Call: Running position of horses in a race at various points.
Cannon bone: Third metacarpal (front leg) or metatarsal (rear leg), also referred to as the shinbone; largest bone between knee and ankle joints.
Center of Distribution: Formula derived from Dosage profile and a similar attempt to quantify speed and stamina.
Chalk: Wagering favorite in a race that dates from days when on-track bookmakers wrote current odds on a chalkboard.
Chart: Statistical "picture" of a race (from which past performances are compiled) that shows position and margin of each horse at designated points of call and other data.
Checked: When a jockey slows a horse due to rivals impeding a runner's progress.
Chef-de-race: List of superior sires used in Dosage formula.
Chestnut: Horse color that may vary from a red-yellow to golden-yellow while mane, tail and legs are usually variations of coat color except where white markings are present.
Chute: Extension of backstretch or homestretch to permit a straight running start in a race as opposed to beginning on or near a turn.
Claim: Process by which a licensed person may purchase a horse entered in a designated race for a predetermined price; new owner assumes title after starting gate opens although former owner banks to all purse money earned in race.
Claiming race: Contest in which each horse entered is eligible to be purchased at a set price.
Classic: Race of traditional importance or term to describe an American distance such as a mile or 1 ¼ miles.
Climbing: When a horse lifts the front legs abnormally high while galloping, causing the animal to run inefficiently.
Clocker: One who times workouts and races.
Closer: Horse that runs best in the latter part of the race, coming from off the pace.
Clubhouse turn: Generally the turn on a racing oval that's closest to the clubhouse, usually the first turn after the finish line.
Colt: Ungelded male horse 4-years-old or younger.
Commingle: Combining pari-mutuel pools from off-track sites with the host track.
Condition books: Series of booklets issued by a racing secretary that sets forth conditions of races to be run at a particular track.
Conditioner: A trainer, workout or race to enable a horse to attain fitness.
Conditions: Requirements of a particular race that may include age, sex, money, races won, weight carried and distance of the contest.
Connections: Persons identified with a horse, such as owner, trainer, rider and stable employees.
Coupled: Two or more horses running as a single betting entry in a race.
Cracked hoof: Vertical split of hoof wall; cracks may extend upwards from the bearing surface of the wall or downward from the coronary band.
Crop: Number of foals by a sire in a given year or a group of horses born in the same year.
Cuppy (track): Dry, loose racing surface that breaks away under a horse's hooves.
Cushion: Top portion of a track.
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