They're Racing! Toolbox

A

Abdomen

The belly of the body where the intestines and other organs are housed.

Accident

An accident is defined as any unplanned occurrence or incident that causes or contributes to personal injury or damage to property, and may include personal injury, property damage including horses and greyhounds or near miss (no result).

Acquired markings

Identifying features that have occurred after birth. They include scars and ear brands.

Adrenaline

Adrenaline is the hormone that triggers the fright-flight or fight response in animals and humans.

Aged horse

A horse that has finished growing and has all permanent teeth in wear - seven years and over.

Ailment

A physical disorder often referring to a mild illness.

All fours

When an animal's weight is evenly distributed across all four legs it is said to be on all fours.

Allergies

A condition that makes a person or animal become ill or develop skin or breathing problems because they have eaten certain foods or come in contact with certain substances.

Alpha angle system

A freezebrand made up of eight points of two squares placed to represent an eight pointed star, and two other symbols. In Australia the alpha angle system is used in harness racing rather than normal numbers or letters so that the brand cannot be modified by anyone.

Angle load trailer

Horses in an angle load trailer stand at about 45 degrees to the front. They walk onto the float from the rear but can often unload by turning and walking head-first.

Animal of prey

An animal that could be eaten by other animals (predators).

Anus

The end of the digestive system through which faeces is eliminated from the body.

Appaloosa

The appaloosa body coat is one of the Australian Stud Book accepted colours with, in addition, one of the distinctive appaloosa coat patterns. Note: appaloosa patterns may cover all or part of the body and can change throughout the horse's life. In addition, there are generally areas of mottled (or freckled) skin around the genitals, mouth and / or eyes.

Apprentice

Junior jockey indentured to a trainer for a four year Apprenticeship.

Arson

Deliberate damage to property by causing a fire.

Assessment

Assessment is the process of gathering and judging evidence in order to decide whether a person has achieved a standard or objective. See also competency-based assessment and workplace assessment.

Australian Greyhound Racing Rules

Now known as the Greyhounds Australasia Rules.

Australian Qualification Framework (AQF)

Is a nationally consistent set of qualifications for all post‑compulsory education and training in Australia.

Australian Rules of Racing

Rules set nationally for each race code national authority that provides common practices, conditions and standards for racing throughout Australia.
Greyhound - http://www.galtd.org.au/national_rules.htm
Thoroughbred - http://www.australian-racing.net.au/rules/rulestoc.htm
Harness - http://www.harness.org.au/rules/rules.htm

Australian Stud Book (ASB)

The ASB is owned jointly by the Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club. The mission of the ASB is to ensure the integrity of thoroughbred breeding in Australia. Its main functions include parentage testing and identification procedures including DNA testing of mares and foals and the recording of mare progeny and stallion statistics. The ASB introduced microchips to the 2003 Australian foal crop, which serve as the most secure means of foal identification and teamed with freeze branding, will provide racing officials with the most dependable identification system in the world. http://www.studbook.org.au

Australian Trotting Stud Book

The Australian Standardbred population of horses is managed through a national Stud Book. Eligible foals are allocated a unique number. These numbers are permanently imprinted on each horse with a freezebrand soon after birth. The Keeper of the Stud Book receives confirmation of the registration of foals through the Registrars in each State.

B

Baling twine

A type of string used mostly by farmers to hold bales of hay together. The twine is made out of many individual pieces of string that are almost plastic-like.

Barrier draw

The process which is performed to determine the barrier for each horse in a race or starting position for harness. Generally, the barrier draw is conducted by a computer, however for special races the barrier draw may be conducted manually in front of patrons at a racecourse or special event.

Bay

A horse body colour in which the body coat is bay although the shade may vary from a dull red approaching brown to a yellowish colour approaching chestnut. The mane and tail are black and almost invariably there is black on the lower parts of the legs and the tips of the ears.

Bay / brown

A horse body colour in which the body coat is bay / brown, as with brown / black, the horse's coat changes with the seasons, it may be hard to distinguish the black points (in particular the lower legs) from the body coat at certain times of the year.

Bay gelding

A horse with a bay coat colour. Gelding indicates it is a male horse that has been castrated.

Bear weight

See on all fours.

Bell boots

Protective equipment made of rubber, leather or other materials which covers the coronet and heels.

