They're Racing! Toolbox

S

Saddlecloth

The cloth under the saddle which displays the horse's number in the race. This number corresponds with the racebook and totalisator board.

Saddling enclosure

Area in front of the main grandstand where horses are paraded before a thoroughbred race. Horses are not saddled in the saddling enclosure, but they are unsaddled after the race.

Safety hazards

See hazard.

Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

Occupational health and safety procedures are the guidelines that outline the safest and most efficient ways for workers to carry out their jobs. These are commonly called Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS).

It is critical to workplace safety that there are clear, written and available procedures for all employees to follow when working with animals, operating all equipment and machinery. These must be kept up to date and available for easy reference.

Salivate profusely

When large amounts of saliva are produced. This sometimes happens when a greyhound gets travel sick; they tend not to swallow or pant which leaves a lot of saliva around the mouth.

Scratching

When a horse or greyhound is withdrawn from a race.

Sedatives

Are forms of medication that react on the nervous system to slow down reaction times and behaviour.

Sex – greyhounds

The two main sex classifications are dog and bitch. A dog is an adult male animals and a bitch is an adult female.

Sex – horses

There are three major sex categories for horses: stallions, geldings and mares.

Stallions are sexually mature male horses generally over two years old. A colt is a male horse under two years of age.

Most male horses in racing are geldings. This means they are castrated to make them easier to handle and so they can concentrate on racing. Castrated means the testicles are removed to make the horse infertile and stop them producing the more aggressive hormones required for breeding. Geldings can be any age.

Mares are sexually mature female horses generally over two years old. Females under two years old are called fillies.

Sheath

The external skin flap that covers the penis in a male horse or greyhound.

Shin sore

Soreness of the lining of the cannon bone in young horses.

Shying

A horse that gets a fright will jump away from the object or noise. This is called shying.

Sideline

This is a piece of equipment used to restrain horses. Sometimes known as a kicking strap or collar rope; one hind leg is tied up off the ground to a strap around the lower neck of the horse. This discourages the horse from bucking, kicking or moving forward when handled.

Sight hound

Breeds of dog that instinctively chase a moving object; this includes greyhounds, whippets and borzois.

Silks

The jacket and cap worn by jockeys in a race. Otherwise known as colours.

Sire

The male parent, or father, of a horse or greyhound.

Skewbald

A horse coat colour that is recognised by the Australian Trotting Stud Book. See pied.

Skill

An ability to perform a particular mental or physical activity which may be developed by training or practice.

Skin twitch

A method of restraint, sometimes known as a tinker's hold. The loose skin on the neck is held by the handler, this can discourage a horse from moving, especially during inspection or treatment.

Skullcap

The protective helmet worn by all jockeys and drivers in a race. The jockey's / driver's coloured cloth caps cover the skullcaps.

Slip knot

A knot that is designed to undo when the tail of the rope is pulled.

Spelling

A horse may be sent to the paddock for a rest because of injury or just because they have been in training for a long period. This is known as spelling.

Spider hobbles

Equipment used to restrain a horse. The front and back left legs are tied together with a rope that allows the legs to stay in the normal position.

Both right legs are tied together in the same way but the rope is looped through the left leg rope so that the horse cannot move. As long as it stands still the rope does not pull on any leg.

This method of restraint must only be used by an experienced horse handler as it is essential that the ropes are fitted to the correct length as there is a danger that the horse may panic while they are being fitted.

Square gaiting

Another term describing the gait of a trotter. When trotting or square gaiting, a horse stretches its left front and right rear legs forward almost simultaneously and then follows suit with its right front and left rear legs.

Stablehand

A person who cleans and prepares the stable for a horse. Stablehands are often responsible for feeding and grooming the horse as well.

Stables

Areas, enclosures or places used for the accommodation of horses.

Stall kicking

A bad habit that some horses develop. The horse continually kicks the wall of the stable or truck / trailer to get attention or because they don't like the animal housed next to them.

Stallion

A male horse, generally retired from racing, which stands at stud and is used for breeding purposes.

Stalls

An open-front shelter for standing horses. Stalls are where horses are tied-up during a race meeting. They don't have a door so the horse must remain tied-up.

Standardbred

Most harness racehorses in Britain, North America and Australasia are standardbreds, so called because the American harness studbook, begun last century, used the ability to cover a mile in a standard time (initially 2 min 30 secs) as the criteria for entry.

Starting boxes

The point all greyhounds begin a race from, electronically driven for the lids to lift when the lure reaches a certain point.

Statement of attainment

A certification issued to a student for partial completion of a qualification, including, where relevant, the units of competency achieved under nationally endorsed standards. Achievements recognised by statements of attainment can accumulate towards a qualification within the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Stewards

See Stipendiary Stewards

Stipendiary Stewards

Officials appointed by the controlling authority to run race meetings in accordance with the rules of racing and betting. Stewards have the power to fine, suspend or disqualify any licensed or registered person for contravening the rules.

Stewards can also inquire into the conduct of persons connected with horses or attending racecourses. Stewards determine all protests at race meetings and decide when a race is clear for announcement of correct weight. Also known as Stewards.

Stipes

Another term for the Stewards. The correct term is Stipendiary Stewards, hence the shortened nick-name of stipes.

Straight

Part of the racetrack from the home turn to the winning post.

