bug n.— «Rode five winners on a December 1981 afternoon at New York’s Aqueduct as an apprentice, something not even “The Kid,”” Steve Cauthen—famous and fresh off his Triple Crown triumph aboard Affirmed three years...
breakage n.— «Breakage is even more insidious. Breakage is the downward rounding of the odds on the tote board, and consequently the amount paid on winning bets. A horse who may be 5.8-1 will be rounded down to 5-1, a significant...
redboard v.— «But, enough redboarding. All in all, we learned a lot from this day about this year’s horses. Invasor’s speed and stamina were the best, and he was better than Bernandini on this day.» —“ Is it too early to begin my...
bug boy n.— «Around the racetrack, they are called “bug boys,” but not for their love of insects. These jockeys get their names because the Daily Racing Form used to print a “bug”—or asterisk—next to the weight...
clip v.— «Afleet Alex, charging from the middle of the pack to second place, made his move for the lead when front-runner Scrappy T veered suddenly into his path. Their heels “clipped”—which is horse racing parlance for...
dodgepot n. originally, a race horse that is heavily favored but has mixed success; (hence) a quirky or eccentric person. Etymological Note: The information given in Gerald Hammond’s The Language of Horse Racing is probably correct, that dodgepot is...