Bike

See sulky

Birdcage

The enclosure or place on a paceway where horses are marshalled and paraded for events. The identity brand of each horse is checked during the marshalling period. Also known as the enclosure.

Bit

Two pieces of steel rod, which may be rubber covered and which fits in the horse's mouth and is attached to the bridle by the reins.

Bitch

A female canine (dog) of any breed.

Black

A horse body colour in which the body coat is black. Black pigment is general throughout the body coat, limbs, mane and tail of the horse and no pattern other than white markings is present.

Blinkers

Blinkers are leather sidepieces attached to a horse's bridle or greyhound's muzzle to prevent sideways vision.

Blue fawn

A greyhound body colour in which the body coat is fawn with a blue tinge.

Blood type

Every animal's blood contains certain features that can be identified. An animal inherits the features in its blood from its parents. This can be used to determine if the pups or foals are the offspring of a particular mating.

Boisterous

Excited behaviour that can lead to animals wanting to run, kick, bite, jump around. It may also cause greyhounds to bark excessively.

Bookmaker

A person licensed by a controlling body to conduct betting at a race meeting.

Bowline

A knot that won't slip. This knot is used if you want to make sure that the rope won't get any tighter or looser.

Box draw

The official random computerised drawing of the starting positions (box) of the greyhounds in a race or event. Describes the action of drawing the official starting positions of the runners in a race or event.

Boxes

In horse terminology boxes are another name for stables.

Boxes

In greyhound terminology boxes are used to hold each greyhound at the start of the race.

Brands

Identifying marks that have been applied to the horse's skin. These can be applied using extreme heat (fire brand) or extreme cold (freeze brand).

Brands

Identifying marks that have been applied to the greyhound's skin by tattooing the skin with ink (ear brand).

Breeching rope

A rope that is looped around the hindquarters of the horse; the end of the rope is held by the handler. The handler can tug on the rope to encourage a horse to move forward. It can be used to help load a reluctant horse and can also be used to teach foals to lead.

Break

To start galloping and lose natural trotting or pacing rhythm. This situation tends to occur more with trotters than pacers.

Breed

The term breed describes animals that have been bred selectively over a period of time and have developed fixed characteristics.

Bridle

Part of the horse's harness equipment that is used to control the movement and direction of the horse.

Brindle

A pattern of irregular dark stripes that covers some or all of the body, legs and head. This pattern can occur over any regular coat colour.

Brood bitch

A female greyhound used for or intended to be used for breeding.

Broodmare

A female horse, generally retired from racing, used for breeding purposes.

Brown

A horse body colour in which the body coat is brown. Black pigment is general throughout the body coat, limbs, mane and tail. The muzzle is brown and often there is brown shading on the flanks.

Brown / black

A horse body colour in which the body coat is brown / black. The coat colour at certain times of the year can appear to be black but the horse still has brown at the muzzle and sometimes the flank. At other times of the year the coat turns to brown all over.

Buttocks

The area of the hindquarter on either side of the tail.

C

Canine

A dog or other animal of the dog family.

Cast

A horse or greyhound that has fallen or lain down too close to a fence or wall and can't get up without assistance.

Castrated

Castrating involves removing the testicles from a male animal to make them infertile and stop them producing the more aggressive hormones required for breeding. It can also calm an aggressive animal and reduce the risk of fighting. A castrated horse is called a gelding.

Catching pen

A section of the racetrack capable of being enclosed to stop and catch the greyhounds at the end of a race; this generally includes a run-off chute.

Certificates I to IV

A set of qualifications awarded in the vocational education and training sector and recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The four levels of certificate recognise increasing levels of skill.

Chat room

This is the way you can talk to other people with similar interests to you through the internet. See also discussion board. Your facilitator will be able to advise you on how to access a chat room.

Check

To suffer interference during a race, causing a horse or greyhound to alter its speed and / or path in a race. A severe check can ruin a horse or greyhound's chance in a race.

Cheekpiece

The strap on the bridle or headcollar that runs down the side of the face. On a bridle it attaches the bit to the headpiece. On a headcollar it connects the noseband to the headpiece.

Chest bar

The bar in front of the horse when it travels in a straight load-trailer. Its purpose is to stop the horse going too far forward in the trailer.

