Thoroughbred Terminology

The turn off the backstretch.

A blacksmith specializing in the shoeing, or plating, of horses. In early

A racetrack at its best condition is said to be fast.

This word has two meanings in racing. The entire group of starters in a race is known collectively as the "field." However, a "field horse" is one of a group designated by the track handicapper in a case where there are more starters than there are betting units provided by the pari-mutuel equipment. Rightly called the "pari-mutuel field," this group runs as a single betting unit. For example in the 1951 Kentucky Derby, there were only 12 betting units but 20 horses started. Seven started as individual betting units; four stables had entries of two horses each; the remaining five ran as the "field" and one of these, Count Turf, was the winner.

The running time at various points between the start and finish of a race.

Horses that have the same sire and dam.

One-eighth of a mile, 220 yards, 660 feet. Eight furlongs equal one mile. Originally a "furrow long" or the length of a plowed field.

A race for 2-year-olds for which they are entered while still foals.