Racing Glossary 'D'

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.

Dead Heat : This happens when even with the aid of photo finish the judge is unable to determine an outright winner.

Declarations : When entering an horse for a race a new plan provides for a 48 hour declaration stage for group one races

Distance: this is a point 240 yards from the winning post, however there is no mark on a racecourse to indicate it, but is frequently refered to in form and race summaries. However all courses are marked with furlong markers to indicate how many furlongs to the winning post and the distance is 20 yards before the one furlong post is reached.

Can also mean the distance of the race usually refered to as furlongs or miles i.e. a. 5 furlongs, b. 1 1/4 mile. Can also refer to the winning distance

Doll : Hurdles singly used to mark direction in National Hunt Racing usually when part of the course is waterlogged or unusable for some other reason then that part of the course is said to be dolled off.

Draw : The draw for which position a horse shall occupy the stalls at the start of a race

Drifter : a horse whos odds lengthens noticably or 'drifts' in the betting..

Dwelt: a horse that hangs around in the stall when they open is said to have dwelt at the start. abbreviated to dwlt in the form book.