stake race: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialised, Technical (Racing/Gambling)
Quick answer
What does “stake race” mean?
A horse race in which the owners of the horses contribute to the prize money, typically with additional funds from the racecourse or sponsors.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A horse race in which the owners of the horses contribute to the prize money, typically with additional funds from the racecourse or sponsors.
A competitive event, especially in horse racing, where participants must pay an entry fee (stake) to compete for a pooled prize; by extension, any high-stakes competition where significant investment or risk is involved.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical in both varieties, though slightly more common in American racing terminology (e.g., referring to the 'Breeders' Cup' races as stake races). The structure of stake races (e.g., claiming races, handicaps) may have different prevalence in each country's racing calendar.
Connotations
Conveys prestige, high prize money, and serious competition in both varieties. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language but standard within the horse racing community in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “stake race” in a Sentence
[Horse] runs in a stake race[Owner] enters [horse] in a stake race[Racecourse] hosts a stake raceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stake race” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The owner decided to stake race his new filly at Royal Ascot.
- They are staking racing their champion for the first time this season.
American English
- The trainer is planning to stake race the colt in the Belmont Derby.
- He staked raced his best horse in the Kentucky Oaks.
adverb
British English
- The horse ran stake-race fast.
- They campaigned him stake-race aggressively.
American English
- The filly is training stake-race well.
- He bought the yearling stake-race expensively.
adjective
British English
- The stake-race calendar is packed this summer.
- It was a stake-race quality performance.
American English
- The stake-race circuit is highly competitive.
- She owns a stake-race prospect.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for high-risk, high-reward business ventures or competitive bidding processes.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or economic studies of gambling/sport.
Everyday
Very rare outside of conversations about horse racing.
Technical
Standard term in horse racing journalism, breeding, and gambling contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stake race”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stake race”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stake race”
- Confusing 'stake race' with 'steak' (meat).
- Using it as a general term for any important race.
- Misspelling as 'steak race'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically related, but not identical. A sweepstake is a type of gambling pool where all stakes are pooled for the winner. A modern stake race is a horse race where entry fees (stakes) form part of the prize money, often with added funds.
It is almost exclusively a horse racing term. Metaphorically, it might describe any high-stakes competition, but this is rare. For other sports, terms like 'championship', 'tournament', or 'prize fight' are used.
In a claiming race, any horse entered can be purchased ('claimed') for a set price after the race. A stake race has no such purchase option; it is purely a contest for prize money, often involving higher-quality horses.
For prestige, to earn significant prize money, to increase the horse's breeding value, and to test its quality against top competition.
A horse race in which the owners of the horses contribute to the prize money, typically with additional funds from the racecourse or sponsors.
Stake race is usually specialised, technical (racing/gambling) in register.
Stake race: in British English it is pronounced /steɪk reɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /steɪk reɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not just a race; it's a stake race.”
- “All eyes are on the season's first major stake race.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a race where competitors must literally 'stake' (put down) money to enter, racing for the pooled 'stake' (prize).
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS GAMBLING / LIFE IS A HORSE RACE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining feature of a 'stake race'?