Horse Racing Abbreviations
Explained — UK Guide 2026
Confused by UR, PU, BD, NB, BF, RPR, C&D or any other horse racing abbreviation? This is the complete UK guide — covering race result codes, form guide symbols, ratings abbreviations, tipster terms and betting jargon. Every abbreviation explained with its betting implications.
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Horse racing has its own language — and nowhere is that more obvious than in the results tables and form guides published by the Racing Post and At The Races. Whether you're reading a race card, interpreting a horse's recent form, or trying to understand why your each-way bet paid out (or didn't), these abbreviations are essential knowledge for any UK punter.
This guide covers every major abbreviation you'll encounter in UK horse racing — from race result codes like UR (Unseated Rider) and PU (Pulled Up), to form guide symbols like BF (Beaten Favourite) and C&D (Course and Distance winner), to ratings abbreviations like RPR (Racing Post Rating) and OR (Official Rating).
Race Result Codes
12 abbreviationsThese abbreviations appear in race results and indicate why a horse did not finish — or how it was placed. Understanding them is essential for reading form guides and knowing whether your bet is settled as a win or a loss.
UR is one of the most searched horse racing abbreviations — and for good reason. It means the jockey was dislodged from the saddle during the race, most commonly at a fence or hurdle in National Hunt racing, but the horse itself did not fall over. The horse may have continued galloping around the course riderless. UR is different from a Fall (F), where both horse and rider come down. In flat racing, UR is rare and usually happens at the starting stalls or in a tightly-packed field.
PU is the most common non-completion result in horse racing, particularly in jump racing. The jockey deliberately pulls the horse up — stopping it from continuing the race — usually because the horse is exhausted, has gone lame, is jumping badly, or the jockey is concerned about the horse's welfare. A responsible jockey will always pull up a horse rather than risk serious injury. The term is sometimes written as P in older form guides. PU does not mean the horse fell — it means the race was deliberately stopped by the jockey. In some race records you may see this displayed as "p" in the horse's form string.
The horse was knocked over or tripped by another horse that had already fallen in front of it — through no fault of the horse or jockey. BD is considered an unlucky result and is relevant when assessing future form.
The horse fell during the race — both horse and jockey came down, usually at a fence or hurdle. A fall is different from UR, where only the rider is dislodged. Falls are assessed carefully by handlers and vets on course.
In jump racing, RO can mean either Refused (the horse stopped and would not jump a fence or hurdle) or Ran Out (the horse swerved and bypassed the obstacle entirely). Both result in the horse failing to complete the course.
The horse lost its footing on the track — most commonly on a bend or when the going is very soft or heavy — and slipped, causing the jockey to be unseated or the horse to fall without hitting a fence.
The horse was impeded and forced out of the race by another horse — carried wide or off the track. Like BD, this is an unlucky result caused by the actions of another horse rather than the horse's own performance.
The horse was disqualified after the race — most commonly following a stewards' enquiry that found it had caused interference, or after a failed post-race dope test. A DSQ can happen to the winner, which changes the result entirely.
A walkover occurs when all other horses in a race are withdrawn, leaving one horse to walk the course unopposed and be declared the winner. This is extremely rare and usually results in bets being voided or settled at odds of 1/1 depending on the bookmaker's rules.
The horse was declared as not running before the race — most commonly due to injury, illness, unsuitable ground conditions, or a trainer's decision to withdraw. Non-runners are declared up to 48 hours before a race during the declaration process.
RTR indicates the horse was caught and returned to the jockey or handler after losing its rider — but the horse did not complete the race under jockey control. This is an uncommon result code seen in National Hunt racing.
OB can refer to a horse being placed on Obstruction (disqualified for interference) or — in commentary context — describes a horse travelling "on the bridle," meaning it's running freely and comfortably with reserves in hand. Context determines meaning.
Form Guide Abbreviations
10 abbreviationsForm guide abbreviations appear in the string of letters and numbers next to a horse's name — e.g. 1-23F1. Numbers show finishing positions; letters show specific outcomes. Here's how to decode them all.
📖 How to Read a Horse's Form String
Form strings read oldest to newest, right to left — the rightmost entry is the most recent race. Numbers 1–9 show finishing position; 0 means finished 10th or worse. Letters indicate non-completion or special outcomes. A dash (–) separates different racing seasons.
BF in a horse's form guide means it was the market favourite for that race but did not win. A horse with multiple BF entries may be considered unreliable under pressure — though context matters (close second as favourite is very different to finishing last).
C&D is one of the most valuable form indicators in UK racing. It means the horse has previously won at this exact racecourse AND over this exact distance. This proves the horse handles the unique characteristics of the track and trip. A C&D winner should always be noted.
