field
Preserved but no longer current.
The whole of the runners in a race of any kind. "A FIELD of fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter." In betting phraseology the FIELD represents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to the favourite. "The FIELD for a pony," means that the offerer will lay 25l. against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up amongst the others.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “field” mean?
The whole of the runners in a race of any kind. "A FIELD of fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter." In betting phraseology the FIELD represents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to the favourite. "The FIELD for a pony," means that the offerer will lay 25l. against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up amongst the others.
Is “field” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.