British 2yo Racing - Race Form Abbreviations

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British 2yo Racing - Form Abbreviations

The site provides individual run form summaries ordered by date for all trainers, sires and 2yos. For example :-

Horse Run # Date Course Dist Gng RcCls RcTyp SP Postn [Est] Run Style Hdgr Notes

COVER DRIVE 1 14/04/2005 NMKT 5 GF 5 Mcg 2.25 7-8 50 T6 BS-1 PSS, DvErl, T2Hf, Opc-2

LAVA FLOW 1 18/04/2005 WDSR 5 G 5 M 12 8-16 52 2BM CentFar, SwcStdsHf, NIR

FORCES SWEETHEART 1 23/04/2005 LEIC 5 GS 6 M 14 5-10 45 TP PNkHfon Rl, Eff-2, SFdLt

~FINISH~

The majority of the information presented is self explanatory but note that:-

RcCls = Race Class and the current categorisation of 1 (highest quality) through to 7 that the BHB uses.
RcTyp = Race Type. M = Maiden; Auc/Acf = Auction; Nov/Nvf = Novice; Nur/Nrf = Nursery; Nrs = Selling Nursery; Slr = Seller; Clm = Claimer; Sal/Saf = Sales race; Cnd/Cnf/CnC = Conditions race; Lst/Lsf = Listed; Gp1/Gp2/Gp3 = Group Races; G2f/G2c = Gp2 Fillies' only and Gp2 colts & geldings only races. In general any race limited to fillies' only will end in an 'f' and those limited to males (colts & geldings) will end in 'cg' or 'c'.
[Est] = Estimate. B2yoR's own rating of the merit of the performance by the 2yo in that outing. (Note that the scale for these figures relates strongly to the scale B2yoR uses for Paddock Review ratings).
Hdgr = Headgear, i.e. equipment applied to the horse's head which needs to be declared before the race. T = Tongue Tie; B = Blinkers; V = Visor; P = Cheekpieces; H = Hood; E = Eyeshield(s).

The abbreviations used in the the "Run Style" and "Notes" sections do require some further explanation.

1. Run Style:

Used to describe the way the 2yo runs in the race. The abbreviations used are :-

F = Front Run,
P = Press, i.e. actively pressing the leader(s).
T = Track, close to the leaders lead but not trying to go faster.
M = Midfield,
B = Behind, probably because cannot go any faster,
H = Held up, well behind but intentionally held back by the jockey to make a later challenge.

Notes:
* If any of the abbreviations are followed by a number, e.g. P2, T4, etc. then that indicates the position they were in at halfway.
* A number before any of the letters indicates that the field split into at least two groups. The number 1 always indicates the stands' side group and 2 the far side. In such a race it is possible to have two front runners, one for each group.
* If a runner has two letters then this indicates the position after the first furlong and then at halfway. For example BP would normally indicate a runner that made a slow start and then recovered (probably too quickly) to press the pace at halfway.

2. Notes:

The abbreviations used are listed in the table below but one basic idea needs to be described. In any race the distance is split into two parts, before and after halfway and the abbreviation Hf is used for 'halfway'. The use of a + (plus) sign, e.g. +1f, describes something that happened one furlong after the start and before halfway. The use of a minus sign then indicates furlongs from the finish and in the second half of the race. For example Eff-2f means made an effort 2 furlongs from the finish (from whatever position the Run Style indicated).

The minus sign is also used with the Hf abbreviation to indicate how far the horse was behind at halfway. So -3Hf means a runner was 3 Lengths off the lead at halfway and this allows estimates to be made of how much ground was made up/lost and so on.

The Run Style abbreviations are the same in the Notes section.

Abbreviation Description

A Apprentice rider. A7 is a 7lb apprentice, etc.

Adrift, Adf, Af Adrift. Off the back of the main bunch of the field.

Agg, Ag Aggressive.

AP At the post. The period and activity of waiting at the starting to be loaded into the stalls. 'Reared AP' would indicate a horse reared up and fell in this period.

Av Average.

Awk Awkward.

Bmp Bump, bumped with another runner.

BoP Best Of Pace. Indicates a race where the pace has been too strong and all or most of the first four finishers have come from well off the pace. In such a circumstance if a runner survives the pace to finish close up they deserve extra credit.

Brk, B-2 Break from the stalls. B-2 would indicate 2 lengths lost at the start by dwelling in the stalls. [BP-2 would indicate a runner lost ground, 2 lengths in total, both with a slow break from the stalls and a slow pick-up to galloping pace].

Chall, Chl Challenge the leader at some point.

Cmf Comfortably.

Dv Driven along.

Eased, Esd Eased by the jockey.

Eff, Ef Effort. A runner making an active move forward.

Erl Early, as in early in the race.

Fd Fade. Used to denote a runner that lost ground relative to the average runner.

Free, Fre Indicates a free running style, usually going at too strong a pace for the race distance.

