Call
Running position of horses in a race at various points.  

Cannon Bone
The third metacarpal (front leg) or metatarsal (rear leg), also referred to as the shin bone. The largest bone between the knee and ankle joints.  

Chalk
Wagering favorite in a race. Dates from the days when on- track bookmakers would write current odds on a chalkboard.  

Chalk Player
Bettor who wagers on favorites.  

Chart
A statistical "picture" of a race (from which past performances are compiled), that shows the position and margin of each horse at designated points of call (depending on the distance of the race), as well as the horses' age, owner, trainer, driver, and the race's purse, conditions, payoff prices, odds, time and other data. 

check(ed)
When a driver slows a horse due to other horses impeding its progress.  

Chestnut
1) A horse color which may vary from a red-yellow to golden- yellow. The mane, tail and legs are usually variations of coat color, except where white markings are present. 2) Horny, irregular growths found on the inside of the legs. On the forelegs, they are just above the knees. On the hind legs, they are just below the hocks. No two horses have been found to have the same chestnuts and so they may be used for identification. Also called "night eyes."  

Chute
Extension of backstretch or homestretch to permit a straight running start in a race as opposed to starting on or near a turn.  

Claiming
Process by which a licensed person may purchase a horse entered in a designated race for a predetermined price. When a horse has been claimed, its new owner assumes title after the starting gate opens although the former owner is entitled to all purse money earned in that race.  

Claiming Box
Box in which claims are deposited before the race.  

Claiming Race
A race in which each horse entered is eligible to be purchased at a set price. Claims must be made before the race and only by licensed owners or their agents who have a horse registered to race at that meeting or who have received a claim certificate from the stewards.  

Clocker
One who times workouts and races.  

Closer
A 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 is closest to the clubhouse facility; usually the first turn after the finish line.  

Colic
Abdominal pain caused by a problem in a horse's digestive system.

Colors (horse)
Colors accepted by The Jockey Club are bay, black, chestnut, dark bay or brown, gray, roan and white. 

Colt
An ungelded (entire) male horse four-years-old or younger.  

Condition Sheet
Issued by a racing secretary and sets forth conditions of races to be run for the coming week. 

Conditioner
1) A trainer. 2) A workout or race to enable a horse to attain fitness.  

Conditions
The requirements of a particular race. This may include age, sex, money or races won, weight carried and the distance of the race.  

Conformation
The physical makeup of and bodily proportions of a horse.

Connections
Persons identified with a horse, such as owner, trainer, rider and stable employees.  

Consolation Payoff
A multi-race wager payoff resulting from a horse being a late scratch.  Consolation payoffs are always significantly less than the actual payoff. 

Cooling Out
Restoring a horse to normal temperature, usually by walking, after it has become overheated during exercise. All horses that are exercised are cooled out.  

Coupled (entry)
Two or more horses running as an entry in a single betting unit.  

Crop
 1) The number of foals by a sire in a given year. 2) A group of horses born in the same year -- An average crop of three-year-olds. 3) A jockey's whip.

Cuppy (track)
A dry and loose racing surface that breaks away under a horse's hooves.  

Cushion
Top portion of a racetrack.