A simple guide to the most common abbreviations you will see on racecards and form lines
Racecards are full of abbreviations, and for newer punters they can look more confusing than helpful.
Once you understand them, though, they become one of the quickest ways to assess a horse’s profile, past performance and suitability for the race in front of it.
Below are some of the most common abbreviations you will see in horse racing betting and race analysis.
C – Course winner
D – Distance winner
CD – Course and distance winner
BF – Beaten favourite
F – Fell
PU – Pulled up
UR – Unseated rider
BD – Brought down
RO – Ran out
SU – Slipped up
R – Refused
0 – Finished tenth or worse on the Flat, or ninth or worse over jumps
– – Break between seasons
/ – Longer break from racing
OR – Official Rating
TS – Topspeed rating
RPR – Racing Post Rating
SP – Starting Price
J – Jockey
T – Trainer
Wgt – Weight carried
yo – Years old
AW – All-weather
LTO – Last time out
NR – Non-runner
fav – Favourite
b – Blinkers
v – Visor
h – Hood
p – Cheekpieces
t – Tongue-tie
tb – Tongue-tie and blinkers
tp – Tongue-tie and cheekpieces
w1, w2 – Wind surgery, usually indicating first or second run since the procedure
Headgear can matter because it may help a horse concentrate, settle better, or show improved form under certain conditions.