The horse has previously won at this racecourse, but not necessarily over today's distance. Course experience is valuable — particularly at tracks with unusual layouts like Epsom, Chester or Goodwood.
The horse has previously won over today's distance, but not necessarily at this racecourse. Proves the horse stays the trip, which is especially important when stepping up in distance or running over an unusual distance like 1m3f.
The horse is wearing blinkers — a piece of headgear that restricts peripheral vision to help the horse focus. First-time blinkers (sometimes marked as "1B" or "(B)") are often a significant positive signal from trainers trying to improve focus and racing enthusiasm.
In a form string, P usually means Pulled Up. However, in some formats it can indicate a finishing position of 10th or beyond. Context determines which — in jump racing P almost always means Pulled Up. In flat racing form, check the race type.
0 in a horse's form string means it finished 10th or lower — not that it didn't place or finish. Since form strings only show single digits, any finishing position of 10 or more is shown as a 0. Context matters: 0 in a 30-runner handicap is very different from 0 in a 10-runner field.
Unexposed is not an abbreviation but a crucial term you'll see in tipster columns and Racing Post analysis. It refers to a horse that has had very few runs and whose full ability has not yet been revealed. Trainers often target these horses in specific races when they believe the horse has more to offer than the form book suggests.
Ratings & Performance Abbreviations
6 abbreviationsTipster & Newspaper Terms
5 abbreviationsNB stands for Next Best — it is a tipster's second-strongest selection of the day, after their Nap (Number One Pick). If you see a tipster's column showing "Nap: 2:30 Kempton — Desert Crown" and "NB: 4:00 Newmarket — Star Dancer," the NB is their second most confident tip. The NB is sometimes also called the "Best of the Rest" or "Second String." Many serious punters follow both the Nap and NB from trusted tipsters. Note: NB does NOT stand for "Note Bene" in this context — it is purely a tipster term.
The Nap is a tipster's strongest selection of the day — their most confident tip. The word is derived from the card game Napoleon, where "going nap" meant staking everything on one hand. Following a tipster's Nap is the most common way to follow tipping columns in the Racing Post, The Sun, The Mirror and other newspapers.
An each-way (E/W) bet is effectively two bets — a win bet and a place bet — each at the same stake. The place part pays out if the horse finishes in a specified number of places (usually top 3, 4 or 5 depending on field size and race type). Each-way terms vary by bookmaker and race.
The Tote pools all bets on a race together and divides the pool among winners, minus a deduction. Tote odds fluctuate right up to the off and are not fixed like bookmaker odds. Tote Win, Exacta, Trifecta and Placepot are popular Tote bets in UK racing.
Betting Terms & Jargon
8 abbreviationsA handicap race is one where horses carry different weights based on their Official Rating, designed to give every horse an equal chance of winning in theory. The best horse carries the most weight. Handicaps account for a large proportion of UK racing — they are particularly popular with punters due to their competitiveness and value.
Ante post betting means betting on a race well in advance — weeks or months before the event. You usually get better odds ante post but risk losing your stake if the horse is withdrawn (non-runner). Most ante post bets on major races like the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup are no-refund if your selection doesn't run.
An accumulator (ACCA) is a single bet combining multiple selections — all must win for the bet to pay out, but the winnings from each selection roll over to the next, creating much larger potential returns. Four or more selections make a four-fold, five a five-fold, and so on.
BSP is the starting price determined by Betfair's betting exchange at the off. It is derived from the exchange market itself and can differ significantly from the traditional SP. Some bookmakers offer BSP as a pricing option.
Going & Track Abbreviations
8 termsThe "going" describes the state of the ground on a racecourse. It significantly affects race times and outcomes — some horses are specialists on firm ground, others thrive in the mud. The going is measured using a device called a GoingStick and expressed on a standardised scale.
The GoingStick is the standardised device used by racecourses to measure ground conditions. It produces a numerical value (the penetrometer reading) that determines the official going description. A reading below 3.0 is considered Soft or Heavy. A reading above 12.0 is Firm. Most courses use it as the primary reference for going updates published by the BHA.
Fast ground — generally the preferred going for flat horses in summer. GoingStick reading approximately 9.0–11.5. Races run on GF tend to produce the fastest times of the season.
Ideal going — the majority of horses run their best form on Good ground. GoingStick reading approximately 7.0–9.0. Neutral and consistent. Most horses with no going preference perform well here.
Transitional going — beginning to ease. Reading approximately 5.5–7.0. Horses that prefer cut in the ground start to come into their element here. National Hunt races are often run on GS.
Wet, testing ground. Reading approximately 3.5–5.5. Races are harder to win on soft ground — horses require greater stamina. Some jump horses are specifically trained to be at their peak on soft ground. Flat horses from speed-focused yards often struggle.
