In thoroughbred horse racing, an entry has two primary meanings depending on the context.
Basic Definition
An entry fundamentally means a horse made eligible to run in a race. This refers to the formal process by which owners or trainers submit their horses to compete in specific races through the racing secretary’s office.
Coupled Entry (Betting Unit)
More commonly in racing terminology, an entry refers to two or more horses owned by the same stable or trained by the same trainer that run as a single betting unit. When horses in a race share common ownership or training, they are “coupled” together and treated as one betting interest.
Important Distinctions
- Horses with different ownership but trained by the same person are not automatically coupled and constitute separate wagering interests
- If one horse from a coupled entry is scratched after betting begins, the remaining horse runs as a single betting entry
- Most tracks limit coupled entries to no more than two horses in overnight races
This system ensures fair betting practices when horses have potential conflicts of interest due to shared connections, while maintaining the integrity of wagering pools.