Horseracing Terminology | J - K - L

J

Joint Favourites

When a sportsbook or bookmaker cannot separate two horses or teams for favouritism, they are made joint favourites.

Judge

The person who declares the official placing for each race.

Juice

The bookmaker's commission, also known as vigorish or vig.

Jumper

Steeplechase or hurdle horse.

Jolly

The favourite in a race.

Judge

The official who determines the finishing order of a race.

Juvenile

Two-year-old horse.

K

Key Horse

The main expected winning horse used in multiple combinations in an exotic wager.

Kite

UK slang for a cheque ('Check' in the US).

L

Late Double

A second daily double offered during the latter part of the program. See 'Daily Double' above.

Lay Off, Layoff

Bets made by one bookmaker with another bookmaker, in an effort to reduce his liability in respect of bets already laid by him with investors.

LBO

Acronym for 'Licensed Betting Office' in the UK.

Leg In

To nominate one runner to win with a selection of other runners. This is possible on Forecast, Quinella, Trifecta, Quartet and Superfecta (eg. Quinella bet with selection 4 to win, from runners 5, 7, 8 and 9 to come second, in any order).

Length

A measurement approximating the length of a horse from nose to tail, about 8 feet, used to denote distance between horses in a race. For example, "Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths".

Lengthen

The opposite of 'Shorten'. Referred to odds getting longer, that is, more attractive to the bettor.

Listed Race

A stakes race just below a group race or graded race in quality.

Lock

(As in 'Banker') US term for an almost certain winner. Easy winner.

Long Odds

More than 10:1.

Long Shot

(Also, Outsider) An runner is often referred to as being a long shot, because of the fact it is returning high odds and is therefore deemed to have little chance of winning the race.

Lug In(Out)

Action of a tiring horse, bearing in or out, failing to keep a straight course.