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Choose your bet

Principle of Single Winner :

It consists of finding the race's winning horse.

3 ways to play :

Winner or Placing or Winner/Placing

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.50

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If the horse designated by the bettor is non-runner, the bet is refunded.

Stable :

The letter E, followed by a number (E1, E2), in front of the horse's name means the horse in question make a "Stable", since they belong to the same owner or are trained by the same trainer.

Examples :

Your selection: the 12 winners

Principle of Single Place :

This consists of finding one of 3 first horses of the race if there are at least 8 runners or one of the 2 first horses of the race if there are less than 8 runners.

3 ways to play :

Winner or Placing or Winner/Placing

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.50

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If the horse designated by the bettor is non-runner, the bet is refunded.

Stable :

The letter E, followed by a number (E1, E2), in front of the horse's name means the horse in question make a "Stable", since they belong to the same owner or are trained by the same trainer.

Examples :

Your selection: placed 7th

Principle of the 2nd :

This is a Single Winner bet on the second of the race.

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.50

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If the horse designated by the bettor is non-runner, the bet is refunded.

Examples :

Your selection: the 5th

Principle of the 4th :

This is a Single Winner on the fourth of the race.

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.50

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If the horse designated by the bettor is non-runner, the bet is refunded.

Examples :

Your selection : the 4th

Principle of Paired Winner :

This consists of finding the 2 horses classed in the two first places of the race, regardless of the order.

3 ways to play :

Winner or Placing or Winner/Placing

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If you have played a non-runner among the 2 designated horses, and your other horse is classified in first place, you earn a return equal to the Single Winner report of that horse.

Examples :

Your selection: the 5th-12th Winners

Rates :

Forecast bets
Number of horses Number of combinations Amount
1 - -
2 1 1 €
3 3 3 €
4 6 6 €
5 10 10 €
6 15 15 €
7 21 21 €
8 28 28 €
9 36 36 €
10 45 45 €
11 55 55 €
12 66 66 €
13 78 78 €
14 91 91 €
15 105 105 €
16 120 120 €
17 136 136 €
18 153 153 €
19 171 171 €
20 190 190 €
Forecast with bases
Number of horses Rates with 1 wheel
1 1 €
2 2 €
3 3 €
4 4 €
5 5 €
6 6 €
7 7 €
8 8 €
9 9 €
10 10 €
11 11 €
12 12 €
13 13 €
14 14 €
15 15 €
16 16 €
17 17 €
18 18 €
19 19 €
20 20 €

Principle of the Paired Order :

This consists of finding the 2 finishing horses in the exact order. As a general rule, races having less than 10 runners are for a Paired Order.

3 ways to play :

Winner or Placing or Winner/Placing

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20

Case of non-runners :

If you have played a non-runner among the 2 designated horses, and your other horse is classified in the first 3 places, you earn a report equal to the Single Winner report of that horse.

Examples :

Your selection: the 6-2 "in order"

Principle of the ZE2/4 :

For this, you find 2 horses in the four first of the race. The exact order of the finish doesn't matter.

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If the selected combination includes a non-runner, the bet is refunded.

Individual cases. :

If, during a race, less than two horses reach the finish line, all "2 over 4" bets are reimbursed.

Examples :

Your selection: 7-12

Rates :

ZE 2/4 combinated
Number of horses Number of combinations Amount
1 - -
2 1 1 €
3 3 3 €
4 6 6 €
5 10 10 €
6 15 15 €
7 21 21 €
8 28 28 €
9 36 36 €
10 45 45 €
11 55 55 €
12 66 66 €
13 78 78 €
14 91 91 €
15 105 105 €
16 136 136 €
17 153 153 €
18 171 171 €
19 190 190 €
ZE 2/4 with bases
Number of horses Rates with 1 wheel
1 1 €
2 2 €
3 3 €
4 4 €
5 5 €
6 6 €
7 7 €
8 8 €
9 9 €
10 10 €
11 11 €
12 12 €
13 13 €
14 14 €
15 15 €
16 16 €
17 17 €
18 18 €
19 19 €
20 20 €

Principle of the Trio :

For this, you find the 3 first horses of the race, regardless of the order.

