Abandoned
A race meeting that has been canceled because a club did not receive sufficient nominations to be able to stage it or due to bad weather that made racing on the track unsafe.
All Age Race
A race for two-year-olds and up.
Acceptor
A runner officially listed to start in a race.
Accumulator
Also known as a Parlay, is a multiple bet that involves making concurrent selections on two or more races with the intent of passing the winnings of the first win on the bet for the following race selected, and so on. All the selections must win in order to win the accumulator.
Across The Board
A bet on a horse to win, place and show. If the horse wins, the player collects three ways; if second, two ways; and if third, one-way, losing the win and place bets.
Age
All thoroughbreds count January 1 as their birth date.
All Age Race
A race for two-year-olds and up.
All Out
A horse who is trying to the best of its ability.
Allowance Race
A race other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions to determine weights.
Allowances
Weight permitted to be reduced because of the conditions of the race or because an apprentice is on a horse. Allowances also occur when a female horse is racing against males or three-year-olds racing against older horses.
All Weather Racing
Racing that takes place on an artificial surface.
Also Ran
Any horse racing that did not finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a race or event.
Amateur
(Rider) on racecards, their names are prefixed by Mr., Mrs., Captain, etc, to indicate their amateur status.
Apprentice
A trainee jockey. An apprentice will usually ride only flat races.
Apprentice Allowance
Weight concession to an apprentice rider – usually 10 pounds until the fifth winner, seven pounds until the 35th winner and five pounds for one calendar year from the 35th winner.
Approximates
The approximate price a horse is quoted at before a race begins. Bookmakers use these approximates as a guide to set their boards.
Arbitrage
Where a variation in odds available allows a punter to back both sides and guarantee a win.
ART
Artificial Turf
ATS
Against The Spread
AWT
All weather track