market horse
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A horse kept in the betting-lists for the sole purpose of being betted against.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
[N]othing is easier than to make sure […] that the horse selected, in the event of the public fancying him, shall be made a market horse, and be “milked” for the benefit of those interested: the losing of a race may at any time be ensured, and there are scores of “turf dairymen” who are reputed adep
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “market horse” mean?
A horse kept in the betting-lists for the sole purpose of being betted against.
Is “market horse” formal or informal?
market horse is generally slang.