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If you have played a non-runner among the 3 designated horses, and your 2 other horses are classified in the first 2 places, you earn a ratio equal to the Paired Winner ratio of the same 2 horses. If only 1 horse remains from your combination and that horse wins you earn a return equal to the Single Winner report of that horse.

Examples :

Your selection: 12-5-7

Rates :

Trifecta box
Number of horses Number of combinations Amount
1 - -
2 - -
3 1 1 €
4 4 4 €
5 10 10 €
6 20 20 €
7 35 35 €
8 56 56 €
9 84 84 €
10 120 120 €
11 165 165 €
12 220 220 €
13 286 286 €
14 364 364 €
15 455 455 €
16 560 560 €
17 680 680 €
18 816 816 €
19 969 969 €
20 1140 1 140 €
Trio - With basis
Number of horses Rates with 1 wheel Rates with 2 wheels
1 - 1 €
2 1 € 2 €
3 3 € 3 €
4 6 € 4 €
5 10 € 5 €
6 15 € 6 €
7 21 € 7 €
8 28 € 8 €
9 36 € 9 €
10 45 € 10 €
11 55 € 11 €
12 66 € 12 €
13 78 € 13 €
14 91 € 14 €
15 105 € 15 €
16 120 € 16 €
17 136 € 17 €
18 153 € 18 €
19 171 € 19 €
20 190 € 20 €

Principle of the Trifecta :

For this, you find the 3 first horses of the race, in the exact finishing order.

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20.

In addition, the Trifecta accepts unitary bets of 0.20€ (or multiples of 0.20€, eg.: 0.4, 0.6, etc.) if the overall ticket is 1.00€ or more.

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If the selected combination includes a non-runner, the bet is refunded.

Examples :

Your selection: 12-5-7

Principle of the Superfecta :

For this, you find the 4 first horses of the race, regardless of the order.

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If you have played a non-runner among the 4 designated horses, and your 3 other horses are classified in the first 3 places, you earn a report equal to the Trio report of the same 3 horses.

If you have played 2 non-runners among the 4 designated horses, and your 2 other horses are classified in the first 2 places, you earn a ratio equal to the Paired Winner ratio of the same 2 horses.

If you have played 3 non-runners among the 4 designated horses, and your other horse is classified in first place, you earn a return equal to the Single Winner report of that horse.

Examples :

Your selection: 12-5-7-8

Rates :

ZE4 combined
Number of horses Number of combinations Amount
1 - -
2 - -
3 - -
4 1 0,50 €
5 5 2,50 €
6 15 7,50 €
7 35 17,50 €
8 70 35 €
9 126 63 €
10 210 105 €
11 330 165 €
12 495 247,50 €
13 715 357,50 €
14 1001 500,50 €
15 1365 682,50 €
16 1820 910 €
17 2380 1 190 €
18 3060 1 530 €
19 3876 1 938 €
20 4845 2 422,50 €
ZE4 with bases
Number of horses Chevaux de base
1 2 3
1 - - 0,50 €
2 - 0,50 € 1 €
3 0,50 € 1,50 € 1,50 €
4 2 € 3 € 2 €
5 5 € 5 € 2,50 €
6 10 € 7,50 € 3 €
7 17,50 € 10,50 € 3,50 €
8 28 € 14 € 4 €
9 42 € 18 € 4,50 €
10 60 € 22,50 € 5 €
11 82,50 € 27,50 € 5,50 €
12 110 € 33 € 6 €
13 143 € 39 € 6,50 €
14 182 € 45,50 € 7 €
15 227,50 € 52,50 € 7,50 €
16 280 € 60 € 8 €
17 340 € 68 € 8,50 €
18 408 € 76,50 € 9 €
19 484,50 € 85,50 € 9,50 €
20 570 € 95 € 10 €

Principle of Superfecta Order :

For this, you find the 4 first horses of the race, in the exact finishing order.

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20.

In addition, the Superfecta accepts unitary bets of 0.20€ (or multiples of 0.20€, eg.: 0.4, 0.6, etc.) if the overall ticket is 1.00€ or more.

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If you have played a non-runner among the 4 designated horses, and your other 3 horses finish in the first 3 places, in the exact order, you earn a report equal to the Trio report order of the same 3 horses.

