Kinds of Races
"Claiming" Race: a race with (and sometimes without appreciable) conditions in
which every horse entered is available for the price states in the
Condition Book (as well as the Program). The claiming price is the
factor which keeps a level "field" in these races.
"Allowance"
Race: a race with conditions, but without a claiming price. The
elaborate "conditions" specified in these races (particularly
concerning the horse's racing record) are the factors which keep the
field "even." In these races, all prior earnings from claiming races
- regardless of how much - are disregarded.
"Starter":
An Allowance race in which the basic condition is that the horse has
raced within a given time past in a Claiming race with a stated
price of "X" dollars or less.
"Closed" Race:
A race restricted to "non-winners of three races (or fewer than 3)
of $3,000 other than Maiden, Claiming, or Starter". In short, what
this means is that NO winner of an Allowance Race is eligible for a
Closed Race.
"Stakes" Races:
Races in which the owners of the entered horses contribute to the
purse or price (usually through a nominating fee and an entry fee).
"Added":
If the word appears after purse amount, it means that the Racing
Association (at the track) is "adding" that sum to owners' entry
fees. The Added amount will go to the winner(s) in addition to the
race's purses.
"Handicap"
Races: The Racing Secretary sets conditions and, with a staff
committee, assigns weights to each horse individually based on past
money won, and whether the horse is an Allowance - or Stakes-class
runner.
"Graded" Stake:
Top-of-the-line races which are internationally recognized as such,
with Grade III being the lowest and Grade I being the top.
"Invitational"
Stakes Race: The Racing Association of the current meet in the region
"invites" individual horses to compete in a given (promoted) race,
without requiring the owners to contribute to the purse.
"Match Race":
A special "duel" race (differing from an Exhibition in that it has
wagering and purses) put on by a Track between two "star" horses.
"Substitute
Race": A race, described in the Condition Book for a particular day,
which will be the first to be placed on the official racing card for
that day should any of the "listed" races fail to fill.
