Glossary of Australian and New Zealand Punting - F

F

• f.: An abbreviation for a filly, as it appears in race books, pedigrees and stud books.
• Facing the breeze: Horse on the outside that can't get past the leader in trotting races.
• Failed to give a yelp: Said of a horse that, although expected to go well, runs down the track.
• Farrier: A person who shoes the horses.
• Favourite: The horse which is quoted at the shortest odds in a race.
• Field bet: To incorporate all of the runners in a race in one combination of an exotic bet.
• Filly: A female Thoroughbred less than four years of age.
• Firm: To shorten in the betting, generally because of the weight of money being invested.
• First Four: An exotic type of wager picking the first four finishers in exact sequence.
• First up: The first run of a horse in a new preparation.
• Flip of the coin: The odds available are quoted at even money.
• Flying handicap: A sprint race generally of less than 1200 metres.
• Foot on the till: Expression indicating that a horse is ready to win.
• Form : A horse’s record of past performances.
• Fractions: The cents left over after TAB dividends are rounded down to the lower 10 cents.
• Front-runner: A horse that performs best when allowed to run along at the head of the field.
• Furlong: An eighth of a mile (220 yards).