Examples :

Your bet: 12-5-7-1
Race result: 12-5-7-1
You have designated the first 4 of the race in order.
You win the Superfecta earning

Your bet: 5-7-12-1
Race result: 12-5-7-1
You have designated the first 4 of the race in the wrong order.
Your bet is lost.

Principle of the Pentafecta :

For this, you find the 5 first horses of the race, regardless of the order: This bet returns on average 7 times more than the PMU's "Quinté Désordre".

Base bet :

The base bet is €0.20

Frequency :

Every day, on all races.

Case of non-runners :

If you have played a non-runner among the 5 designated horses, and your other 4 horses are classified in the first 4 places, you earn a report equal to the ZE4 report of the same 4 horses.

If you have played 2 non-runners among the 5 designated horses, and your 3 other horses are classified in the first 3 places, you earn a report equal to the Trio report of the same 3 horses.

If you have played 3 non-runners among the 5 designated horses, and your 2 other horses are classified in the first 2 places, you earn a ratio equal to the Paired Winner ratio of the same 2 horses.

If you have played 4 non-runners among the 5 designated horses, and your other horse is classified in first place, you earn a return equal to the Single Winner report of that horse.

Examples :

Your selection: 12-5-7-8-1

Rates :

ZE 5 combined
Number of horses Number of combinations Amount
1 - -
2 - -
3 - -
4 - -
5 1 0,50 €
6 6 3 €
7 21 10,50 €
8 56 28 €
9 126 63 €
10 252 126 €
11 462 231 €
12 792 396 €
13 1287 643,50 €
14 2002 1 001 €
15 3003 1 501,50 €
16 4368 2 184 €
17 6188 3 094 €
18 8568 4 284 €
19 11628 5 814 €
20 15504 7 752 €
ZE 5 with bases
Number of horses Chevaux de base
1 2 3 4
1 - - - 0,50 €
2 - - 0,50 € 1 €
3 - 0,50 € 1,50 € 1,50 €
4 0,50 € 2 € 3 € 2 €
5 2,50 € 5 € 5 € 2,50 €
6 7,50 € 10 € 7,50 € 3 €
7 17,50 € 17,50 € 10,50 € 3,50 €
8 35 € 28 € 14 € 4 €
9 63 € 42 € 18 € 4,50 €
10 105 € 60 € 22,50 € 5 €
11 165 € 82,50 € 27,50 € 5,50 €
12 247,50 € 110 € 33 € 6 €
13 357,50 € 143 € 39 € 6,50 €
14 500,50 € 182 € 45,50 € 7 €
15 682,50 € 227,50 € 52,50 € 7,50 €
16 910 € 280 € 60 € 8 €
17 1 190 € 340 € 68 € 8,50 €
18 1 530 € 408 € 76,50 € 9 €
19 1 938 € 484,50 € 85,50 € 9,50 €
20 2 422,50 € 570 € 95 € 10 €

Why register?

Registration allows access to our service for taking of mutual bets on French and international horse races. Upon registration, you create a secure account to which only you may have access.

How to register?

You will need to fill in the registration form and make a first deposit of a minimum 15€. Your account is then automatically credited with the amount of your deposit as well as the first part of your registration bonus of 250€ or more. You can play!

How do I choose my user name?

This is the name by which you will be identified on ZEturf. Choose a user name that you will be sure to remember. Your user name must be composed of at least 6 characters:

How do I choose my password?

It is strictly confidential and must under no circumstances be communicated to a third party. It must contain between 6 and 16 characters.

Why do I have to give personal information for my registration?

The security measures inherent in an online bet-taking activity means that each user must first submit all the information necessary with respect to the Law and regarding their identity.

How do I become a customer?

Once your registration is recorded and your first deposit is made, you can play on ZEturf. At that time we will be happy to give you a first deposit bonus of at least 250€.

How is my data protected?

Protection of your data is an essential part of our security measures policy.

What are ZEturf's user conditions?

Click on "The Rules" to read ZEturf's conditions of use.

What are the functions of my ZEturf account?

Your ZEturf account allows you access to the betting interface. You will then be able to:

How do I access my ZEturf account?

If you have already opened a ZEturf account, you have access to this by entering your user name and password as well as your birth date, if you are a French resident, in the connection area (upper right of our homepage) then clicking on the "connection" button.

