Glossary of Racing Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
M
machine: See battery.
magnetic therapy: Physical therapy technique using magnetic fields. The low-energy electrical field created by the magnetic field causes dilation of the blood vessels (vasodilation) and tissue stimulation. Magnetic therapy may be used on soft tissue to treat such injuries as tendinitis or bony (skeletal) injuries such as bucked shins.
maiden: 1) A horse or rider who has not won a race. 2) A female who never has been bred.
maiden race: A race for horses who have not-yet won their first race.
mane: Long hairs growing on the crest of the horse's neck, usually kept clipped to about six inches in length for neatness, or decoratively braided.
mare: Female horse five-years old or older, or a younger female horse who has given birth.
Mare's Month: September. In theory, because mares who have not run well during the summer often "wake up" in September. A myth based on old traditions of equine sexism.
mash: Soft, moist mixture, hot or cold, of grain and other feed that is easily digested by horses.
massage: Rubbing of various parts of the anatomy to stimulate healing.
medial: Pertaining to the middle in anatomy, nearer the medial plane (the horizontal plane that bisects the center).
medication list: A list kept by the track veterinarian and published by the track and Daily Racing Form (when provided by track officials), showing which horses have been treated with legally prescribed medications.
metacarpal (fracture): Usually refers to a fracture of the cannon bone, located between the knee and the fetlock joint in the front leg. Also may refer to a fracture of the splint bone.
mid-body (fracture): See sesamoids.
middle distance: Broadly, from one mile to 1-1/8 miles.
minus pool: A mutuel pool caused when a horse is so heavily played that, after deductions of state tax and commission, there is not enough money left to pay the legally prescribed minimum on each winning bet. The racing association usually makes up the difference.
money rider: A rider who excels in rich races.
monkey-on-a-stick: Type of riding with short stirrups popularized by 19th Century riding great, Tod Sloan.
monorchid: A male horse of any age who has only one testicle in his scrotum. (The other testicle was either removed or is undescended. See cryptorchid; ridgling.)
morning glory: Horse who performs well in morning workouts, but fails to reproduce that form in races.
morning line: Probable odds on each horse in a race, as determined by a mathematical formula used by the track handicapper, who tries to gauge both the ability of the horse and the likely final odds as determined by the bettors.
muddy (track) A condition of a racetrack which is wet, but has no standing water.
mudder: A horse who races well on muddy tracks. Also known as a mudlark.
musculoskeletal system: Consisting of the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints of the head, vertebral column and limbs, together with the associated muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints
mutuel field: See entry.
mutuel pool: Short for pari-mutuel pool. Sum of the wagers on a race or event, such as the win pool, daily double pool, exacta pool, etc.
muzzle: 1) Nose and lips of a horse. 2) A guard placed over a horse's mouth to prevent her/him from biting or eating.
