Races less than one mile are known as sprints. Longer races are called routes. Females ages two through four are known as fillies. Older females are called mares. Male horses ages two through four are colts and older males are technically called horses, even though the term is used to describe any equine.
Geldings are males that have been castrated.
All horses are officially registered as born on January 1st. All Thoroughbreds must be related to one of three horses which originated in Syria, Turkey and Morocco and eventually migrated to Europe and then to the United States. All Thoroughbreds must be officially named through the Jockey Club. No Thoroughbred can race in the United States unless it is registered with the Jockey Club. Information about a horses' pedigree and breeder, color, sex and body markings are recorded in Jockey Club files.