Style Guide
Sources: Associated Press, American Horse Publications (PDF)
Clichés to Avoid
Damon Runyon, “Runyonesque”
Racing’s fading glory, the death of racing
Seabiscuit (comparison to)
Sparkling, scintillating (as descriptions of performance; also, coruscating)
“The boys” (as in, a female taking on …)
Grammar and Usage
Abbreviations: Write out the full form on first usage, unless the abbreviation or acronym is familiar or standard usage (TOBA, NYRA).
Colon (introducing the final clause): Letter following capitalized.
Serial comma: Required.
He/she/him/her: Horses are referred to by the appropriate gendered pronoun, not “it” or “its,” unless the sex of the horse is unknown.
They/their: Acceptable as a singular gender-neutral pronoun.
Numbers
Ages: Abbreviated in headlines (2YO, 3YOs), written out in text (3-year-old, for 3-year-olds and up). When referring to age “at,” write out numbers less than 10 (at age two, at age 11).
Distances: Whole numbers written out (six furlongs, one mile). Fractional distances and distances more than one mile written as numerals (5 1/2 furlongs, 1 1/16 miles, 12 furlongs).
Grades/Groups: Abbreviated in headlines and on second reference (G1, G2, G3), written out and capitalized on first reference (Grade 1, Group 1).
Lengths: Whole numbers less than 10 written out (one length, three lengths). Fractional length less than one written out (half-length, three-quarters of a length). Fractional lengths and lengths more than 10 written as numerals (1 3/4 lengths, 31 lengths).
Poles: Written out (at the quarter pole, at the three-sixteenths pole, in the final sixteenth).
Career records: Wins for total (3-for-4, 19-for-20), total-win-place-show (20-19-1-0).
Times: Tenths preferred. Written as numerals, using colon to denote seconds, period tenths (1:06.98, :23.45).
Words and Phrases
account wagering, abbreviated ADW/ADWs
handride
headstrong
longshot
offshore
off-track
on-track
runner-up
saddlecloth
Beyer speed figure (BSF)
a tick = equals 1/5 or .2 seconds
Thoroughbred
undefeated = three or more wins
