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How to read racing data

Plain-English guides to the numbers on a racecard: form figures, official ratings, weights, sectional times, draw bias, pace and market moves, each explained with a worked example from a real race.

Go deeper before the next race.

Open every racecard in full and get your research done before they go to post.

  • 14racecard tabs per race
  • 20+bookmaker prices side by side
  • Trackeralerts when your horses are declared

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Key takeaways

  • Each guide answers one question in the first lines, then works through a real race.
  • Guides cover racecards, form figures, official ratings and weights, sectionals, draw, pace and market moves.
  • Every guide links to the free data page that shows the figure live.

Where should I start?

Start with how to read a racecard, then form figures and official ratings, then the guides on draw, pace and sectional times.

The early guides explain what each line of a racecard means. The later ones show how to weigh the evidence: whether a draw matters at that course, how the pace is likely to unfold, and what a horse's sectional times say about its run.

How to read

Going report explained: descriptions, GoingStick and wateringHandicap weights explained: ratings, pounds and the long handicapHorse racing form explained: how to decode form figuresHorse racing results explained: distances, SPs and symbolsHow to read a horse's pedigree: sire, dam and damsireHow to read a pace map: positions, draw and race shapeHow to read a racecard: every field labelledHow to read horse racing form: a worked exampleHow to read sectional times, furlong by furlongRacing recordsRace comment abbreviations explainedRace conditions explained: class, bands, penalties and allowancesRacecard abbreviations and symbols: the full tableratings from other publishers and official ratings in horse racing: how to read both

Go deeper before the next race.

Open every racecard in full and get your research done before they go to post.

  • 14racecard tabs per race
  • 20+bookmaker prices side by side
  • Trackeralerts when your horses are declared

30-day free trial

£0today

Start my 30-day free trial

By continuing you agree to our Terms and Intellectual Property and Acceptable Use policy.

£0 today. Card on step 2. £24.99 from day 31.Cancel any time.