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Horse Racing Terms Trivia Quiz

Imagine your best friend is taking you to a horse race. You are totally clueless and baffled by the terms you hear around you. Fortunately your friend can explain.

A multiple-choice quiz by catamount. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
catamount

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
181,015

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2351

Last 3 plays: poohfaber (8/10), winston1 (2/10), chianti59 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. While waiting for the first race to begin, you hear people talking excitedly about "colours". What do they mean? Hint

Different denominations of betting slips

Colours worn by the gangs that control horse racing

Colours of horses

The jacket and cap worn by a jockey

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. A black horse is led past you. The person beside you calls it a "sophomore". What does he mean by that? Hint

A horse that has been trained at an elite academy

A dark coloured horse

A horse that has never run a race

A three-year old horse

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. You look at your betting slip. There are different races that use the term "furlong". You ask your friend what a "furlong" is. What does he tell you? Hint

A horse with a shaggy coat

A weight the horse has to carry

A unit of length

One horse year as compared to human years

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Your friend looks over your shoulder at your betting choices for the three furlong race and says; "Don't bet on this one, he's a stayer." What is a "stayer"? Hint

A horse that has been owned by the same person for its entire career

A horse that refuses to leave the starting gate

A horse that performs best over long distances

A horse that has run more than fifty races

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. "This one's a sure winner", says your friend. "I've got it from the ginney". What is a "ginney"? Hint

A bookmaker

A groom

A part-owner of a race horse

A jockey

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. You are amazed to hear your friend talk about "quarter horses". They all seem whole horses to you. What does the term mean? Hint

A horse that is stabled at the race track

A horse that has a quarter of its career left

A breed of horse used in harness racing (from cart horse)

A breed of horse that performs best over a quarter mile

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The next race is listed as a "handicap race". Your friend has gone to get some hotdogs, so you try to figure out what it means by yourself. Hint

Each horse has to carry a certain weight

Each horse has a flaw of some sort

Each jockey has a physical disability

Each horse starts at a different starting point

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. You see some horses with bandages on their legs. You ask your friend if they are hurt. What does he say?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In the last race, several horses finish very close together. Your friend says something but you can't hear because of the crowd yelling. What is this kind of finish called? Hint

Sleeping bag finish

Towel finish

Table cloth finish

Blanket finish

10. After the race you and your friend stop at the paddock to admire the horses. "I wouldn't pay much for this one", you overhear a guy next to you say. "She's slipped before". What did the horse do? Hint

Aborted her foal

Fell back from the lead position

Fell during a race

Declined in pace over several races

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 12 2024 : poohfaber: 8/10
Apr 07 2024 : winston1: 2/10
Apr 04 2024 : chianti59: 6/10
Mar 26 2024 : ranjanbest: 6/10
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 147: 10/10
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 90: 8/10
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 65: 10/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 51: 8/10
Feb 28 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. While waiting for the first race to begin, you hear people talking excitedly about "colours". What do they mean?

Answer: The jacket and cap worn by a jockey

Another term for jockeys' wear is "silks", even though today it's often nylon.

2. A black horse is led past you. The person beside you calls it a "sophomore". What does he mean by that?

Answer: A three-year old horse

A one-year old is called a yearling and a two-year old a juvenile.

3. You look at your betting slip. There are different races that use the term "furlong". You ask your friend what a "furlong" is. What does he tell you?

Answer: A unit of length

A furlong is 40 rods or 660 feet, or 1/8 mile.

4. Your friend looks over your shoulder at your betting choices for the three furlong race and says; "Don't bet on this one, he's a stayer." What is a "stayer"?

Answer: A horse that performs best over long distances

Since a furlong is 1/8 of a mile, three furlongs are less than half a mile. A stayer would not perform as well on this short distance.

5. "This one's a sure winner", says your friend. "I've got it from the ginney". What is a "ginney"?

Answer: A groom

Thought to come from "guinea", the traditional award to the groom of a winner.

6. You are amazed to hear your friend talk about "quarter horses". They all seem whole horses to you. What does the term mean?

Answer: A breed of horse that performs best over a quarter mile

They were originally bred in Virginia.

7. The next race is listed as a "handicap race". Your friend has gone to get some hotdogs, so you try to figure out what it means by yourself.

Answer: Each horse has to carry a certain weight

The weights are determined by the racing secretary, according to a horse's past performances and assessment of its ability.

8. You see some horses with bandages on their legs. You ask your friend if they are hurt. What does he say?

Answer: No

Many trainers keep bandages on their horses all the time for protection, or support during a race.

9. In the last race, several horses finish very close together. Your friend says something but you can't hear because of the crowd yelling. What is this kind of finish called?

Answer: Blanket finish

The horses are so close together they could be covered by a blanket.

10. After the race you and your friend stop at the paddock to admire the horses. "I wouldn't pay much for this one", you overhear a guy next to you say. "She's slipped before". What did the horse do?

Answer: Aborted her foal

A normal equine pregnancy is 340-342 days long. Abortion occurs in 5-15% of pregnancies. Abortion is more detrimental to the selling price of a horse than infertility or barrenness.

Source: Author catamount

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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