plural in Horse Racing, Coursing, etc., the sums of money staked or subscribed by the owners who enter horses or dogs for a contest, the whole to be…

money added by a racing association, etc., to the stakes (cf. stake, n.2 3); frequently attributive.

A heavy stake.

(a) money placed as a bet that a horse, etc., will finish second or third (North American second only) in a race; (b) prize-money awarded for…