Here is an example of the Sporting Post Racecard Form.
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RACE COMMENTS explained
AR ………………… Ability Rating, ability shown on the track (handicap rating)
B……………………. supported in the betting market
bdly………………… badly
blkd………………… baulked for a run
blft………………….. blinkers first time
blwg……………….. the horse finishes blowing, usually a sign of pain or fright
bmp……………….. horse was bumped
btm………………… pulled the bit through mouth
chlg………………… changing legs
chkd……………….. choked up in running
cmpndd…………… compounded
cgh…………………. coughing, often a sign of bleeding
crmpd…………….. cramped
D……………………. drifted markedly in the betting market
dckd……………….. ducked away from whip
d/h…………………. dead heat
disq………………… disqualified
dna………………… did not act in the going
dr-………………….. runner unfavourably drawn
dr out……………… dropped out
drrein……………… jockey dropped rein
drwhp……………… jockey dropped whip
dw………………….. the horse didn’t break on terms and lost the specified number of lengths(if any)
epis1/2/p……… epistaxis, broke a bloodvessel
1 – 1st episode = 2mths suspension
2 – 2nd episode = 2 or 6mths suspension
p – 3rd episode = permanent suspension
easd……………….. eased
evch……………….. every chance
far………………….. the horse raced far off the pace and was given too much to do
fdd…………………. faded
fltrd………………… faltered
gr…………………… green
gronb……………… green on bend
hah………………… horse won ridden hands and heels
hbw………………… held by winner
hndy……………….. the horse races close to the pacemaker
hng………………… the horse hangs
jst fld………………. just failed, ran on and a winner in a few more strides
L……………………. Line horse, used for handicapping the runners in that race
lame/lm…………… horse is reported lame (lmn/f = lame near fore)
lst jck………………. lost jockey
lst irns…………….. jockey lost stirrup irons
lstsh……………….. lost shoe/s
lt…………………….. late
midf/md…………… the horse raced in midfield
nhs…………………. no hind shoes
ntclr………………… the horse didn’t have a trouble free run
ntprsv……………… not persevered with, something amiss
ntstrj……………….. Jockey says horse not striding out but vet. finds nothing wrong
ntstr……………….. Vet. says horse not striding out
ntsttl……………….. the horse doesn’t settle and fights the jockey
nvrinit……………… never in it
nvrnrr……………… never nearer
no x………………… no extra
opcy……………….. open company, 2yos running against older horses
ovrrch……………… overreach injury
pace……………….. the horse sets the pace
rspns………………. breathing noise
rspdis……………… respiratory distress
rspinf………………. respiratory infection
rtg………………….. refused to gallop
ro…………………… the horse runs on at the finish, usually from off the pace
ro wll………………. the horse runs on well from off the pace
rr……………………. the horse runs from the rear position
RR…………………. Race Rating (Ability Rating adjusted for weight carried in this race)
sa…………………… jockey felt something amiss with the horse in running
sdls………………… the saddle slips, horse cannot be assisted
slow……………….. the horse lost more than just a few lengths
stl it………………… stole a big lead and could not be caught
shftd……………….. shifted from whip
ss…………………… surgical shoes
std………………….. stood still in stalls at the off
stmbld…………….. stumbled
styd………………… stayed on
temp………………. temperature
tni…………………… took no interest
tob……… the horse has his tongue over the bit, cannot be assisted
trd hrd…………….. fought hard over the final 200m
trs………………….. the horse gives trouble at the start
ttd………………….. tongue tied down
wd………………….. raced wide
wdob………………. raced wide on bend
wga………………… won going away
whp abs………….. whip abuse
wn………………….. won
® …………………… Roving Banker
*…………………….. Horse is likely to run to the rating
?……………………. Not consistent
1st/2nd……………. the horse finishes first, but is placed second on objection
(blank space)……… the horse races off the pace, making no impression