Racing Glossary 'c'
An alphabet of racing terms
We hope you find this glossary useful and informative. With this knowledge we hope you find that you can pick winners that little bit easier.
The Calendar : Term for the racing calendar
Came Again : form book term that indicates a horse that renewed it's efforts after dropping off in a race..
Camera Patrol : Cameras originally photographed the closing stages of a race from different angles, including head on later the coverage was extended to provide a visual record of the whole race. (Newmarket was the first official venue to use camera patrol on 30 june 1960.)
Card: Abbreviation for racecard, the official programme of runners on sale on racecourses.
Carpet : is a slang term for 3 months imprisonment and is used by bookies to signify odds of 3/1
Cast in his/her box : Refers to horses who have lain down in their stable loose-box, or travelling horse box and have difficulty in getting up again off the straw.
Chalk Jockey : also Chalkie refers to unsuccessful jockeys or apprentices who haven't ridden enough races to have their name painted on the board but are chalked on instead.
Championships : jockey and trainer championships are decided by greatest number of winners ridden and in the case of trainers by the largesst amount of win prizemoney earned in a season.
Chase: abbreviation for steeple chase, this term is derived from the fact that in 1752 in Ireland Mr Edmund Blake, was challenged by Mr O' Callaghan to race their hunters four and half miles across country from Buttevant Church to that at St Leger the latter steeple being the winning post.
Claiming Race : A race in which any runner may be claimed after the race for an advertised sum or more. Should the owner of any runner wish it to carry less than the maximum weight the price at which it may be claimed is reduced accordingly..
Class A etc : Flat races are classified in terms of prize money from class a down to class h
Classics: generally refers to the top races for three years olds and in England there are five these are: Newmarket, Rowley mile course spring 2000 guineas colts and fillies first run 1809, Newmarket, Rowley mile course spring 1000 Guineas fillies only first run 1814, Epsom 1 1/2 miles summer Derby colts and fillies first run 1780, Epsom 1 1/2 miles summer Oaks fillies only first run 1779, Doncaster 1 3/4 miles Autumn St Leger colts and fillies first run 1776.
Cleverly: a horse that wins with something in hand. jockeys often let the horse do just enough to win the causes problems for the handicapper and is a useful betting term, other phrases to watch for are 'not extended' 'won with his head on his chest'
Condition Races : all races other than handicaps.
Conditional Jockey: an inexperienced National Hunt rider who must be under 26 years and may claim allowances.
Courses: a race track is referred to as a course in Great Britain there are 59 racecourses 15 courses stage flat and jumping while 17 are devoted exclusively to flat and 24 cater for jumping only..