Glossary: Horse Racing Terminology D-E
D
daily double
Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second. See late double.
Daily Racing Form
A daily newspaper containing news, past performance data and handicapping information. Do not use definite article "The" when describing According to Daily Racing Form,...
daily triple
A wager where the bettor must select the winner of three consecutive races. Not to be confused with "triple," meaning trifecta in some regions.
dam
The female parent of a foal.
dam's sire (broodmare sire)
The sire of a broodmare. Used in reference to the maternal grandsire of a foal.
dark bay or brown
A horse color that ranges from brown with areas of tan on the shoulders, head and flanks, to a dark brown, with tan areas seen only in the flanks and/or muzzle. The mane, tail and lower portions of the legs are always black unless white markings are present.
dead heat
Two or more horses finishing a race in a tie.
dead track
Racing surface lacking resiliency.
declared
In the United States, a horse withdrawn from a stakes race in advance of scratch time. In Europe, a horse confirmed to start in a race.
deep flexor tendon
Present in all four legs, but injuries most
commonly affect the front legs. Located on the back (posterior)
of the front leg between the knee and the foot and between the
hock and the foot on the rear leg. The function is to flex the
digit (pastern) and knee (carpus) and to extend the elbow on the
front leg and extend the hock on the rear leg. Functions in
tandem with the superficial flexor tendon.
deep stretch
A position very close to the finish line in race.
degenerative joint disease (DJD)
Any joint problem that has progressive degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying (subchondral) bone. Occurs most frequently in the joints below the radius in the foreleg and femur in the hind leg. Some of the more common causes include repeated trauma, conformation faults, blood disease, traumatic joint injury, subchondral bone defects (OCD lesions) and excessive intra-articular corticosteroid injections. Also known as osteoarthritis.
Derby
A stakes event for three-year-olds.
desmitis
Inflammation of a ligament. Often a result of tearing of any number of ligament fibrils.
deworming
The use of drugs (anthelmintics) to kill internal parasites, often performed by oral paste or by passing a nasogastric tube into the horse's stomach.
dh
Abbreviation for dead heat.
digestible energy
The amount of energy a horse is able to digest from a feedstuff.
digestive system
See "Digestive System" in veterinary supplement for a detailed explanation.
digital
The part of the limb below the ankle (fetlock) joint.
Includes the long and short pastern bones and the coffin bone.
digital cushion
The area beneath the coffin bone in the back of the foot that separates it from the frog. The digital cushion serves as a shock absorber for the foot.
diploma (earning a)
See break maiden.
disqualification
Change in order of finish by officials for an infraction of the rules.
distaff
A female horse.
distaff race
A race for female horses.
distal
Away from a reference point. Usually refers to the limbs The injury was distal (below) to the hock.
distal sesamoidean ligaments
Attaches to the bottom of the sesamoid bones, passing down and attaching to the long and short pastern bones.
distanced
Horse so far behind the rest of the field of runners that it is out of contact and unable to regain a position of contention.
DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide, a topical anti-inflammatory.
dogs
Rubber traffic cones (or a wooden barrier) placed at certain distances out from the inner rail, when the track is wet, muddy, soft, yielding or heavy, to prevent horses during the workout period from churning the footing along the rail. Used in the phrase The dogs are up, or simply, dogs up.
dope
1) Slang term for past performances. Readers of past performances are said to dope out a race. 2) Any illegal drug.
dorsal
Up; toward the back or spine. Also used to describe the front of the lower limb below the knee (front) or hock (rear).
dorsal displacement of the soft palate
A condition in which the soft palate, located on the floor of the airway near the larynx, moves up into the airway. A minor displacement causes a gurgling sound during exercise while in more serious cases the palate can block the airway. This is sometimes known as "choking down," but the tongue does not actually block the airway. The base of the tongue is connected to the larynx, of which the epiglottis is a part. When the epiglottis is retracted, the soft palate can move up into the airway (dorsal displacement.) This condition can sometimes be managed with equipment such as a figure eight noseband or a tongue tie. In more extreme cases, surgery might be required, most commonly a "myectomy."
Dosage
Although there are actually many "Dosage theories," the one most commonly thought of as Dosage is the one as interpreted by Dr. Steven Roman. A variation of Dr. Franco Varola's work on pedigree analysis, the system identifies patterns of ability in horses based on a list of prepotent sires, each of whom is a chef-de-race. The Dosage system puts these sires into one of five categories brilliant, intermediate, classic, solid and professional, which quantify speed and stamina. Sires can be listed in up to two chef-de-race categories. Each generation of sires is worth 16 points, divided up by the amount of sires, i.e., the immediate sire is worth 16 points while the four sires four generations back are worth four points apiece.
Dosage index (DI)
A mathematical reduction of the Dosage profile to a number reflecting a horse's potential for speed or stamina. The higher the number, the more likely the horse is suited to be a sprinter. The average Dosage index of all horses is about 4.0.
Dosage profile
A listing of Dosage points by category. Used to develop the Dosage index (DI).
dq
Abbreviation for disqualified.
drench
Liquid administered through mouth.
driving
A horse that is all out to win and under strong urging from its jockey.
drop(ed) down
A horse meeting a lower class of rival than it had been running against.
dropped
See foaled.