What do I do when I have forgotten my user name and/or password?

Click on the "Forgot password" link found in the identification area (upper right of the homepage) or on the "Forgot password" link in the menu.

How do I make deposits?

Click on the "Deposit" link in the "My account" area.

You must make a deposit using a payment method that belongs to you.

How do I modify my personal information?

Click on the "My personal information" link in the "My account" area.

Why is some of my personal information unable to be changed?

Certain information of yours is unchangeable online with a view to optimising your protection.

How do I play on ZEturf?

After you have been previously identified, different sections allow you to bet on ZEturf:

How are my bets safeguarded on ZEturf?

A structure arising from banking techniques allows us to ensure that when you have placed a bet and this is accepted by ZEturf, no one may substitute fro you nor divert your profits to them.

What are the different kinds of bets available on ZEturf?

For more information on best, see the "ZEturf Bets" section.

What is a likely return?

Likely returns, or odds, allow you to estimate the chances of winning and the profit you may receive from each horse in Single Winner. The more bettors on a horse, the lower is the likely return, with less money being won by all.

What is the minimum bet? What is the maximum bet?

The minimum bet is €0.20 for Trifecta, ZE4 and ZE5 bets.

Up until when can I place a bet?

You can place a bet up until the closing of bets, which takes place at the racetrack bell, meaning the moment the race begins.

Is it possible to modify or cancel a bet?

It is indeed possible to modify or cancel a validated bet up to 10 minutes before the official start of the race. For this, just go to "Bets in progress" and click on the "modify" or "cancel" button.

What types of races are offered by ZEturf?

ZEturf offers betting on numerous French races, covering all the PMU races, as well as international ones.

Why are ZEturf returns generally better than those of its competitors?

ZEturf returns are generally and statistically better because we generally offer you better redistribution rates (percentage of stakes transferred to winners) than our competitors.

Isn't there a conflict of interest when you offer forecasts and a betting service at the same time?

Thanks to the mutual system, ZEturf does not play against bettors (fixed odds system), it restricts itself to allowing them to play against themselves.

What happens if the horse I bet on is a non-runner?

If the horse you bet on is a non-runner, the part of your bet that covers this horse is cancelled.

What happens if the race is cancelled or postponed?

In the event the race is cancelled, all kinds of bets made on the results of this event are reimbursed.

What happens in the event of disqualification after the race?

The result taken into account is the definitive finish as directly published at the racetrack.

What happens in the event of tie at the finish line?

"Winning" bets made on all horses classed at first place have the right to payment of a "winner's" return.

How do placing returns work?

The amount of all bets on horses or combinations to be paid(either two horses singly placed in the races of seven runners and less[[.,]] three horses singly placed in races of eight runners and more, and three combinations for Paired Placed) is first deducted from the lot to be shared.
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Action

suppleness, energy, willpower of a horse.

Age

"official" age of a horse on the card. Every horse has the same official birthday, January 1st.

Ambling gait

irregular trot. The feet on the same side of the horse move forward at the same time. This gait is prohibited in the races and leads to the disqualification of the horse.

Anglo-Arab

(horse) crossbred between English and Arabian thoroughbreds.

Apprentice Rider (Bug Rider)

A student jockey. The minimum age is 16. For gallop, an apprentice rider becomes a jockey after winning 70 times in flat racing and 35 times in hurdle racing. For trot racing, the apprentice has to win 35 times.

Aptitudes

There are various aptitudes: Aptitude to ground (good, soft, firm, heavy), to distance, to the track (right-handed or left-handed), to hurdles.

A.Q.P.S. ("Autre Que Pur-Sang")

Other than thoroughbred. This refers to the horses not listed as thoroughbreds but listed in a Stud-Book. They are hardy and less costly than thoroughbreds. They are well suited for steeplechase racing.

Aubin

irregular trot. The horse gallops with its forefoot and trots with its hind legs. This gait is prohibited in the races and leads to the disqualification of the horse.

Avoir du gaz

French expression used when a horse still has a lot of energy.

Balais

term used for hurdles, in French.

Banquette

slope used as an obstacle in steeplechase.

Bay

a horse that has a reddish brown coat.

Betting

odds of all the horses of the race.

Blinkers

leather device limiting the horse vision.

