The racecard is the most information-dense document in betting. It contains everything you need to make an informed decision about every runner in a race. Most casual punters never look at one. Here is a plain-language guide to every element.
The Form Figures
The string of numbers next to a horse's name — for example 1-3-2-0-1 — is its recent form. Reading right to left: the rightmost number is the most recent run, the next number is the run before that, and so on. A 1 means it won. A 2 means it finished second. A 0 means it finished outside the first nine. A P means it was pulled up. An F means it fell. A U means it unseated the rider. A hyphen separates different seasons.
So 1-3-2-0-1 means: won most recently, before that finished outside the top nine, before that finished second, before that finished third, won the season before that.
The Official Rating (OR)
The OR is the handicapper's assessment of the horse's ability, expressed as a number. Higher is better. A horse rated 100 is better than a horse rated 85. In a handicap race, the OR determines how much weight each horse carries — higher-rated horses carry more weight to theoretically equalise their chances.
The Racing Post Rating (RPR)
The RPR is an independent assessment of what the horse has actually run to in its best recent performance. When the RPR is significantly higher than the OR — say RPR 115 versus OR 90 — the horse is running 25 points below its demonstrated ability in weight terms. That is structural value. Find horses where RPR significantly exceeds OR.
The Going Preference
Most racecards include symbols indicating whether a horse has won or placed on specific going. G means good. GS means good to soft. S means soft. HY means heavy. A horse with a G symbol has won on good ground — if today's going is good, that is relevant positive evidence. A horse whose form came entirely on soft ground facing a good-ground race today is a concern.
The Weight
In handicap races each horse's weight is listed. Heavier weight means the horse has a higher official rating. The weight carried affects performance — particularly over longer distances where an extra pound or two compounds across every furlong.
The Draw
In flat racing, the draw shows which starting stall each horse is in. Low draws (1, 2, 3) are often advantageous at tracks with a strong low-draw bias like Chester. High draws can be disadvantageous at straight tracks like Newmarket in sprint handicaps. In jump racing the draw has no effect — all horses jump the same obstacles regardless of starting position.
The Trainer and Jockey Strike Rates
Racecards list the trainer and jockey for each runner. Some platforms show the trainer's recent strike rate as a percentage. A trainer running at 25% is sending out winners from one in four runners — that is exceptional form. Always note when a top jockey takes a surprising booking on a horse you had not previously considered.
The racecard is free. It is available on every racing website and app. Reading it takes five minutes per race. Most people who bet never do it.
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