Fr, FrSd Far and Far Side. Indicates the far side of a straight course (i.e. the Stands' side is the opposite side of the straight).

Hdd, Hd Headed, as in overtaken at some point.

Hg Hanging.

Hmp Hampered.

Inx, Inex Inexperienced. A horse showing visible signs of being unsure what is required of it (mental inexperience). May occasionally describe a horse who appears to be unused to galloping (as opposed to cantering) at a reasonable pace.

Jcky, Jck, Jk Jockey, i.e. the rider of the horse.

Keep On, Kon, Ko, etc. Keeping On. A good sign showing a positive finish and making ground against the average runner. KON is more strong than KOn, than Kon, etc.

Lh Left handed.

Lo3 Line of 3 (or 4, etc) and indicate a pace duel between more than two runners.

Lt Late in the race, in the last 50-100 yards.

NIR Never in the race. Usually denoting a runner that was off the back of the main group from at early stage (and probably disappeared off the VT picture).

Nk Neck. A distance measurement.

Outpaced, Otpcd, Opcd Indicates a runner lacking the basic speed to go with the race pace or with a runner making an effort.

Ov Overall, i.e. something that happened through most of the race. HgOv means hanging throughout the race.

Pc Pace, the speed of the race.

Plug On, POn, Po, etc. Plugging on. The 'average' runner in effect. Not losing ground against the average but not going forward in the late stages of the race.

Prog Progress.

Prom Prominent.

P, P-1 Pick up slowly, i.e. break ok out of the stalls but then be clueless as to what to do next. P-1 would indicate one length lost because of this inexperience at the start. [BP-2 would indicate a runner lost ground, 2 lengths in total, with a slow break from the stalls and a slow pick-up to galloping pace].

Qkn, Qk Quicken. Rarely used and indicates a runner with unusual ability to speed up and gain ground on the others.

Qt Quiet. Usually used with 'jockey' (JckQt) to indicate a jockey actively doing very little, or with 'ride' (QtRd) to indicate similar.

Rail, RL Rail, raced on the rail. Usually noted when that position has been a notable positive or negative at the meeting.

Rd Ride. How the jockey performs in the race. For example, AggRd means 'aggressive ride' with the jockey visibly & strongly driving the horse along. QtRd means 'quiet ride' and the jockey as 'passenger' and doing as little as possible without (hopefully) drawing attention to his lethargy.

Rh Right handed.

Sd Side. Used to indicate which side of the track a 2yo raced on when the field splits into separate groups. See Stds & FrSd.

Slow, Slw Slow.

Sqz Squeezed out. A runner losing their place, momentum and/or ground by being cut-off by a runner on either side of them.

Stall, Stal Stalled, usually denoting a front runner who goes from running freely and putting the other runners under pressure to being overtaken in a short period.

Stds Stands. Indicates the stands' side of the straight.

Strg, Srg Strong, as in StrgPc = strong pace, etc.

Swc Switch, usually denoting an active manoeuvre by the jockey, possibly in response to others' actions.

Tired, Trd Tired. Stronger than 'Fade'. Indicates a runner that has completely gone and 'walking' home.

TP To Post. The period and activity whereby the runner travels from the parade ring to the starting stalls. 'Bolt TP' would mean the horse bolted with the jockey on the way to the start.

Trbl Trouble.

Tv Travel, how well the runner is handling the pace of the race. TvWL would indicate a runner handling the pace of the race comfortably and looking able to make an effort to gain ground against the average runner.

Wide, Wd Wide. Indicates how many places wide of the rail. For example 3Wd indicates raced three wide. At a course like Chester this is a notable disadvantage because of the extra ground covered. If you watch a field in a 7f race at Catterick, for example, check any runners that are 3 wide or more as they start the left hand bend and see what has happened to them by the straight. Jockeys will occasionally press a horse to make ground wide around a bend and this is always a big negative.

Well, Wl Well.

XF, XB Cross in front of (XF) or behind (XB) the field to a rail. For example, if a runner breaks well from a wide draw and manages to cross to the advantageous rail this needs to be noted. It's no good looking at the draw later and saying how did that one win from stall 1. Crossing behind the field indicates being held up or missing the break and using the opportunity to get to an advantageous position.

