Australian and New Zealand punting glossary

Australian and New Zealand punting glossary

:"This page is about the Australian English usage of punting, for other uses of punting see punt and punter".




* 750s: Binoculars with magnification of 7x50 mm.
* 10-50s: Binoculars with magnification of 10x50 mm.


* Acceptor: A horse confirmed by the owner or trainer to be a runner in a race.cite web |url= |title=Racing Victoria Limited - Beginners Guide Racing Terminology |accessdate= 2007-07-26] cite web |url= |title=Dictionary of Gambling - Horse racing dictionary |accessdate= 2007-08-01]
* Apprentice: Jockey Young rider, usually under 21 years of age who is still in training. Recent rule changes allow older riders just starting out to work their way through their "apprenticeship".
* Approximates: The TAB prices horses are showing before a race begins.cite web |url= |title=Harness Racing in Australia - Betting Jargon |accessdate= 2007-07-27]
* Asparagus: Name given to a punter who arrives on course with a stack of ‘mail’, hence: more tips than a tin of asparagus.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]


* Back: To bet on a horse.
* Backed In: A horse whose odds have shortened.
* Backed off the map: A horse which has been heavily supported resulting in a substantial decrease in odds.cite web |url= |title=More additions to the Australian Lexicographical Record |accessdate= 2007-07-26]
* Bagman: Bookmaker's employee responsible for settling bets on course.cite web |url= |title=Additions to the Australian Lexicographical Record |accessdate= 2007-07-26]
* Bank teller job: A horse considered such a near certainty that a bank teller could invest ‘borrowed’ bank funds and replace them without detection. [Citation | last =Presnell | first =Max | title =Inside Job | newspaper =Sydney Morning Herald | date =July 12, 2004 | url = ]
* Barriers: Starting gates used to keep horses in line before the start of a race. Each horse has a barrier randomly allocated in the barrier draw for the race.
* Battler: A trainer, jockey or bookmaker who just manages to make a living from his full time involvement in horse racing.
* Big bickies: A large amount of money.
* Big Red: Nickname of the champion race horse Phar Lap.
* Binos (pronounced "by-nose"): Binoculars.
* Birdcage: Area where horses are paraded before entering the racetrack.
* Bite: To ask someone for a loan.
* Black type: Thoroughbred sales catalogues use boldface type to highlight horses that have won or placed in a stakes race. [cite web |url=|title=BBC Sport A-Z of Flat racing |accessdate= 2007-08-04]
* Bloused: To be caught on the line or defeated in a photo finish.
* Blow: When the odds of a horse increase during betting.
* Blown out the gate: Odds have extended dramatically due to lack of support.
* Bolter: A horse at long odds.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]


* Cast a plate: Lost a racing plate.
* Chaff burner: Derogatory term for a horse.
* Claim: see apprentice allowance.
* Clerk of the Course: Mounted racecourse officials who manage horses and jockeys on the race track, and lead the winner of a race back to the mounting yard.
* Colourful racing identity: Euphemism for a criminal. [cite web |url=|title=AthloneAssociates An Eye on The Industry |accessdate= 2007-08-04]
* Colours: Racing jacket and cap worn by jockeys to indicate the owners of a horse.
* Colt: A male thoroughbred under 4 years of age.
* Connections: The owners and trainer of a horse.
* Cop a minty wrapper: To receive a very light "sling" or gratuity.
* Correct weight: After a race the weight carried by at least the placegetters is checked, and ‘correct weight’ is the signal by the stewards that bets can be paid.cite web |url= |title=Sydney Turf Club Racegoers Dictionary |accessdate= 2007-07-27]
* Cricket score odds: Very long odds, usually 100 to 1 or better.
* Crucified: see Slaughtered.