Bookmaker

the person who accepts the bets. The bookmakers are forbidden in France, but not in England.

Bottom-weight

in gallop races, the horse carrying the lowest weight.

Box stall

for a horse, stall in a stable.

Break

when a horse starts galloping and loose natural trotting pace.

Breeder

owner of a broodmare. The owner-breeder owns a stud farm and a racing stable where all or part of his yearlings go; the owner-seller sells the foals when they are yearlings.

Bridle

a part of the harness, which fits on the horse's head, used to guide the animal.

Broodmare

female horse used for breeding purposes.

Bullfinch

obstacle in cross-country races, made up of a solid base with twigs extending upward on top and surrounded by two little hedges

Canter

a slow gallop before the race. The canter is the last moment when the experienced gamblers can see the qualities of the horses they carefully observed (appearance, behavior) in the parade ring.

Chestnut

horse with a red-yellow to golden-yellow color.

Claim

a trainer or a jockey can make a claim, after a race, about the progress of the race, for unproven difficulty or irregularity. Then, an investigation is made by the stewards and announced through the speakers and the screens. According to the findings of the investigation, the final result can be changed or not, and the horse and jockey incriminated can be downgraded or disqualified beyond the tenth place, which means non-placed. The most common infraction involving a claim and an investigation comes from a horse that steps aside its line. The seriousness of the infraction is assesed thanks to the film of the race. For galloping and trotting races, the rules stipulate that, for security reasons, the horses are not allowed to step aside their line and cut the line of another horse if it is not at least two lenghts ahead of this horse.

Claiming race

race in which all the horses running can be purchased (auction sale) at the end of the race, at the "claiming price".

Clinders

scoria, solid waste from coal, used for some racecourses surfacing.

Coupled horses

when two horses, or more, in a race, are owned by the same owner.

Course

set distance for a race.

Cover

breeding of a stallion to a mare.

Cross-country

race that takes place on long and varied courses of more than 4000 metres, with various fences, including the most difficult ones. These races are very spectacular ; very strong horses in fine form are needed for this type of race.

Dead-heat

when two or more horses cross the finish line at the exact same time.

Disqualified

a horse that is excluded of a race.

Distance

length each horse has to run in an event.

Downgraded

a horse that loose its place, after an inquiry or a claim.

Driver

the person who drives the sulky in harness racing.

D.A.I.

from the French "disqualifié pour allure irrégulière". Horse disqualified for breaking gait. This term is used in trotting races.

D.P.G.

(from the French "disqualifié pour avoir franchi le poteau d'arrivée au galop"). Horse disqualified for crossing the finish line galloping. (Term used in trotting races)

Error (make an error)

gait of a trotter that breaks into a canter during the race.

Free-going

a horse that likes running forward and that performs a gait easily and effortlessly.

Fault

in jump racing, horse that trips on landing or that hits a fence.

Favorite

horse that is considered by the gamblers to have the best chance of winning the race.

Film

recording film that allows the stewards to follow the race; the races are filmed from beginning to end so that, in case an incident occurs, the stewards can see the film after the finish and decide in full knowledge of the facts.

Fit and well

used to describe a horse presenting very good physical conditions.

Flat racing

one of the three types of horse racing.

Foal

a male or female horse from birth until December 31st of the same year.

Forefoot

forefront part of the horse.

Front-runner

horse that is in the leading group during the race.

Gallop

gait of a horse. When the horse streches its forefoot ahead and its hind legs behind.

Garçon de voyage

person who accompanies the horse to the racecourses.

Gelding

male horse that has been castrated.

Gentleman rider

amateur rider authorized to participate in a race.

Gestation

period before the birth of a foal.

Girth

a big and flat leather and cloth band, holding the saddle.

Gray

coat with mixed dark and white hairs.

Ground

state of the track.

Group race

an elite race, for the most prestigious horses.

Half-bred

horse having only one thoroughbred parent, or a horse crossbred between two halfbreds.

Handicap Race

race in which the favoured runners are imposed some disadvantages. For gallop, each runner has a certain weight to run with; for trot, the favoured runners have to start off a distance handicap. The aim is to give every horse an opportunity to win.

Handicap

in trotting races, position from where a horse starts, according to the amount won by the competitors.

