You may come across a few words during your race experience that you won’t have come across anywhere else...

...We have chosen a few of the important ones to help you on your way;

Accumulator - A multiple bet which can offer big dividends if all selections win

Back - To bet.

Backed - A 'backed' horse is one which lots of bets have been placed.

Backward - A horse that is either too young or not fully fit.

Banker - Highly expected to win.

Break Maiden - A horse or rider winning the first race of a career.

Clerk of the course - The official responsible for overall management of the racecourse, including the going, at Ripon this is James Hutchinson.

Colours - The silks worn by the jockey; distinguishable by colour and pattern.

Club enclosure - Ripon’s premier enclosure stand for viewing the races.

Each Way - A bet on both a win and a place (2nd or 3rd). This is essentially 2 bets.

Paddock - Ripon’s biggest enclosure; offering a race viewing stand, a series of bars and access to the parade ring.

Filly - In thoroughbred racing, a female horse of four years and younger.

Front runner - A horse whose running style is to attempt to get on or near the lead at the start and stay there as long as possible.

Furlong - An eigth of a mile. A one-mile race would be eight furlongs.

Going - description of the course conditions under-foot which is decided by the Clerk of the Course. This can be found on our homepage leading up to the race a long with a weather forecast.

Handicap - A race in which the horses are assigned specific weight in order to bring about an equal contest.

Juvenile - A term that is used to describe a two year old horse.

Maiden - Horse which has not yet won a race.

Weighed in - The certification, by the clerk of the scales, of a rider's weight before (and after) a race to make sure the horse carried the right weight.