OR / OFR (Official Rating)
the mark the BHA handicapper assigns a horse based on its performances. Determines the weight carried in handicaps. Higher = rated better.
Forty terms you will meet on any racecard, grouped by how you use them. Jump straight to a term with the index below.
the mark the BHA handicapper assigns a horse based on its performances. Determines the weight carried in handicaps. Higher = rated better.
the Racing Post's own performance rating, adjusted for weight. Often differs from the official rating; a horse with an RPR well above its OR may be "well handicapped."
a speed figure based on race times, adjusted for conditions. Complements form ratings by measuring how fast, not just where finished.
the ground condition, from Hard through Good to Heavy on turf, Fast to Slow on all-weather. Many horses have a strong ground preference; it's one of the most important conditions to check.
UK races are graded Class 1 (best) to Class 7. Moving down in class means facing weaker opposition; class droppers are always worth a second look.
a race where horses carry different weights set by their official rating, designed to give every runner a theoretical equal chance.
the handicap's eligibility range: only horses rated within it can run. A horse rated near the ceiling carries top weight.
the starting stall number in flat races. At some tracks and distances, low or high draws carry a real advantage.
recent finishing positions, most recent on the right. Symbols: 0 = finished outside the first nine, dash = season break, P/PU = pulled up, F = fell, U/UR = unseated rider, R = refused.
how long since the horse's previous race. Long absences can mean fitness questions; some horses go well fresh.
aids like blinkers (b), cheekpieces (p), visor (v), hood (h), tongue tie (t). First-time headgear (marked 1) can signal a trainer trying something to spark improvement.
the official odds at the off, used to settle most bookmaker bets.
the exchange's starting price, typically bigger than SP on outsiders. The benchmark serious bettors measure results against.
a bet split in two: half to win, half to place. The place part pays a fraction of the odds (commonly 1/4 or 1/5) if the horse finishes in the places.
the finishing positions that count for each-way: usually 2 in races of 5-7 runners, 3 in 8+, 4 in handicaps of 16+.
a deduction from winnings when a horse is withdrawn after you've bet, sized by the withdrawn horse's odds. Our Rule 4 calculator works it out.
a declared horse withdrawn before the race. Stakes are returned on win singles; Rule 4 may apply to others in the race.
a tipster's most confident selection of the day.
the total weight including jockey and equipment, from the racecard (e.g. 9-8 = 9 stone 8 pounds). Jockey claims reduce it.
an apprentice or conditional rider whose inexperience is offset by a weight allowance (7, 5, or 3 lb), shown in brackets.
a horse that races at the head of the field. Marked in our run-style classifier; front-runners can be hard to peg back on speed-favouring tracks.
settled at the rear early, delivered late. Needs pace in front of it and a clear run; vulnerable in no-pace races.
raced close behind the leaders. The tactical middle ground.
our flag for the only confirmed front-runner in a race: an uncontested lead is a big tactical edge.
our forecast of how a race will be run based on each runner's style: contested pace suits closers, no pace suits those up front.
a horse whose price shortens sharply through market support.
the opposite: a horse whose price lengthens, often read as a negative signal.
shorter than evens: you stake more than you win (e.g. 1/2 returns £1.50 per £1).
1/1: win the same as your stake.
when the odds are bigger than the horse's true chance. Backing value, not just winners, is how profit is made long-term.
the bookmaker's built-in margin: the percentage by which the book exceeds 100%. Lower is fairer.
a race for horses yet to win (or a horse that hasn't won).
a race for horses early in their careers over that discipline (e.g. novice hurdle: hurdle winners of the current/previous season allowed limited wins).
the elite tier: Group 1-3 on the flat, Grade 1-3 over jumps. Above the class system's handicap grades.
just below Group/Graded level, still black-type quality.
a non-handicap where weights are set by fixed conditions (age, sex, penalties) rather than ratings.
extra weight carried for a recent win before the handicapper revises the mark. On racecards it shows beside the official rating as e.g. "OR 82 · 5 pen · 87", the last figure is the mark the horse effectively races off, and all site angles judge that figure.
the standard allowance younger horses receive against elders, scaled by distance and time of year.
a horse whose strength is long distances (typically 1m6f+ flat, 3m+ jumps).
travelling comfortably without urging versus being pushed along. "Won with plenty in hand" usually means never off the bridle.