Extreme winter ground — waterlogged and very testing. Reading below 3.5. Races in heavy going become severe tests of stamina and jumping ability. Fields are often smaller as trainers withdraw horses unsuited to the conditions. Heavy going specialists are a niche but profitable angle.
Tapeta is one of three main all-weather racing surfaces used at UK tracks (alongside Polytrack and Fibresand). It is used at Wolverhampton, Kempton (since 2014 closure — now Lingfield) and Newcastle. All-weather horses often show very different form to turf form — always check if a horse has run on the surface before.
Full glossary
Quick Reference Table — All Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full Name | Category | Brief Description | Bet Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UR | Unseated Rider | Result | Jockey fell off — horse didn't fall | Bet Lost |
| PU | Pulled Up | Result | Jockey deliberately stopped horse | Bet Lost |
| BD | Brought Down | Result | Knocked over by another horse | Bet Lost |
| F | Fell | Result | Horse and jockey fell | Bet Lost |
| RO | Refused / Ran Out | Result | Refused or bypassed fence | Bet Lost |
| SU | Slipped Up | Result | Lost footing on track | Bet Lost |
| CO | Carried Out | Result | Forced off track by another horse | Bet Lost |
| DSQ | Disqualified | Result | Disqualified after stewards' enquiry | Bet Lost |
| NR | Non-Runner | Result | Withdrew before race | Stake Returned |
| RTR | Returned to Rider | Result | Horse caught after losing rider | Bet Lost |
| BF | Beaten Favourite | Form | Was market fav but didn't win | Form Note |
| C&D | Course & Distance | Form | Won at same track and trip | Positive Sign |
| C | Course Winner | Form | Won at this track before | Positive Sign |
| D | Distance Winner | Form | Won over this distance before | Positive Sign |
| B | Blinkers | Form | Horse wearing blinkers headgear | Form Note |
| P | Pulled Up / 10th+ | Form | PU in jumps / 10th+ in flat form | Check Context |
| 0 | 10th or Worse | Form | Finished outside top 9 | Form Note |
| RPR | Racing Post Rating | Independent performance rating | Form Tool | |
| OR | Official Rating | BHA handicap mark | Form Tool | |
| TS | TopSpeed Rating | Speed-based performance figure | Form Tool | |
| SP | Starting Price | Official odds at race start | Odds Type | |
| NB | Next Best | Tipster | Tipster's 2nd best selection | Tip Term |
| NAP | Nap — Best Bet | Tipster | Tipster's strongest selection | Tip Term |
| E/W | Each Way | Betting | Win + Place double bet | Bet Type |
| HCP | Handicap | Race Type | Horses carry weight by rating | Race Type |
| GF | Good to Firm | Fast summer ground | Ground Info | |
| GD | Good | Ideal neutral ground | Ground Info | |
| GS | Good to Soft | Easing ground conditions | Ground Info | |
| SFT | Soft | Wet, testing conditions | Ground Info | |
| HVY | Heavy | Extreme winter ground | Ground Info |
Common questions
Horse Racing Abbreviations — FAQs
UR stands for Unseated Rider — the jockey was dislodged from the saddle during the race. This is different from a Fall (F), where the horse also comes down. UR most commonly occurs at fences in National Hunt racing. All bets are lost when a horse is marked UR.
PU stands for Pulled Up. The jockey deliberately stopped the horse before the finish line — usually because the horse was exhausted, lame, or not performing well enough to safely continue. It is the most common non-completion result in jump racing. All bets are lost.
BD stands for Brought Down — the horse was knocked over by another horse that had fallen in front of it. It is considered an unlucky result because it was caused by external circumstances rather than the horse's own performance. All bets are lost.
NB stands for Next Best — it is a tipster's second-strongest selection of the day, after their Nap (best tip). You'll see NB used in Racing Post columns, newspapers and tipping sites. It does not mean "note well" in horse racing context — it is purely a tipping term.
RPR stands for Racing Post Rating — an independent performance figure published by the Racing Post after each race. It measures how well a horse performed relative to others. An RPR of 160+ for a jumper or 120+ for a flat horse indicates a top-class performer. RPR is separate from the Official Rating (OR) set by the BHA.
C&D stands for Course and Distance winner — the horse has previously won at the same racecourse AND over the same distance as today's race. A C&D winner is considered a strong positive in form study as it proves the horse handles those specific conditions. It is one of the most valuable form indicators in UK racing.
BF stands for Beaten Favourite — the horse started as the market favourite in that race but failed to win. Consistent BF entries can suggest unreliability, though context matters greatly. A close second as favourite on a career-best RPR is very different from finishing 10th.
A 0 in a horse's form string means it finished 10th or lower in that race. Since form strings can only show single digits (1–9), any finishing position of 10 or beyond is shown as 0. Always check the full race record to see the exact finishing position and field size before drawing conclusions.