Handle

total amount of money wagered on a race.

Harness

the whole of pieces to equip a horse for the race.

High Weight

term used in galop races to indicate the highest weight carried in a race by a horse.

Hind legs

horse's hind legs.

Hoof

the foot of the horse.

Horse box

car used to move horses.

Horse breaking

process used with young horses to get them be ridden by the jockey and to obey his/her orders.

Horse certificate

ID card of a horse.

Hurdle

fence made of heath.

Hurdle-racer

a horse specialized in hurdle racing.

Hurdling (race)

jumping race which course is marked out by fences which height and depth are usually lower than one metre.

Harness (to)

to attach the sulky to a horse.

Inédit

(french) a horse that has never participated in a race.

Inquiry

made by the stewards to check that no irregularities have been made during the race. It is announced to the audience through the speekers and displayed on the screens.

Jockey

person whose job is to ride horses in races.

Juges aux allures

(from the French, judges for gait). In trotting races, judges watching the race from a car that follows the horses from the inner track. They have to make sure that no horse breaks into gallop or irregular trot.

Jump racing

one of the three types of racing.

Key

horse that has got serious chance to win a race and on which the bet is based.

Lane

fixed or movable line, which delineate the inside and outside part of the track. The race track can be right or left handed. It also means the place of each horse in a flat race.

Leader

the horse leading during the race.

Listed Race

race under conditions, with good quality horses. Below a group race.

Maiden

a horse that has never won a race.

Mare

female horse of 5 years old or older.

Martingale

piece of harness preventing the horse from rearing or the reins to be on the same side after the horse moves its head.

Miler

horse that runs in 1600 metres races.

Mobile start

start with a mobile barrier consisting of two folding arms attached to a motor vehicle. Mobile starts are used for some harness races,where the horses follow the barrier until the arms fold back and the race starts.

Musique

past performances of a horse, including details of its last races.

N.R.

abbreviation that stands for "non-runner" (before the race)

Non placed (N.P.)

horse that does not finish within the ten first of the race.

Nose

nostril of a horse

Oats

food for horses

Origins

pedigree of a horse

Outsider

horse not considered likely to win the race.

Overreach boots

protection for the legs from injuries, especially when the forefoot hit the hind legs.

Owner

physical or moral person owning one or more horses for training. Every owner has to get the "autorisation de faire courir" (authorization for his/her horses to be allowed to run) before presenting on a racecourse. This authorization is delivered after an inquiry by mother companies according to the type of race. After approval, the owner has to "declare its colours", respecting some rules: readability, shades and patterns.

Oxer

type of horse jump.

Pacer

horse setting the pace for another horse of the team.

Paddock

place where the horses are brought before the race to be shown in the racecourse.

Papier (faire le)

to study the performances, the pedigree, the aptitudes of each runner of a race in order to publish the tips.

Penetrometer

instrument to mesure the state of the ground.

Photo finish

equipment used by the placing judges to determine the official order of finish, especially for tight orders of finish. The equipment is situated in front of the finish line to avoid any contestation.

Placing judges

racing officials in charge of setting the official order of finish. Sometimes, the distance between two horses is so tiny that it is necessary to use the foto finish to set the official orden of finish.

P.M.H.

from the French "Pari Mutuel Hippodrome" (Racecourse Parimutuel). Type of wagering that allows to register the bets on each racecourse when there are races.

P.M.U.

from the French "Pari Mutuel Urbain". System that allows to register the bets in town, everyday when there are races, until 1.30 p.m. or later in some cases.

Parade ring

enclosure where the horses are presented to the public. Some journalists, the owners and the trainers have only access to the walking ring. The jockeys come to the trainer to know about the personality of the horse, its behaviour in the previous races,and to plan a strategy for the coming race.

Riding boots

shoes used by the jockey or by the driver.

Racecourse

race track.

Racing time per km

average time for a horse to run each kilometer of a course.

Rail Ditch and Fence

fence which depth is 4.10 metres and height 1.60 metres. It requests efforts and skill from both the horses and the jockeys.

Redboard

method of declaring the result of a race official by posting a red light on the tote board.

Refuse

when a horse do not obey the jockey. In jumping races, when the horse balk at a fence.

Rein

each strap connected to the harness and used to guide the horse.

