A Dictionary Of Horse Racing Terms - N And M

MAIDEN

This is not about the sex of a horse;

When a horse, colt, gelding or filly has not won a race then it’s known as a maiden. Many flat races through the season are only for maidens. Similarly during the jumping season there are horses that have not won a chase or a hurdle. These are novice chases and hurdles.

On the flat, most maiden races are open only to maidens at starting, horses that, up to the day of the race, have not won. These are normally run at Weight for Age with allowance for fillies against colts and geldings.

There is sometimes a weight allowance for horses who have never run before. Maiden races may be confined to two year olds, or three year olds, but there are also maiden events for three year olds and older.

MAIDEN HANDICAP

This race is for horses which have run 4 times in the UK, yet have still not won a race.

MAKES A NOISE

Sometimes known as a “roarer”. A horse with respiratory trouble. Can be remedied via a hobday operation or tubing whereby a tube is inserted in the larynx to bypass an obstruction.

MARE

After the age of five a thoroughbred is known as a mare. When retired to the paddocks to breed she will be called a “broodmare”.

Fillies generally are not expected to pursue an extended racing career. If they are well bred and have won a race of some note, they usually retire before the age of four to be mated with a stallion at stud.

Bloodstock has become big business nowadays. Fees will be charged for a stallions service, usually on a “no foal no fee” basis with the foal becoming the property of the mare.

MATCH

A very early form of racing.

There would be a race between two horses taking place on property owned by one of the owners. This would have been the norm back then, which has lead to the form of racing we know today.

MONKEY

Betting terminology meaning £500.

“Two monkeys” therefore refers to a thousand pounds.

MORNING GLORY

When a horse fails miserably on the racecourse after looking extremely promising on the home gallops the same morning, he will be said to have been having in his “Morning Glory”

MUSEUMS

The fascinating history of racing can be seen in the emergence of museums devoted to the subject.

Possibly the most significant is the National Horseracing museum, Newmarket High Street. Opened in 1983 by the Queen it is situated next to the Jockey Club rooms.

NAMES

Rule 40 of the Rules of Racing states “no owner shall make use of an assumed name for the purpose of entering or running horses.”

Disqualification is the penalty for flouting this rule.

It used to be common practice that to disguise the true identity of an owner they would use a “nom de course” (false name).

For example the 1000 guineas in 1854 was won by one Mr. Howard with Virago. Not surprisingly then, the real owner was found to be one Henry Padwick, an unscrupulous money lender of that era.

Horses as well as owners must be named before they can race.

In 1797 the winner of the Derby was recorded as a brown colt by Fidget out of sister to Pharamond, owned by Duke of Bedford!!

It is not uncommon to find classic winners without names at the time of their wins.

Horses are often named by making a play on the names of their dam or sire. Whistler foaled in 1950 for example was well named in view of the lawsuits the artist of the same name was involved in.

Names cannot be longer than 18 letters with spaces.

Weatherbys has a biennial album listing the names of all registered names, over twenty thousand of them which are by definition no longer available for use.

NATIONAL HUNT

Includes hurdling and steeple chasing, describes courses used solely for such events and those devoted to flat racing during the summer but National Hunt during the winter.

Originally governed by a separate body, the National Hunt Committee, previously known as the Grand National Hunt Committee. This is now known as the Grand National Steeplechase.

NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE

Doesn’t quite make sense you might be saying. It is a type of race popular in Ireland known as the “bumper”, which accurately describes the amateur style of most of its contestants.

Potential jumpers are often run on the flat with good reason as it helps them get use to racing without having to clear a load of obstacles.

Amateur and conditional jockeys between 4 and 6 years old are the usual makeup.

Successful graduates from this arena include Champion Hurdler Morley Street and later Grand National winner Royal Athlete.

NON TRIER

Expression used when a horse doesn’t give its best.

Often used as a strategy for confusing the handicapper; A jockey may “pull” their steed in order to get a lower weight in the next race, thereby having that little extra in hand for the next race, and thereby betting accordingly.

Rule 151 deals harshly with this type of offence nowadays with punitive fines.

“Training on the course” as it was once known was used to get horses fit at the beginning of the season, a practice now outlawed by the stewards, again with punitive fines.

NUMBERS BOARD

A veritable mine of on-course information for those who know how to use it.

A giant metal frame around 7 m high on the opposite side of the course from the stands, it is usually worked with levers and counterweights. Many courses have now of course gone digital.

Indicates the names of the jockeys and their rides.

Numbers on the racecard correspond to numbers on the saddlecloth and are to the left of the jockey’s name, they are black on white with the exception of claiming apprentices whose numbers appear as follows:

• 7lb allowance – red number on white;
• 4lb allowance or 5lb allowance – black number on orange;
• 3lb allowance – white number on blue.

Right of the jockeys name are numbers correlating to the draw for places at the start.

Below the runners and riders are an assortment of different boards showing various items of form and other information such as the going, weights and/or overweights, color changes for example when an owner is running multiple horses and the jockeys have to wear different color hats.

Once the race is underway all the information is taken down in preparation for the results coming in and then the start of the next race.

IN THE FRAME

The numbers of placed and winning horses are put up in a separate frame to the side of the main board, if there is a photo finish then the letter “P” appears in the frame.

If after the jockeys weigh in. all is still in order, then the “okay” signal is displayed on the board by raising a blue flag. Bookmakers are then obliged to fork out for winning bets at this point.

If there is a problem such as a steward’s inquiry then a red flag goes up.

When the inquiry is all sorted and placings are deemed accurate then the red flag is replaced by a white flag.

If the inquiry is sorted out and placings are altered then a green flag replaces the red flag. All goings on are broadcast over the public address system.

NURSERY HANDICAP

This type of handicap is for two year olds only. Historically Nursery Handicaps were not run before September, but they are now commonly run in August or even July.