What Does PU Mean in Horse Racing? – A Guide to Pulled Up

PU is an abbreviation used in horse racing which refers to when a horse pulls up and doesn’t finish the race. We’re going to explore the topic of what does PU mean in horse racing and why it happens.

What Does PU Mean in Horse Racing Betting?

PU stands for ‘pulled up’. If you back a horse in a race and it pulls up, then you will lose the stake that you placed on that selected horse. Some horse racing betting sites offer you protection against pull ups.

With Fail to Finish promotions, you get your stake back if the horse that you’ve backed, pulls up. However, in such circumstances you only get that stake returned up to a certain stated amount and it ‘s normally paid as a free bet.

Now that we’ve explained pulled up meaning, you should be able to see that it’s a fate that punters look to avoid, when backing a horse. The next section should give you some pointers as to how to manage that.

Why Are Horses Pulled Up in Races?

Let’s explore why there can be a PU in horse racing. Not all of these reasons are predictable and foreseeable from those giving horse racing tips and therefore allow you to avoid backing an individual horse that might pull up, but some of them are!

Fatigue

If heavy rainfall softens the ground, it can create a sudden change on the track underfoot. Some horses don’t find the testing conditions of heavy going suitable and end up tired.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast and going reports when making bets. Part of the risk in backing a horse is that is will get suitable conditions.

Those that only run well on firm ground won’t reproduce their best form if the going is soft. Changes in conditions also result in horses withdrawing from races, so always check today’s non runners if you had a bet.

Getting Hampered

A faller or another horse that makes a mistake can hamper the other runners and get in their way. Sometimes a horse is brought down in such circumstances.

Yet even if the hampered horse does stay on their feet, they may well lose ground and with it, any realistic chance of competing for prize money. In such a scenario, the jockey may pull the horse up.

Injury

Some horses lose their action or suffer injuries during a race. If the horse in question is unable to finish the race in such circumstances, it often pulls up.

Lack of Fitness

Horses tend to build up to peak fitness over their previous races, with work at home on the gallops only going so far. When a horse lacks fitness, that soon becomes clear with it trailing behind today’s runners and quickly having no hope of catching up. The jockey may decide that it’s best to pull up in such circumstances.

Losing a Shoe

A jockey will pull up if their mount loses a shoe during a horse race. You might spot a tell-tale sign of this, when the rider looks down from their saddle during a race and then suddenly pulls their mount up.

Race-Ending Mistakes

Sometimes mistake made in a jump race, which doesn’t end in a fall or the rider unseating, yet still effectively ends their participation Obviously this is less likely in Flat races, where less can go wrong.

How Do You Have PU in Horse Racing Form?

If you are looking at form figures on today’s race card, the letter P denotes a pull up. It’s certainly something to watch out for when checking form for upcoming races.

On full horse racing results, PU is how those compiling them convey this to you. Remember, that the P or PU meaning in horse racing, refers to pulling up. The majority of horses don’t suffer a pull up too often, so thankfully, it’s not something that you’ll come across all that regularly.

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