Chestnut

A horse body colour in which the body coat is chestnut. The body colour ranges from a light washy yellow, through golden and reddish shades to a dark liver colour, the pigment being evenly distributed. The mane and tail are not black but are a chestnut colour which may be darker or lighter than the body coat.

Chestnut is also the name of the small pad of leathery tissue that is usually found on the inside of each forearm (just above the knee) and rear cannon (just below the hock). Chestnuts are believed to have a pattern on their surface that is as unique as a fingerprint.

Chute

Extension of the racetrack used to provide a straight run for race starts.

Clerk of the Course

Official at thoroughbred and harness race tracks dressed in hunting red, riding a grey horse. Duties include leading fields to the start, assisting with difficult horses and capturing runaway horses.

Clerk of the Scales

Official who checks weight of jockeys with saddles against allotted weights before and after each race.

Coat colour

The colour of a horse's coat used for registration purposes in thoroughbreds and standardbreds.

Cob

Originally a type of middle size horse around 14 to 15 hands. The term is now used to identify gear to fit horses of that size: eg cob sized halter.

Colic

Is a common horse ailment. It means that the horse has a pain in its stomach. A change in diet or distress can be common causes although there are many others. Common signs of colic include kicking at their belly, frequent rolling, sweating and looking at the belly.

Collar

A strap around the greyhound's neck that is used to lead and or control the animal's movement.

Colours

Otherwise known as silks - jacket and cap worn by the jockey in a thoroughbred race. The special colourful jacket worn by drivers when in a harness race. A horse may only compete in the registered colours of either its owner or trainer. Trainers and owners can choose their own set of colour combinations but must apply to the controlling authority to have them approved.

Colt

A colt is a male horse that has not been gelded and is less than four years old. Once the colt reaches its fourth birthday it is called a horse. It becomes a stallion when it performs stud duties.

Commercial horse transports

A business that provides the service of transporting horses. Usually, the vehicle is set up to take many animals at once. They are often designed for very long journeys and to make the loading by one person easier.

Competency

Competency (also competence) is the ability to perform tasks and duties to the standard expected in employment.

Competency-based assessment

Competency-based assessment (or CBA) is the gathering and judging of evidence in order to decide whether a person has achieved a standard of competence.

Competency-based training

Competency-based training (or CBT) training is training which develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to achieve competency.

Competency standard

An industry-determined specification of performance which sets out the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to operate effectively in employment. Competency standards are made up of units of competency, which are themselves made up of elements of competency, together with performance criteria, a range of variables, and an evidence guide. Competency standards are an endorsed component of a training package.

Computer-based training

Computer-based training (also called computer-aided instruction) is an educational method in which a computer is the primary medium for instruction and learning. See also online learning.

Conformation

Conformation is the overall make and shape of a horse.

Constitution

The structure, powers and functions of an organisation, eg. The Australian Racing Board, Australian Harness Council, Greyhounds Australasia.

Consultation

Employers must talk with their workers and seek their input on how to best make the workplace safe for everyone in that environment. The OH&S laws call this the consultation process.

Correct weight

A signal after the race that indicates that all placed jockeys have correctly weighed in and there are no protests.

Coronet

The line on horses where the hair stops growing and the hoof wall begins.

Course

A structured and integrated program of education or training, usually consisting of a number of modules (subjects) or shorter programs, and leading to the award of a qualification.

Cream

A horse body colour in which the body coat is a cream. Cream with black points represents the dilution of brown or bay (buckskin). Cream with cream mane and tail or with silver mane and tail (palomino) represents dilution of chestnut.

Crest

The area along the top of the neck. Horses that are well conditioned and in work will usually have a well- defined crest. It can also be more developed in stallions.

Crib biting

A bad habit or vice where horses chew on any surface but commonly wood. This can damage the horse's teeth as well as becoming a type of addiction which they can't stop. It often starts in horses that are kept in stables or small yards for long periods.

Cross ties

A method if restraining a horse. Leads are tied from each side of the headcollar to a tie-up ring. The horse can move backwards or forwards a little way but it is hard to turn around. Horses are usually tied in cross ties at the races.

Current competency

A competency currently possessed by a person. People can lose competence over time. Further training and practice will demonstrate current competency. See also Recognition of Current Competencies.