Relegated

horse running against other horses of inferior value.

Riding breeches

calf-length trousers worn by jockeys and drivers.

Riding crop

stick used by the jockey.

Roan

coat of the horse; mixture of red and white hairs.

Rules of Racing

code that includes for each type of race all the rules for the public races on every racecourse in France. That includes the conditions under which the horses are selected, the way they are identified, the rules for entry, the type of events, the rules for the start and the finish, the rights and obligations of the owners, the trainers and the jockeys, the possible estimations and sanctions for irregularities.

Selective gait

sustained gait

Set down

when a jockey is set down for a certain period of time, he/she does not have the right to ride a horse in official races.

Saddle

seat of the jockey, on the back of the horse.

Silk

jacket worn by the jockey to designate the colours of the owner of a horse.

Sortir l'argent de la poche

in French, when a horse is in a very good condition. It incites the gambler to bet on it.

Sprinter

a horse that shows preference for short distances, from 1000 to 1300 metres.

Stable-lad

person who takes care of the horses in a stable.

Stallion

male horse used for breeding purposes.

Standard distance

distance of 2400 metres in flat racing.

Starter

person responsible for starting the races. The authorization is given to the starter from the judges. The judges count the runners, and from this moment, no jockey is allowed not to run, except under serious cirumstances.

Starting gate

in steeplechase and trot racing, elastics between two posts, removed when the race starts. The runners have to be at the same level. This is not easy, especially in trot races including handicaps. That is why for trot races, an electro-mechanical structure is used.

Starting stalls

in gallop races, device in which the horses are ranked according to the order choosen drawing odds, between the inside running rail, the inner track, and the outside.

Stayer

a horse that likes long distance courses.

Steeplechase

(the name comes from early races in which orientation was by reference to a churche steeple) jumping race for horses. This type of race is 3000 metres or more and includes at least 8 varied and difficult obstacles.

Stewards

the persons responsible for the smooth progress of the races. They have an extended power of decision: cancelation of events, modification of placings...

Stirrup

ring on each side of the saddle into which the jockey places his/her feet.

Stocking

white markings below the knees of a horse.

Stud Book

registry where the genealogy of the different races of horses is registered.

Stud Farm

a stable where horses are breeded.

Sulky

light two-wheeled cart used in harness racing.

Trial

before a jumping race, the horses have to qualify by jumping the trial fence.

Tip

confidential and supposedly authentic information.

To stretch

to increase the horse's speed by increasing its stride.

Trainer

the person who progressively prepares a horse for racing, and who ensures its ideal physical conditions.

Traquenard

irregular trot. The horse gallops with the hind legs and trots with the forelegs. This gait is prohibited in the races and leads to the disqualification of the horse.

Trot

one of the three types of races.

Trotter

horse that runs in trotting races. To participate in a race, every trotter has to run a qualifying race, with a given time and a given distance (according to its age). The horses are selected during this race. The trotter can participate in races from 2 years old until 10 years old, which can often make it famous.

Turf

grass on which races are run. Also, everything related to horse racing.

Turfer

person who goes at the racecourses, who bets.

Under starter's orders

means that the horse is waiting to enter the stalls, to wait behind the tape or to volte.

Waiting race

staying behind during the race and making the move at the final fence.

Wall

a jump for steeplechase races.

Warm up

slow canter before the beginning of the race to warm up the horse.

Water jump ("rivière")

fence of approximately 6,50 metres wide, which means an 8 metres jump.

Weighing enclosure

enclosure including the weighing room, the paddock and the gallery.

Weighing room

official place where jockeys have their weight confirmed.

Weight Allowance

weight reduced in some races, either to apprentices or to jockeys who won a limited number of races.

Weight scale

distribution of the weights between the horses of a race.

Weigh in/Out

certification, by the clerk of scales, before or after the race, of the jockey's weigh. If it is inferior to the weigh assigned for the race, the horse can be left behind. If it is superior of 1,5 kilo to the assigned weigh for the race, the jockey can be fined or banned.

Winner

horse that crosses the finish line first.

Winning post

post that marks where the finish line is.

Wooden track

track made of shaving of wood and of sawdust, used for the training of thoroughbreds.

Yearling

thoroughbred horse of one year old, the 1st of January following is birth.