allowance race: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialist, Formal
Quick answer
What does “allowance race” mean?
A horse race in which the weight each horse must carry is adjusted according to its past performance, age, or sex.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A horse race in which the weight each horse must carry is adjusted according to its past performance, age, or sex.
A specific type of competitive event in horse racing designed to create fairer competition by assigning different weights to participants.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both British and American horse racing terminology.
Connotations
Technical and rule-based; implies a structured, graded form of competition.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language; only used within the specific subculture of horse racing.
Grammar
How to Use “allowance race” in a Sentence
The [horse] is entered in an allowance race.The [racecourse] scheduled an allowance race for three-year-olds.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of sports betting, equestrian business, and racecourse management.
Academic
Used in academic papers on equine sports, animal performance, or gambling studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside of racing enthusiasts.
Technical
Core technical term in horse racing rulebooks and breeding/racing publications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “allowance race”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “allowance race”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “allowance race”
- Confusing it with a 'handicap' race (where weights are assigned by a handicapper to equalise chances) or a 'claiming' race (where horses are for sale).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In an allowance race, weights are assigned based on set conditions like age, sex, or previous wins. In a handicap race, a handicapper assigns weights specifically to try and equalise every horse's chance of winning.
The horse's trainer and owner, in consultation, decide which race to enter based on the horse's ability, development, and the specific conditions of the race.
It is a specialist term with no meaning outside of horse racing. A general language learner would not need to know it unless they have a specific interest in the sport.
It is very common within the world of horse racing and thoroughbred breeding but is extremely rare in general English usage.
A horse race in which the weight each horse must carry is adjusted according to its past performance, age, or sex.
Allowance race is usually specialist, formal in register.
Allowance race: in British English it is pronounced /əˈlaʊəns reɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈlaʊəns reɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
An ALLOWANCE RACE ALLOWS for weight adjustments to make the race fairer.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAIRNESS IS BALANCED WEIGHT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary distinguishing feature of an 'allowance race'?