A horse racing racecard brings together the key information about a race and the horses taking part. At first glance, the combination of numbers, letters, weights and abbreviations can seem complicated, but each element tells you something specific about the race or runner.
Racecards can include recent form, the horse’s age, weight, Official Rating, jockey, trainer, draw and previous course or distance wins. They can also display the latest betting odds.
Learning how to read this information makes it easier to understand what you are looking at before a race. If you are completely new to the sport, our How to Bet on Horse Racing guide provides a broader introduction to horse racing betting and the different markets available.
What Is a Horse Racing Racecard?
A racecard is a guide containing information about a particular horse race and the runners entered to take part.
At the top, you will usually find information about the race itself, such as the racecourse, start time, distance and race conditions.
Each horse then has an individual entry containing information such as:
- Horse name and racecard number
- Recent form
- Age and sex
- Weight
- Official Rating
- Jockey and trainer
- Draw, where applicable
- Headgear
- Course and distance records
- Betting odds
The exact layout and abbreviations can vary between racecards, but the core information is generally similar.
What Information Is Shown at the Top of a Racecard?
Before looking at individual horses, it is useful to understand the race itself.
A racecard can show the scheduled start time, racecourse, race name, distance and type of race. It may also provide details such as the race class or grade, age restrictions, number of runners, prize information and surface or going.
For example, you might see a race listed as:
15:30 Newmarket – 1m 2f
This tells you that the race is scheduled for 15:30 at Newmarket and is run over one mile and two furlongs.
The race conditions provide context for the information shown alongside each horse.
What Does Race Distance Mean?
British and Irish horse racing distances are commonly displayed using miles and furlongs.
There are eight furlongs in one mile, while one furlong is 220 yards.
Common racecard distances include:
5f – five furlongs
6f – six furlongs
1m – one mile
1m 2f – one mile and two furlongs
2m – two miles
Looking at the distance helps you understand the type of race being run and lets you compare it with the distances over which a horse has competed previously.
Previous performances over the same distance can provide useful historical information, but they do not guarantee how a horse will perform next time.
What Does the Going Mean in Horse Racing?
The going describes the condition of the racing surface.
On turf, common descriptions include Firm, Good to Firm, Good, Good to Soft, Soft and Heavy.
These descriptions provide information about how firm or soft the ground is on the day.
All-weather racing uses artificial surfaces, so different terminology and surface descriptions may appear.
The going is another piece of information that can be considered alongside a horse’s previous form. However, no particular going description automatically means a horse will run well or badly.
What Is a Horse’s Racecard Number?
Each runner is assigned a racecard number to make it easy to identify.
For example:
- Silver Star
Here, 4 is the horse’s racecard number and Silver Star is its name.
The racecard number should not automatically be confused with the horse’s starting stall. In Flat races where starting stalls are used, the draw may be displayed separately.
What Does the Draw Mean on a Racecard?
The draw identifies the starting stall allocated to a horse in races where stalls are used.
For example:
- Silver Star (7)
In this example, Silver Star is horse number 4 on the racecard but has been allocated stall 7.
The importance of a particular draw can vary depending on factors such as the racecourse, distance and number of runners.
The draw is primarily associated with Flat racing. It should not be assumed that every horse race will have a stall number.
How to Read Horse Racing Form Figures
Form figures provide a quick summary of a horse’s recent racing results.
A horse might have form displayed as:
521
Reading from left to right, this indicates finishes of fifth, second and first, with the most recent run generally shown furthest to the right.
Another horse could have:
21436
This represents finishes of second, first, fourth, third and sixth across its recent races.
Form figures provide a quick way of reviewing recent results, but they do not tell the whole story. Race distance, ground, competition, weight and other conditions may have differed between those performances.
What Do 0 and 9 Mean in Horse Racing Form?
Finishing positions from first to ninth are normally represented by their corresponding numbers.
For example:
1 = First
2 = Second
3 = Third
9 = Ninth
A 0 generally means the horse finished 10th or lower.
Importantly, 0 does not mean the horse failed to finish the race. Separate letters and abbreviations are used for many non-completions.
Common Horse Racing Form Abbreviations
Horse racing uses several abbreviations to explain what happened when a horse did not record a standard finishing position.
