What does RR mean in horse racing?

If you have ever seen RR on a racecard and never understood what that means, this is the article for you. RR stands for refused to race and that is the case on racecards across Britain and Ireland. Some information services might refer to it as race rating but when in relation to form figures, it always means refused to race, which is distinct from the singular R.

A refusal to race is when a horse doesn’t move at the start of the race and that can be standing still when the tapes go up during a jumps race or choosing not to leave the stalls when the gates open. Here we take a look at the impact from a betting point of view.

RR vs the other form letters

All of the above outcomes occur once the runners are under starter’s orders and from that point on, none of the outcomes result in your stake being refunded, as a rule. Some bookmakers offer special promotions with regards to fallers but that is not industry standard.

What happens to your bet when a horse refuses to race?

Once a horse is under starter’s orders, any outcome after that point is subject to the conditions of the bet. It’s important to note that late non-runners will be settled with a return of stake, provided that the non-runner is declared before they go under starter’s orders. 

One exception would be if a runner is declared void. This can be due to an unfair disadvantage, for example, if there’s an issue with the stalls and the gate doesn’t open. 

Punters can get caught out, especially when at the course, as it can be unclear if the horse is withdrawn before or after the runners go under starter’s orders. The exact time of withdrawal is the deciding factor on whether or not a horse is a starter or non-runner.

Why horses refuse to race

Among the common causes are temperament; some horses can be highly strung and those who regularly show those traits should generally be avoided from a betting point of view. Horses can also become overwhelmed or distressed and that can be a result of physical discomfort.

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