A bluffer’s guide to reading a racecard

CPW5TN Female punter reading the racecard at Goodwood Racecourse West Sussex UK 2012

A day at the races is often a rare treat, perhaps once a year for a major festival or a local trip with friends to mark a special occasion. Chances are, you purchase a racecard, not only as a souvenir of the day, but to help you follow the action. The snag is that to the uninitiated, reading the information within the racecard can be like deciphering secret code.

Whether you’re off to the Cheltenham Festival or an evening on the all-weather...