D.V.M.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
dwelt
Extremely late in breaking from the gate.
E
earmuffs
A piece of equipment that covers a horse's ears to prevent it from hearing distracting sounds.
eased
A horse that is gently pulled up during a race.
easily
Running or winning without being pressed by rider or opposition.
Eclipse Award
Thoroughbred racing's year-end awards, honoring the top horses and humans in several categories. They honor the great 18th century racehorse and sire, Eclipse, who was undefeated in 18 career starts and sired the winners of 344 races. The Eclipse Awards are sponsored by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association. They were first given out in 1971; previously, separate year-end champions were named by Daily Racing Form (beginning in 1936) and the Thoroughbrd Racing Assoications (beginning in 1950). Any Eclipse Award winner is referred to as a "champion."
EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis)
One of several different types of encephalomyelitis that are extremely contagious, causing sickness and death in horses by affecting the central nervous system. EEE is spread by mosquitoes and can affect humans. Can be prevented by annual vaccinations.
EIPH
Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. See bleeder.
elbow
The topmost joint in the foreleg, formed by the humerus, ulna and radius. The elbow joint's action is that of a hinge, providing flexion and extension for the forelegs.
eligible
Qualified to start in a race, according to conditions.
endoscope
An instrument used for direct visual inspection of a hollow organ or body cavity such as the upper airway or stomach. A "fiber optic endoscope" is comprised of a long, flexible tube that has a series of lenses and light at the end to allow the veterinarian to view and photograph the respiratory system through the airway. Other internal organs may be viewed through a tiny surgical opening. A "video endoscope" has a small camera at the tip of the instruments.
engagement
1) Stakes nomination. 2) Riding commitment.
entire
An ungelded horse. In Europe, where geldings are not permitted to enter certain races, the race conditions might read
Entire colts and fillies.
entry fee
Money paid by an owner to enter a horse in a stakes race.
entrapped epiglottis
A condition in which the thin membrane lying below the epiglottis moves up and covers the epiglottis. The abnormality may obstruct breathing. Usually treated by surgery to cut the membrane if it impairs respiratory function.
entry
Two or more horses with common ownership (or in some cases trained by the same trainer) that are paired as a single betting unit in one race and/or are placed together by the racing secretary as part of a mutuel field. Rules on entries vary from state to state. Also known as a "coupled entry."
epiglottis
A triangular-shaped cartilage that lies at the base of the airway just in front of the arytenoid cartilages which cover the airway during swallowing. It is normally located above (dorsal) the soft palate.
epiphysitis
An inflammation in the growth plate (physis) at the ends of the long bones (such as the cannon bone). Symptoms include swelling, tenderness and heat. Although the exact cause is unknown, contributing factors seem to be high caloric intake (either from grain or a heavily lactating mare) and a fast growth rate.
epistaxis
See bleeder.
Equibase (Company)
A partnership between The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations to establish and maintain an industry-owned, central database of racing records. Equibase past-performance information is used in track programs across North America.
equipment
See bandage; bar shoe; bit; blinkers; bridle; earmuffs; halter; hood; nose band; overcheck; overgirth; reins; saddle cloth; saddle pad; shadow roll; shank; stirrups; tongue tie.
equivalent odds
Mutuel price horses would pay for each $1 bet.
estrus (heat)
Associated with ovulation; a mare usually is receptive to breeding during estrus. Referred to as "horsing."
estrous cycle
The length of time between consecutive ovulations.
EVA (equine viral arteritis)
A highly contagious disease that is characterized by swelling in the legs of all horses and swelling in the scrotum of stallions. Can cause abortion in mares and can be shed in the semen of stallions for years after infection.
evenly
Neither gaining nor losing position during a race.
exacta (or perfecta)
A wager in which the first two finishers in a race, in exact order of finish, must be picked. Called an "exactor" in Canada.
exacta box
A wager in which all possible combinations using a given number of horses are bet on. The total number of combinations can be calculated according to the formula x2-x, where x equals the amount of horses in the box. For example, boxing four horses would actually be 12 combinations (42-4). To arrive at the cost of the wager, multiply the total combinations by the cost of the individual wager.
exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage
See bleeder.
exercise rider
Rider who is licensed to exercise a horse during its morning training session.
Experimental Free Handicap
A year-end projection of the best North American two-year-olds of the season, put together by a panel, under the auspices of The Jockey Club, that is based on performances in unrestricted races. Two lists are drawn up, one for males and one for females.
exotic (wager)
Any wager other than win, place or show. For the mathematically inclined, the amount of combinations in any exotic wager can be figured by the formula n!/(n-a!), where n is the number of horses in your wager and a is the number of finishers in the wager (two in an exacta, three in a trifecta, etc.)
extended
Running at top speed.
extensor tendon
Extends the knee (carpus) joint, ankle joint, pastern and foot and flexes the elbow. The muscles begin above the knee and attach to the coffin and pastern bones.
Note: Information Provided by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc.