PUNTER - the name given to all serious horse bettors

MUG PUNTER - someone that is particularly poor at betting

STONE MOTHERLESS - a horse that finishes dead last

IT'S A MORAL - considered a sure bet, expected to win as a an absolute certainty, often doesn't

EARS PRICKED - when a horse has its ears up, appears alert and focused on its surroundings, normally a good sign

RETURN TO SCALE - Jockeys need to weigh out and back in to declare thay the correct weight has been carried, referenced as coming back in for weight confirmation

SQUIB - a horse with a reputation for fast starts but tends to run out of steam before the post

THE RACE THAT STOPS A NATION - an affectionate term referring to the Melbourne Cup held each November

BAILED UP - when a horse has no clear running room and has to wait to find a gap and push forward

DOWN TO THE WIRE - before photo finshes, wire was originally hung over the finish line so judges see who won more easily, hence the term in a closely run race

RING IN - refers to a swapping of horses as in the 'Fine Cotton affair' where a different horse actually races as a false substitute in its place

GOT THE GOAT - there was a time when goats where used to comfort horses as stablemates and keep them calm, hence an unsettled horse may reflect agitation

MUDLARK - also 'swimmer', as in a horse that performs well with preferred deep or heavy track conditions

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES' MOUTH - relates to solid information being shared from the inner circle of a horse

TOPPIE - the horse carrying the most weight under handicap conditions, has the #1 saddlecloth

DARK HORSE - a secret, concealed or mysterious horse whose racing powers little is known about

UNBACKABLE - a horse at such an extremely low quoted price it's almost impossible to back and make money

TURN IT UP!!! - something unexpected or unplanned that causes shock, anger and frustration

DONKEY LICKED - when a horse gets beaten convincingly

GOOD OIL - when you receive positive info about a horse

STAYS LIKE THE MOTHER-IN-LAW - when a staying horse appreciates long distance and keeps coming, or staying

GOES LIKE A SCALDED CAT - a quick horse that jumps from the gate and goes flat out early at speed

SCRAPING PAINT - refers to a horse travelling alongside and very close up against the running rail

MISSED THE KICK - when a horse fails to jump out of the barriers cleanly, often falling to the rear early by a margin

WARNED OFF - a person that is not permitted to enter a race track, can not bet or associate with racing people on course

BULLRING - term for a small circuit usually less then a mile

ONE-ONE - a horse travelling sweetly one back and one outside in the run, 'BOX SEAT' is the perfect trail behind the leader, as apposed to 'BOXED IN' unable to get out

SALUTE THE JUDGE - the winning jockey will always raise his whip when returning to scale as a sign of respect to the judge

HOLD ALL TICKETS - when the siren sounds and the stewards announce publicly an equiry into a particular race. The race positions are not confirmed until enquiry is over

BAGMAN - on course bookmakers who take and settle bets

SMOKING THE PIPE - a horse travelling well, typically three back on the fence with cover on the outside

LATE MAIL - often a tipster will forward late information gained on a particular horse that looks likely to run well

EARLY BIRD - Getting on with early tips and opening odds

NUTTED - when a horse gets beaten by a short margin, typically right on the line or in a photo finish

VIA THE CARPARK - also referred to as 'via the cape' when a horse ends up going extra wide, often on the final turn

WOBBLING LIKE A DRUNKEN SAILOR - when a horse runs around unbalanced, usually in the the final stretch

HANGING LIKE A CHEAP SUIT - typically when a horse holds it's head to one side in the running or in the straight

FOLDED LIKE A LAWN CHAIR - a horse that gives in easily and fades back through the field badly

BLOWN OUT - when the price on a particular runner drifts, increases notably and it becomes friendless in the market

ASPARAGUS - a punter who claims to know which horses are going to win, as in, more tips then a tin of asparagus

EMU - a person that goes around looking for discarded race tickets in the hope of finding a winning one

GREW ANOTHER LEG - when a runner improves significantly during a race, usually sprinting hard to feature late

FROM GO TO WOAH - a horse that jumps out and leads from the beginning until the finish line, ultimately winning

LAY DOWN MISERE - an Australian term for a horse that bettors believe cannot lose, generally at very low odds

HAIRY GOAT - a horse that punters assume has ability and will run well but ends up performing poorly

THE DOGS ARE BARKING - when a hot tip becomes public knowledge and the odds tumble down significantly

GREEN HORSE - usually a young, immature animal that can run a bit wayward, sometimes unpredictably in the straight

RIDDEN UPSIDE DOWN - a horse that's ridden in a different style then it would normally, eg; a backmarker that leads

UNDER DOUBLE WRAPS - a horse that wins quite easily without being extended too much, also 'HANDS AND HEELS' when a jockey just drives the horse home to win

IN A LATHER - when a horse sweats up profusely, typically stressed, overheated or nervous, not ideal

CARRY THE GRANDSTAND - a horse allocated a great deal of weight under the Handicap system

FOOT ON THE TILL - a horse that looks close to winning

DISHLICKERS - term used to describe greyhound racing

PIG ROOT - a horse that bucks, usually at the start of a race often dislodging the rider

SWOOPER - when a runner storms through from the tail of the field to win, swooping on the leaders late

WRITE YOUR OWN TICKET - a horse at such long odds it's not expected to win, bookies likely to give you any old odds

BACKED OFF THE MAP - a heap of money invested on a particular horse suggesting it may run well

OFF THE BIT - when a horse is given loose rein by a jockey to gallop freely, typically a bad situation in a race if early on

PULLING/HARD HELD - a horse pulls when wanting to go faster, fighting the jockey. Hard held is when a jockey restrains a horse in an attempt to balance and reduce the animal over extending

COAT TUGGER - Someone who offers a punter a tip and wants a percentage of the winnings

STABLES ON FIRE - normally when a leading stable is having a good run of winners, burning down the track

GET OUT STAKES - normally the final bet or roll of the dice in the last race after a poor day on the punt

STRAIGHT TO THE BAR - after a big win the place to go and shout drinks in a victory celebration

HANDS DOWN - usually when a jockey lowers their hands and loosens the reins when winning effortlessly

BRIDGE JUMPER - a punter who places large sums to place on short priced, odds on favourites

NO FLINCHING - our own racing slang relates to riding out a multi until the last leg without cashing out for a return

SCRUBBED UP - normally when a jockey pushes up a horse to encourage it's progress if the horse appears flat in running

LOOSE REIN - a jockey will either shorten or tighten the reins to hold a horse up, or open the reins to let it run freely

Feel free to contact us if you can think of any other worthy racing terms we may have missed