* Daily double: Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two nominated races.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Dam: The mother of a horse.
* Dead ‘un: A horse deliberately ridden to lose.
* Derby: A stakes event for three-year-old colts and geldings. In Australia 3YO fillies are also permitted to start in an open derby.
* Dip: A pickpocket on a racecourse; someone with light fingers.
* Dishlickers: A colloquial term for greyhound racing.
* Dogs are barking it: A big tip which has become common knowledge.
* Doing plenty: Having a rough trot on the punt.
* Donkey-licked: To be defeated convincingly.
* Drift: When the odds of a horse increase or ease.
* Drongo: A horse or person who was disappointing, slow or clumsy.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Duet: Exotic bet to select two of the three placegetters in a race.
* Duffer in the wet: Does not run well on slow or heavy tracks.


* Each way: To bet for a win and a place.
* Educated money: An amount invested on a horse from a stable or informed source.
* Emu: A person who picks up discarded betting tickets on a racecourse, hoping that some will be of value. The person strikes a similar pose to Australia’s largest native bird when feeding.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Entire: Any male horse with both testicles in the scrotum.
* Equipment: Can be any of: bandages; bit; blinkers; bridle; halter; hood; nose band; reins; saddle cloth; saddle pad; shadow roll; stirrups; tongue tie.
* Exotics: Any bet other than a win or place eg. Quinella, trifecta, quadrella, superfecta, treble, exacta.


* Farrier: A person who tends to the feet of horses.
* Favourite: The horse which is quoted at the shortest odds in a race.
* Filly: A female thoroughbred less than 4 years of age.
* First Up: The first run of a horse in a new preparation.
* Flip of the coin: The odds available are quoted at even money.
* Flying handicap: A sprint race generally of less than 1200 metres.
* Foot on the till: Expression indicating that a horse is ready to win.
* Form : A horse’s record of past performances.


* Gelding: A male horse that has been castrated.
* Get on: Have your bet accepted.
* Get out stakes: The last event on any racing programme.
* Getting set: Being accommodated for a wager.
* Good alley: A barrier draw considered to be ideal for a particular horse.
* Good oil: Positive information about a horse’s chances in a race.
* Gorilla: A colloquial term for one thousand dollars.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Got the blows: Drifted in the betting.
* Greet the judge: To win a race.
* Group Race: High quality race categorised into Group 1, 2 and 3 and Listed races, in order of importance.
* Grow another leg: Said of horses that handle wet tracks well.


* Hang: To veer away from a straight course during a race.
* Hard earned: Money.
* Headquarters: In Victoria, Flemington Racecourse is known as headquarters.
* The Heath: The nickname for Caulfield Racecourse.
* Hoop: Jockey.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Horse: An entire male horse of four years of age or more.


* Imports: Horses imported to Australia are indicated by an abbreviation the country of their birth, such as New Zealand (NZ) and United States (US).
* Impost: The weight a horse is allocated or carries.
* Irons: Stirrups.


* Just about square: Punters expression for nearly broke.




* Lacks ticker: Deficient in the heart department.
* Lay down misere: An absolute certainty.
* London to a brick on: Long odds-on.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Long shot: An outsider at long odds with little chance of winning.
* Lost a leg in the float: The horse has drifted alarmingly in the betting.
* Lug: Racing erratically and hanging in.


* Maiden: A horse that has not won a race.
* Mail: Information and tips.
* Mare: A female horse over 3 years old.
* Market: The list of all horses engaged in a race and their respective odds.
* Mentor: The trainer of a horse.
* Monkey: A term used for five hundred dollars.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Moral: An absolute certainty.
* Mudlark: A horse which goes well on a wet track.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]


* Nags: Derogatory term for horse racing.
* Neglected: Attracting very little support in the betting.
* Nose band: A leather strap that goes over the bridge of a horse's nose to help secure the bridle.


* Oaks: A stakes event for three-year-old fillies.
* Odds against: Odds which are longer than evens (eg. 2-1). At present Australian odds are expressed as a $ figure: 2-1 is now shown as $3 (2-1 plus the $1 stake).
* Odds on: Odds which are shorter than evens (eg. 4-6). Or $1.50, using the above example in Odds Against.
* Off side: The right hand side of a horse.
* On course tote: The totalisator which is situated at the race course.
* On the bit: When a horse is eager to run.
* One large: A term used for one thousand dollars.
* Ordinary cattle: A derogatory term for a low class field of runners.
* Outlay: The money an investor bets or wagers is called their outlay.


