Thoroughbred racing has its own unique language. Following are some of the most common terms you'll find used in the sport.

Added money – money that is contributed by the track to enhance the purse. It is in addition to nomination, entry, and starting fees for a stakes race.

Allowance race – a race in which a horse is entered usually according to the number of races it has won or the money it has earned. An allowance is made in the weight each horse must carry based on its recent performance.

Bloodstock agent – a broker who represents the purchaser or seller (or both), of Thoroughbreds at public or private sale, generally for a commission.

Bounce – a poorer performance by a horse in a race soon after a previous race in which the horse made a strong effort.

Broodmare – a female horse in foal or previously used for breeding.

Broodmare prospect – a filly or mare that has not been bred.

Claiming race – a race in which each horse carries a price tag indicating the amount for which another owner and trainer can buy the horse out of the race.

Class – the level of quality and difficulty of a race. In reference to a horse, class is its ability to be competitive with quality horses.

Closer – a horse that prefers coming from behind late in a race.

Colt – a male horse under five years old.

Conformation – the structure of a Thoroughbred's body, which is determined by the arrangement and harmony of its parts.

Consignor – an owner of a Thoroughbred, or the owner's agent, who has contracted with a sales company to sell a horse at a public auction.

Dam – the female parent of a horse.

Double – a bet that pays if the bettor picks the winner of two designated consecutive races.

Exacta – a bet that pays if the bettor picks the win and place horses, in that exact order

Exotic – any bet other than win, place, or show.

Farrier – a person who trims and shoes horses' hoofs.

Fast – the condition of a dirt track when it is dry and firm.

Filly – a female horse under five years of age.

Firm – the condition of a turf track when it is dry and relatively hard.

Foal – the young offspring of a horse, usually a horse under one year old.

Fractions – a race's internal time splits, measured at regular intervals such as a furlong.

Furlong – one-eighth of a mile; the basic unit of distance in horse racing.

Game – showing a wi l ling, strenuous effort either in victory or defeat.

Gelding – a castrated male horse.

Good – the condition of a dirt or turf track when it has absorbed some rain, but maintains a relatively even, firm surface.

Handle - the total amount bet at a track or wagering facility on a given day, or over a given period.

Horse – in the more restricted sense, an uncastrated male horse five years old or older.

In foal – a pregnant broodmare.

Length – a distance equal to the size of a horse's body. In a route, a good horse runs a length in about one-fifth of a second.

Maiden – a horse who has never won a race.

Mare – a female horse five years old or older.

Muddy – the condition of a dirt track when it has absorbed so much rain that the surface is saturated, with unreliable footing.

One turn – a race around one curve of the track.

Open sale – a public auction where the only requirement is an entry fee. This is in contrast to a select sale where Thoroughbreds must meet certain conformation and pedigree restrictions.

Optional claimer – a race in which a horse may enter either under the allowance conditions stated, or, if it does not fit those conditions, for a designated claiming price.

Place - finish second.

Pick 3 – a bet that pays if the bettor picks the winners of three designated consecutive races; pick 4's and pick 6's are also common wagers offered at most tracks.

Pool – the total amount bet on a given wager for a given race.

Purse – the amount of money allotted by the racetrack, of which the entrants of the race are running for a specific percentage, according to their finish position. Typically, the winner gets 60% of the purse; the place horse 20%; and the show horse 10%; with 5% for fourth, 3% for fifth, and 2% split among the remaining finishers.

Quinella – a bet that pays if the bettor picks the win and place horses, in either order.

Route – a race of a mile or longer.

Select sale – a public auction of Thoroughbreds with certain conformation and pedigree restrictions. This is in contrast to an open sale, where the only requirement is an entry fee.

Show – finish third.

Sire – a stallion that has produced foals.

Sloppy – the condition of a dirt track when it has absorbed enough rain that the surface is soft and uneven.

Soft – the condition of a turf track when it is saturated, with unreliable footing.

Sprint – a race less than a mile long.

Special weight – a weight assigned by the racing secretary, typically for maidens, who have not established a performance record on which weight allowances can be based.

Stakes race – the most prestigious level race, run for a higher purse, and for which those horses racing must pay nomination, entry, and starting fees.

Stallion – a male horse used for breeding.

Stallion prospect – an uncastrated male horse who has not been bred; usually a horse still in training or recently retired from racing.

Starter allowance – an allowance race in which a horse may enter only if it has run in a recent claiming race at or below a designed claiming price.

Soundness – the physical condition of a Thoroughbred that is healthy and free from disease or lameness.

Speed figure – a single number analyzing how fast a horse ran all (or part) of a race. It takes into account the track variant, trip, beaten lengths, and other factors affecting the horse's performance.

Speed horse – a horse that prefers racing at a rapid early pace and in front of the other runners.

Stalker – a horse that prefers racing a bit behind the speed horses, then attacking at a critical stage in a race.

Suckling – a Thoroughbred still nursing with its dam.

Takeout – the percentage the track retains from each bet to help fund purses and operations. The takeout typically varies according to track and wager, but generally ranges from 15% to 25%.

Trifecta – a bet that pays if the bettor picks the win, place and show horses, in that order.

Trip – the course of action a horse encounters during a race.

Turf race – a race run on grass, as opposed to the majority of North American races, which are run on dirt.

Two turns – a race run around two curves of a track. While tracks vary somewhat in size, most sprints are one-turn races, and most routes are two-turn races.

Variant – the difference due to weather and track condition from the average time for races of the same distance by the same class horses at the same track on different days.

Weanling – a foal who has been weaned from its dam.

Yearling – a young Thoroughbred from the period after the January 1 st following its foaling until the next January 1 st .

Yielding – the condition of a turf track when it has absorbed enough rain that the surface is soft and uneven.