Common examples include:
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| P / PU | Pulled Up |
| F | Fell |
| U / UR | Unseated Rider |
| R | Refused |
| BD | Brought Down |
| RO | Ran Out |
The notation can vary slightly between racecard providers, so check the relevant racecard key if you encounter an unfamiliar abbreviation.
These letters provide important context. For example, a horse displaying F in its recent form fell rather than finishing in a numbered position.
What Do Hyphens and Slashes Mean in Horse Form?
You may also see hyphens or slashes within a horse’s form figures.
These separators help distinguish performances across different periods or racing seasons. A hyphen can commonly indicate a change of season or year, while a slash may indicate a longer break between groups of runs, depending on the racecard convention being used.
The precise formatting can vary between providers.
The important point is that a form string should not always be treated as one uninterrupted series of races. The separators can provide additional context about when those performances occurred.
What Do C, D and CD Mean on a Racecard?
Letters such as C and D can appear alongside a horse’s form to highlight previous winning experience.
C means Course winner. The horse has previously won at the racecourse.
D means Distance winner. The horse has previously won over the relevant distance.
CD means Course-and-distance winner. The horse has previously won over both the course and distance.
For example, if Silver Star has CD next to its name, the horse has previously recorded a win over the relevant course and distance.
These abbreviations describe previous results. A CD next to a horse’s name does not mean it will win again.
What Does BF Mean in Horse Racing?
BF commonly stands for Beaten Favourite.
It indicates that the horse started as the betting favourite on the relevant previous run but did not win.
For example, a horse may have attracted enough market support to start as favourite but finished second.
BF provides information about the horse’s previous race and betting position. It should not be interpreted as a prediction of what will happen in its next race.
Understanding a Horse’s Age and Sex
Racecards usually display the age of each runner and may also use an abbreviation to indicate its sex.
For example:
5yo g
This means a five-year-old gelding.
Other common terms include colt, filly, mare and horse or stallion.
Age can also form part of the conditions of a race, with some events restricted to horses within particular age groups.
What Does Weight Mean on a Horse Racing Racecard?
The weight a horse is due to carry is usually displayed in stones and pounds.
For example:
9st 4lb
There are 14 pounds in one stone, so this means the horse is carrying nine stone and four pounds.
Different horses can carry different weights depending on the type and conditions of the race.
In handicap races, weight is particularly important because horses can be allocated different weights according to their ratings.
However, it would be misleading to assume that the horse carrying the least weight is automatically the most likely winner. Weight is only one element of the race.
What Does OR Mean on a Racecard?
OR stands for Official Rating.
The Official Rating is an assessment assigned by the relevant racing handicapper and is used in the handicapping system.
You might see:
Horse A – OR 95
Horse B – OR 89
Horse A therefore has a higher official assessment than Horse B.
The OR can influence the weight a horse carries in handicap races. However, a higher rating does not guarantee that the horse will finish ahead of a lower-rated runner in a particular race.
Some racecards also display other performance or speed ratings. These should not automatically be confused with the Official Rating, as different providers can use their own rating systems.
Understanding the Jockey and Trainer
Racecards normally show both the jockey and trainer for each runner.
The trainer is responsible for preparing the horse for racing, while the jockey rides the horse during the race.
You may also see statistics relating to their previous results. These can provide historical information about a jockey’s or trainer’s recent record, but past statistics do not guarantee the outcome of the upcoming race.
Some jockey names may also have a number displayed next to them, such as:
- Rider (5)
Where applicable, this can indicate that the jockey claims a 5lb allowance, reducing the effective weight carried by the horse under the relevant race conditions.
What Do Headgear Abbreviations Mean?
Racecards can also indicate whether a horse is wearing particular equipment or headgear.
Common abbreviations can include:
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| b | Blinkers |
| p | Cheekpieces |
| v | Visor |
| h | Hood |
| t | Tongue-tie |
You might also see something such as b1, which can indicate first-time blinkers under the relevant racecard convention.
Headgear information tells you what equipment the horse is using. It does not mean that the equipment will necessarily improve the horse’s performance.
What Does Days Since Last Run Mean?
Some racecards display the number of days since a horse last raced.
For example:
21 days
This tells you that its previous race took place 21 days earlier.
A horse that has not competed for several months will naturally show a much larger figure.
This information provides context about how recently the horse has raced, but there is no universal number of days that automatically represents a positive or negative sign.
