Bet back: Action taken by a bookmaker when he is heavily committed to a horse and spreads some of the risk by investing with other bookies or the totalisator.

Best Bet: The selection that racing journalists and tipsters nominate as their strongest selection of the day.

Each Benchmark point equals half a kilogram.

Benchmark: under this system, operating in NSW, the weight a horse carries at its next start is determined immediately after its previous race, according to the merit of that run.

Battler: A trainer, jockey or bookmaker who just manages to make a living from his full-time involvement in horse racing.

Each horse has a stall or place randomly allocated in the barrier draw for the race.

Barriers: Starting barrier used to keep horses in line before the start of a race.Banker: A key selection in an exotic bet which must win, or run a particular place to guarantee any return.

Bank teller job: A horse considered such a near certainty that a bank teller could invest ‘ borrowed’ bank funds and replace them without detection.

Bagman: Bookmaker's employee responsible for settling bets on course.

Also, punters who keep backing a particular horse are said to 'back up.'

Back up: To race a horse soon after its latest engagement.

Backed off the map: A horse which has been heavily supported resulting in a substantial decrease in odds.

Backed In: A horse whose odds have shortened.

B.: An abbreviation for a bay horse as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books.

Asparagus: Name given to a punter who arrives on course with a stack of 'mail', hence: more tips than a tin of asparagus.

Approximates: The TAB prices horses are showing before a race begins.

Recent rule changes have resulted in an increase in the maximum amount able to be claimed-from 3 kg to 4 kg. It varies from 4 kg to 1.5 kg depending on the number of winners the apprentice has ridden.

Apprentice allowance: Reduction in the weight to be carried by a horse which is to be ridden by an apprentice jockey.

Recent rule changes allow older riders just starting out to work their way through their 'apprenticeship'.

Apprentice: A young jockey, usually under 21 years of age, who is still in training.

This bet wins if the horses you select come anywhere in the first 3 placings, 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd or 1st and 3rd.

Any2: A new type of bet in Australia, very popular in Hong Kong.

All Up: A Type of Bet where the winnings of one race is carried over to the next race and so forth.

Aged: A horse seven years old or older.

Acceptor: A horse confirmed by the owner or trainer to be a runner in a race.

10-50s: Binoculars with magnification of 10x50 mm.750s: Binoculars with magnification of 7x50 mm.

Starters orders 6 blinkers