* Pacifiers: Mesh eye-covers used to calm horses down. They cannot be used in wet weather for safety reasons, as mud can stick to them.
* Penetrometer: A device used for measuring the hardness or softness of the track by measuring the extent to which the device penetrates the ground. [See "Going".]
* Persuader: Colloquial term for a jockey’s whip.
* Pigskin: Jockey’s saddle.
* Pig-root: Horse which bucks and tries to throw the rider.
* Pilot the field: To lead the race.
* Placed: Finish in the top three in a race.
* Postilion: Jockey.
* Pre-post odds: A horse's anticipated odds as printed in the morning newspapers.
* Price: The odds on offer about a horse.
* Prior convictions: A horse which has failed to perform to expectations on previous occasions.
* Pulling: Over racing.
* Punt: To wager on the outcome of a race.
* Put your house on: A good thing.


* Quinella: An exotic type bet which requires the selection of the first two place getters regardless of order (cf. "exacta").


* Racing plates: Aluminium horseshoes.
* Red-hots: The trots, or harness racing.
* Rig: A male horse which is a cryptorchid or not properly castrated.

* Saddlecloth: A cloth which goes under the saddle to identify the horse by number [Arrold, Tony, "A Racegoers Handbook", Harper & Row publishers Sydney, New York, 1978] and, sometimes in major races, its name.
* Salute the judge: The horse wins the race.
* Satchel swinger: A bookmaker.
* Scraping paint: Racing tight, or close, to the running rail.
* Scratch: To be taken out of a race before it starts.
* Sectionals: Intermediate times recorded during a race.
* Shadow Roll: A wide lambs wool covered noseband designed to keep the horse from seeing his own shadow.
* Shillelagh: Colloquial term for a jockey’s whip.
* Shin sore: Inflammation of the membrane of the cannon bone.
* Shrapnel: The term used by a bookie's bagman for a heap of small coins.
* Silks: a jockey's breeches and bib or cravat
* Sire: The father of a horse.
* Skinner: A "result" for a bookmaker which entails very little, or no pay out whatsoever on a race.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Smoky: A well supported horse with no apparent form to justify its price.
* Special: see Best bet.
* Spell: The resting period for a horse between preparations or racing.
* Spin: An expression for a five pound note (pre-1966 currency).
* Spot: A term used for one hundred dollars.cite web |url= |title=Ozwords October 1996 |accessdate= 2007-10-08]
* Stake: The sums of money deposited or guaranteed by the parties to a bet.
* Stayer: A horse that specialises in longer distance races.
* Stick: Jockey’s whip.
* Stipes: Another term for the Stewards. (Or Stipendiary Stewards)
* Straight out: Betting to win only
* Superfecta: An exotic type of bet which requires a punter to select the first four horses to cross the finish line in the exact order.
* Swimmer: Horse which performs very well on rain effected tracks.
* Swooper: A horse which charges home at the end of a race.


* Ton: A term used for one hundred dollars.
* Toppy: The top weight or horse carrying the No. 1 saddlecloth.
* Track condition: Used to describe the racing surface (Fast: Very firm surface, Good: Firm surface, Dead: Track with give in the ground, Slow: Rain affected, Heavy: Very rain affected). Replaced in some states by a 1-to-10 rating system. [see Going]
* Transfusion: An injection of cash.
* Travelling: A descriptive term to indicate current financial status. A bookmaker or punter might be "travelling well" or conversely "not travelling all that well at the moment."
* Trifecta: An exotic type of wager picking the first three finishers in exact sequence.


* Urger: see coat-tugger.




* Wager: Another term for bet.
* Welsher: Person who refuses to honour a bet.
* Welter: A handicap race with a higher minimum weight.



* Yours for theirs: A bet taken at odds of even money.



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