How Are Betting Odds Shown on a Racecard?
Alongside the information about each horse, you may see betting odds such as:
2/1
5/2
4/1
10/1
These are fractional odds. Depending on the platform or your settings, prices may also be displayed in decimal format.
Odds represent the price available for a selection and determine the potential return if the bet wins. They can change as the race approaches.
Horse racing also commonly uses the concept of Starting Price. If you have seen SP displayed on a racecard or betting market, our guide to What is Starting Price (SP)? explains what it means and how it differs from taking an available price earlier.
What Happens If a Horse Is Removed From the Racecard?
Racecards can change before a race if a horse is withdrawn and becomes a non-runner.
A non-runner is a horse that was entered for the race but does not ultimately take part. This can affect existing wagers, and the treatment of the bet can depend on the type of wager and applicable rules.
If one of your selections is withdrawn, our guide to What happens to your bet if a horse is a non-runner? explains how non-runners can affect singles and multiples.
Checking the latest racecard before the race can therefore help you identify any changes to the field.
Example of How to Read a Racecard Entry
Putting everything together makes racecards much easier to understand.
Consider this fictional entry:
- Silver Star (7) 521 CD BF
5yo g | 9st 4lb | OR 92
J: A. Rider
T: B. Trainer
Here’s what each part means:
4 – Silver Star’s racecard number.
Silver Star – The horse’s name.
(7) – The horse has been allocated stall 7.
521 – Recent finishing positions of fifth, second and first, with the latest result generally on the right.
CD – The horse has previously won over the course and distance.
BF – The horse was a beaten favourite on the relevant previous run.
5yo – The horse is five years old.
g – The horse is a gelding.
9st 4lb – The weight shown for the horse.
OR 92 – The horse has an Official Rating of 92.
J – Identifies the jockey.
T – Identifies the trainer.
Once you recognise these individual elements, a line of racecard information becomes much easier to interpret.
What Should You Look at First on a Horse Racing Racecard?
A useful starting point is to look at the race itself before concentrating on individual horses.
Check the distance, race type, going or surface and any important race conditions. You can then look at the runners and their recent form.
From there, information such as previous course and distance wins, age, weight, Official Rating, jockey, trainer and draw can provide additional context.
Finally, the available betting odds show the current prices for each runner.
No single figure or abbreviation tells you which horse will win. A racecard is primarily a way of organising information about the race and its participants.
Does a Racecard Tell You Which Horse Will Win?
No. A racecard provides historical and factual information rather than a prediction of the race result.
A horse may have strong recent form, a previous course-and-distance victory or a high Official Rating and still lose its next race.
Likewise, betting odds indicate the price available for each runner rather than guaranteeing how the race will finish.
Horse racing contains many uncertain variables, which is why racecard information should be used to understand the runners and conditions rather than treated as a guaranteed method of identifying a winner.
Understanding Horse Racing Racecards
Horse racing racecards become much simpler once you know the most common figures and abbreviations.
Remember:
C = Course winner
D = Distance winner
CD = Course-and-distance winner
BF = Beaten Favourite
OR = Official Rating
F = Fell
P/PU = Pulled Up
U/UR = Unseated Rider
Recent finishing positions are generally displayed as numbers, with the most recent result furthest to the right. The racecard number identifies the horse on the card, while a separate number in brackets can indicate its draw or starting stall where applicable.
Racecard formats can differ, so check the relevant key if you encounter an unfamiliar symbol or abbreviation.
When using a racecard at NetBet Sport, take time to understand the race conditions and information attached to each runner before considering a wager. Horse racing results remain uncertain, so only bet what you can afford to lose.
Horse Racing Racecard FAQs
What do the numbers on a horse racing racecard mean?
Numbers can represent different information depending on where they appear. A horse has a racecard number, may have a separate draw or stall number and normally has form figures showing recent finishing positions. In a standard form sequence, the most recent result is generally shown furthest to the right.
What does CD mean on a horse racing racecard?
CD indicates that the horse has previously won over the course and distance. C indicates a previous course win, while D indicates a previous win over the relevant distance.
What does 0 mean in horse racing form?
A 0 in a horse’s form generally means it finished 10th or lower. It does not mean the horse failed to finish. Non-completions are usually represented by abbreviations such as F for Fell, P or PU for Pulled Up, and U or UR for Unseated Rider.
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