PUNTER - the name given to all serious horse bettors

MUGPUNTER - someone that is particularly poor at betting

STONEMOTHERLESS - a horse that finishes dead last

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

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

RETURNTOSCALE - 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

THERACETHATSTOPSANATION - an affectionate term referring to the Melbourne Cup held each November

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

DOWNTOTHEWIRE - 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

RINGIN - 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

GOTTHEGOAT - 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

STRAIGHTFROMTHEHORSES' 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

DARKHORSE - 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

TURNITUP!!! - something unexpected or unplanned that causes shock, anger and frustration

DONKEYLICKED - when a horse gets beaten convincingly

GOODOIL - when you receive positive info about a horse

STAYSLIKETHEMOTHER-IN-LAW - when a staying horse appreciates long distance and keeps coming, or staying

GOESLIKEASCALDEDCAT - a quick horse that jumps from the gate and goes flat out early at speed

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

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

WARNEDOFF - 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

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

HOLDALLTICKETS - 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

SMOKINGTHEPIPE - a horse travelling well, typically three back on the fence with cover on the outside

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

EARLYBIRD - 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

WOBBLINGLIKEADRUNKENSAILOR - when a horse runs around unbalanced, usually in the the final stretch

HANGINGLIKEACHEAPSUIT - typically when a horse holds it's head to one side in the running or in the straight

FOLDEDLIKEALAWNCHAIR - a horse that gives in easily and fades back through the field badly

BLOWNOUT - 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

GREWANOTHERLEG - when a runner improves significantly during a race, usually sprinting hard to feature late

FROMGOTOWOAH - a horse that jumps out and leads from the beginning until the finish line, ultimately winning

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

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

THEDOGSAREBARKING - when a hot tip becomes public knowledge and the odds tumble down significantly

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

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

UNDERDOUBLEWRAPS - 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

INALATHER - when a horse sweats up profusely, typically stressed, overheated or nervous, not ideal

CARRYTHEGRANDSTAND - a horse allocated a great deal of weight under the Handicap system

FOOTONTHETILL - a horse that looks close to winning

DISHLICKERS - term used to describe greyhound racing

PIGROOT - 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

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

BACKEDOFFTHEMAP - a heap of money invested on a particular horse suggesting it may run well

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

PULLING/HARDHELD - 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

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

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

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

STRAIGHTTOTHEBAR - after a big win the place to go and shout drinks in a victory celebration

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

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

NOFLINCHING - our own racing slang relates to riding out a multi until the last leg without cashing out for a return

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

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

MORAL - a horse that appears a dead set certainly to win and stands out above all other competitors

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