suits smaller, nippier horses e.g. Cartmel or Kelso
Valet
A person responsible for looking after a jockey's equipment
Weigh in/out
Weighing the jockey before and after the race to make sure the horse carried the right weight. The ‘weighed in’ announcement means the result is official and all bets can be settled
Weight cloth
A cloth with pockets for lead weights placed under saddle
Weights
Lead strips placed in a weight cloth to bring the jockey and tack up to the handicap weight e.g. a jockey weighing 10 stone and using tack weighing 3lb would need to carry an additional 7lb of lead weight in the weight cloth if the horse was due to race off 10st 10lb in the handicap