For many, horse racing is among the most enjoyable sports in the world. The challenge involved in being a jockey, and the unpredictable nature of horse racing, means that surprises and shocks are common. It is also a sport that, if you were to spend a few days around the jockeys, would sound almost foreign to you. Why? Because horse racing has some of the most unique phrasings in the world.
Here are just a few phrases that are believed to have originated in the paddock.
Give and take
The term ‘give and take’ is most commonly associated with relationships. It is, though, absolutely a horse racing term. The term itself stems from a plate that was awarded to victors in horse racing matches. Sometimes, taller horses would be made to carry extra weight to try and level the playing field and reduce the risk of an obvious winner.
Hands down
Ever heard someone say they won that competition hands down? Then this term is a horse racing term. It is usually associated with meaning that you did something with ease i.e. you didn’t even need to lift your hands. However, it was originally a horse racing term that referred to when a race was won so easily that the jockey could let go of the reigns and just let the horse take them to the finish line.
Run for your money
Another common term from horse racing that has grown into typical day-to-day parlance is run for your money. This used to mean that someone gave as good as they got i.e. ‘that boxer gave the champion a run for their money!’
The original parlance, though, was more to do with the literal process of having to join the race to get paid. Given how easy it is to miss a horse racing match, running for their money was not always easy for a jockey. When someone turns out to be a formidable foe, though, this term is most commonly used – at least in modern language.