ITV Racing Buzz Word Bingo
Ever found yourself nodding off to the rhythmic cadence of racing pundits repeating the same phrases over and over? You’re not alone. ITV Racing’s commentary team has developed a language all its own – a special dialect of racing speak that’s as predictable as it is perplexing. Why not turn this verbal merry-go-round into entertainment with our ITV Racing Buzz Word Bingo?
How To Play
The rules couldn’t be simpler. Print this card before the next ITV Racing broadcast, grab a pen, and mark off each phrase as you hear it. First to complete a line? Shout “BINGO!” at your television (though the presenters won’t hear you). Bonus points if you can predict which pundit will say which phrase before they open their mouths.
Your Official ITV Racing Buzz Word Bingo Card
What These Phrases Actually Mean
“Ticks all the boxes”
What it means: I can’t think of anything specific to praise about this horse, but I don’t want to admit that.
“Very taken with”
What it means: I saw this horse run once and thought it looked pretty. That’s my analysis.
“Eye-catching”
What it means: The horse lost, but I’m tipping it anyway because it looked nice losing.
“Coming off the bridle”
What it means: People LOVE saying this to sound smart. “The bridle” is the headpiece and reins that horses wear. If a horse is off the bridle, it means he’s being worked particularly hard.
“He’s got a lot of horse between his legs”
What it means: This phrase is laced with delicious innuendo and is always a good one to use when describing a strong, powerful horse. Refer to it as “a machine” for bonus points.
“Form was franked”
What it means: I was right before, so surely I must be right now too.
“Pushed the button”
What it means: First things first, there is no button on a horse – trust us, we’ve checked. But horse racing is all about tactics, so jockeys need to pick the perfect moment to strike and then… yup, push the button.
The ITV Racing Commentary Hall of Fame
Each presenter has their signature phrases too. Listen out for:
- Jason Weaver: Master of the rubber bridle explanation and fond of telling us horses are “spot-on for this assignment.”
- Rory Delargy: Can’t resist telling us a horse “ticks all the boxes” before declaring it “very hard to get away from.”
- The Commentators: “Turn up the volume, and I’ll meet you at the first turn” – following the French school of race commentary that leaves the viewer in peace for those precious few seconds at the start.
Expert Level Play
For the true connoisseurs, try our advanced rules:
- Double points for any phrase uttered while the speaker is wearing a hat that matches their tie
- Triple score if the phrase is used three times in the same race analysis
- Instant win if a pundit uses more than five buzzwords in a single sentence
Conclusion
Next time you find yourself settling in for an afternoon of ITV Racing, armed with your betting slips and a cup of tea, don’t forget your bingo card. It might not make you any richer, but it will certainly make the coverage more entertaining.
And remember, as racing pundits love to say about longshots – “you’ve got to be in it to win it!”
Which racing clichés drive you mad? Share your favourites in the comments below – they might just make it onto next month’s card!