Abbreviation	Description
A	Apprentice rider. A7 is a 7lb apprentice, etc.
Adrift, Adf, Af	Adrift. Off the back of the main bunch of the field.
Agg, Ag	Aggressive.
AP	At the post. The period and activity of waiting at the starting to be loaded into the stalls. 'Reared AP' would indicate a horse reared up and fell in this period.
Av	Average.
Awk	Awkward.
Bmp	Bump, bumped with another runner.
BoP	Best Of Pace. Indicates a race where the pace has been too strong and all or most of the first four finishers have come from well off the pace. In such a circumstance if a runner survives the pace to finish close up they deserve extra credit.
Brk, B-2	Break from the stalls. B-2 would indicate 2 lengths lost at the start by dwelling in the stalls. [BP-2 would indicate a runner lost ground, 2 lengths in total, both with a slow break from the stalls and a slow pick-up to galloping pace].
Chall, Chl	Challenge the leader at some point.
Cmf	Comfortably.
Dv	Driven along.
Eased, Esd	Eased by the jockey.
Eff, Ef	Effort. A runner making an active move forward.
Erl	Early, as in early in the race.
Fd	Fade. Used to denote a runner that lost ground relative to the average runner.
Free, Fre	Indicates a free running style, usually going at too strong a pace for the race distance.
Fr, FrSd	Far and Far Side. Indicates the far side of a straight course (i.e. the Stands' side is the opposite side of the straight).
Hdd, Hd	Headed, as in overtaken at some point.
Hg	Hanging.
Hmp	Hampered.
Inx, Inex	Inexperienced. A horse showing visible signs of being unsure what is required of it (mental inexperience). May occasionally describe a horse who appears to be unused to galloping (as opposed to cantering) at a reasonable pace.
Jcky, Jck, Jk	Jockey, i.e. the rider of the horse.
Keep On, Kon, Ko, etc.	Keeping On. A good sign showing a positive finish and making ground against the average runner. KON is more strong than KOn, than Kon, etc.
Lh	Left handed.
Lo3	Line of 3 (or 4, etc) and indicate a pace duel between more than two runners.
Lt	Late in the race, in the last 50-100 yards.
NIR	Never in the race. Usually denoting a runner that was off the back of the main group from at early stage (and probably disappeared off the VT picture).
Nk	Neck. A distance measurement.
Outpaced, Otpcd, Opcd	Indicates a runner lacking the basic speed to go with the race pace or with a runner making an effort.
Ov	Overall, i.e. something that happened through most of the race. HgOv means hanging throughout the race.
Pc	Pace, the speed of the race.
Plug On, POn, Po, etc.	Plugging on. The 'average' runner in effect. Not losing ground against the average but not going forward in the late stages of the race.
Prog	Progress.
Prom	Prominent.
P, P-1	Pick up slowly, i.e. break ok out of the stalls but then be clueless as to what to do next. P-1 would indicate one length lost because of this inexperience at the start. [BP-2 would indicate a runner lost ground, 2 lengths in total, with a slow break from the stalls and a slow pick-up to galloping pace].
Qkn, Qk	Quicken. Rarely used and indicates a runner with unusual ability to speed up and gain ground on the others.
Qt	Quiet. Usually used with 'jockey' (JckQt) to indicate a jockey actively doing very little, or with 'ride' (QtRd) to indicate similar.
Rail, RL	Rail, raced on the rail. Usually noted when that position has been a notable positive or negative at the meeting.
Rd	Ride. How the jockey performs in the race. For example, AggRd means 'aggressive ride' with the jockey visibly & strongly driving the horse along. QtRd means 'quiet ride' and the jockey as 'passenger' and doing as little as possible without (hopefully) drawing attention to his lethargy.
Rh	Right handed.
Sd	Side. Used to indicate which side of the track a 2yo raced on when the field splits into separate groups. See Stds & FrSd.
Slow, Slw	Slow.
Sqz	Squeezed out. A runner losing their place, momentum and/or ground by being cut-off by a runner on either side of them.
Stall, Stal	Stalled, usually denoting a front runner who goes from running freely and putting the other runners under pressure to being overtaken in a short period.
Stds	Stands. Indicates the stands' side of the straight.
Strg, Srg	Strong, as in StrgPc = strong pace, etc.
Swc	Switch, usually denoting an active manoeuvre by the jockey, possibly in response to others' actions.
Tired, Trd	Tired. Stronger than 'Fade'. Indicates a runner that has completely gone and 'walking' home.
TP	To Post. The period and activity whereby the runner travels from the parade ring to the starting stalls. 'Bolt TP' would mean the horse bolted with the jockey on the way to the start.
Trbl	Trouble.
Tv	Travel, how well the runner is handling the pace of the race. TvWL would indicate a runner handling the pace of the race comfortably and looking able to make an effort to gain ground against the average runner.
Wide, Wd	Wide. Indicates how many places wide of the rail. For example 3Wd indicates raced three wide. At a course like Chester this is a notable disadvantage because of the extra ground covered. If you watch a field in a 7f race at Catterick, for example, check any runners that are 3 wide or more as they start the left hand bend and see what has happened to them by the straight. Jockeys will occasionally press a horse to make ground wide around a bend and this is always a big negative.
Well, Wl	Well.
XF, XB	Cross in front of (XF) or behind (XB) the field to a rail. For example, if a runner breaks well from a wide draw and manages to cross to the advantageous rail this needs to be noted. It's no good looking at the draw later and saying how did that one win from stall 1. Crossing behind the field indicates being held up or missing the break and using the opportunity to get to an advantageous position.