In horse racing, 'BF' stands for beaten favourite. This term indicates a horse that was the betting favourite for a particular race but ultimately failed to win it.
Understanding Beaten Favourite (BF)
When a horse is designated as a 'favourite', it means it had the shortest odds in the betting market, implying that bettors and oddsmakers expected it to win the race. A 'BF' next to a horse's past performance in its form guide signifies that despite this strong expectation, the horse did not finish first.
Significance for Bettors and Handicappers
The 'BF' designation provides crucial information for anyone analyzing a horse's history:
- Underperformance: It highlights that the horse underperformed relative to its market expectation.
- Reasons for Loss: While 'BF' only states the outcome, it prompts further investigation into why the favourite was beaten. Reasons could include:
- Poor performance on the day.
- Bad luck during the race (e.g., being blocked, interfered with).
- Unsuitable track conditions.
- Being over-bet by the public, meaning its odds were shorter than its true chances warranted.
- Future Prospects: A horse marked 'BF' isn't necessarily a bad bet in subsequent races. If the reasons for its previous loss were external factors or bad luck rather than a true lack of ability, it might offer better value in a future race. Conversely, repeated 'BF' performances might suggest a horse struggles to live up to expectations or is consistently overrated.
Common Form Indicators in Horse Racing
Horse racing form guides use various abbreviations and numbers to concisely convey a horse's past performance. These are vital for handicappers assessing a horse's potential in an upcoming race. Here are some common examples, including 'BF':
| Code | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BF | Beaten Favourite | The horse was the betting favourite for a race but did not win. |
| 1-9 | Position | Indicates the horse's finishing position in a race (e.g., '1' for first, '2' for second). |
| BD | Brought Down | Signifies the horse was brought down by another runner during the race. |
| CD | Course and Distance | Indicates the horse has won a race over the exact course and distance it is running today. |
| F | Fell | The horse fell during the race. |
| U | Unseated Rider | The jockey was unseated from the horse during the race. |
Understanding these indicators helps bettors make informed decisions by providing a snapshot of a horse's historical performance, successes, and misfortunes.