Straight-load trailer

These trailers carry the horse head to the front. The horse loads from the rear of the trailer and unloads by walking backwards. The heavier horse should be loaded onto the driver's side of the float.

Straight nose

When you look at the profile or side view of a greyhound's face the profile is straight to curved outwards.

Strapper

Person employed by a trainer to attend a horse in the stables or at the races. They are responsible for grooming and tacking-up the horse before the race, removing the gear after a race and hosing off the horse.

Strike

A horse that throws its front leg out in front is said to strike. It will strike if it is in pain or to assert itself. They horse can reach as high as your shoulder when it strikes.

Stud

A farm, stable or other place where registered horses or greyhounds are located for breeding purposes.

Stud Book

See Greyhounds Australasia Stud Book or Australian Stud Book (thoroughbreds) or Australian Trotting Stud Book (harness).

Sulky

Also known as the cart or gig, the sulky is the contraption attached to the harness which carries the driver and which the horse pulls. A modern sulky has two bicycle tyres and weighs around 25kg.

Swab

The process of taking of blood and/or urine samples from a horse or greyhound for analysis by a testing laboratory. The stewards may direct any horse or greyhound to be swabbed before or after it has raced, irrespective of where it finishes in the race. The samples are tested by the laboratory for any irregularities or prohibited substances or drugs. A positive swab is one which has been found to contain a prohibited substance under the rules of racing.

Swelling

See filling.

Symbol

Also called icons, symbols are used in They're Racing to help you identify any areas or activities that relate to one of the racing codes.

Syndicate

A group of racehorse or greyhound owners who join together to buy racehorses/greyhounds and employ licensed/registered trainers to train and race them.

T

Tack

Any gear or equipment used when riding or driving a horse.

TAFE

(Technical and Further Education) As a publicly funded post-secondary organisation providing a range of technical and vocational education and training courses. Programs include:

entry and bridging courses
language and literacy courses
adult basic education courses
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education courses
personal enrichment courses, and
small business courses.

Each state and territory has its own TAFE system.

Tailgates

The ramp of a float or truck that the horse uses to walk up or down when loading or unloading.

Tendons

Soft tissue that attaches bones to muscles. See also ligaments.

Testicles

The sacs that produce sperm and some male hormones in a male horse or greyhound.

Tetanus

A bacterial infection that is generally contracted after a puncture wound. The bacteria are in the soil and on rusty or dirty materials.

The disease is also known as lock-jaw as it affects the nervous system causing the muscles to stiffen which can prevent movement and later stopping breathing. It can affect horses and people.

Tie-up

See hitching.

The Stick

A slang term for the whip used by drivers or jockeys.

Thoroughbred Identification Card

The Thoroughbred Identification Card replaced the Document of Description on 1 January 2005. At the time of parenting verification a Foal Identification Card is issued. When the foal is ready to be named and registered for racing a Thoroughbred Identification Card is issued. This card must travel with the horse, as does the current Document of Description for older horses.

Ticking

The sprinkling of white hairs over the body, neck and head.

Tinker's Hold

See skin twitch.

Tongue tie

Tape or strap used to prevent a horse getting its tongue over the bit.

Toolbox

In Australian learning terms this means a course or set of courses developed for online learning by the Flexible Learning Framework.

More information: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/

Trackwork rider

A person licensed to ride horses for exercise and during trials.

Trainee

A person receiving training or undertaking a traineeship. See also New Apprenticeships.

Traineeship

A system of vocational training combining off-the-job training at an approved training provider with on-the-job training and practical work experience. Traineeships generally take one to two years and are now a part of the New Apprenticeships system.

Trainer

In education a trainer is the person who instructs or teaches students in an education course.

Trainer

In the racing codes a trainer is the person who looks after racing horses or greyhounds usually on behalf of an owner or syndicate of owners and provides an education and exercise program to prepare them for entry into races. A trainer must hold a license or permit to be entitled to train.

Training

The development of skills, knowledge, attitudes, competencies, etc through instruction or practice.

Training

In the racing codes training refers to the education and exercise program conducted by a trainer to prepare horses or greyhounds for racing.

Training package

An integrated set of nationally endorsed standards, guidelines and qualifications for training, assessing and recognising people's skills, developed by industry to meet the training needs of an industry or group of industries.

The package for the racing industry is the National Racing Industry Training Package (RGR02).

Training plan

A program of training and assessment which forms part of a New Apprenticeship Training Contract and is registered with the relevant state or territory training authority.

Travel stress

A respiratory disease that can occur when horses travel. It is mainly caused by poor ventilation, high levels of humidity and / or fungal spores in the vehicle.

Trotting

A slang term for harness racing in general. It also describes the gait of a "trotter". See square gaiting.

Twitch

A piece of equipment used to restrain horses. A piece of rope is twisted around the skin on the top lip. Although this looks cruel it actually stimulates the release of endorphins in the body which relax the horse and make it easier for the handler to treat injuries or examine a horse.

Tying-up disease

See Rhabdomyolosis.

U

Undershot

The bottom jaw sits further forward than the op jaw - sometimes called a bulldog mouth.

Units of competency

A component of a competency standard. A unit of competency is a statement of a key function or role in a particular job or occupation. See also element of competency, performance criteria, range of variables.