Most sports and sports betting have their terms and jargon. All these terms are unique to each sport and can be very confusing and overwhelming if you are not familiar. 

So, come along with us as we explain one of the terms you may hear in horse racing: pulled up. In this King Casino post, we will explain what it means and explore some of the possibilities where it may occur and what it means for your horse and your bet.

What Does Pulled Up Mean In Horse Racing?

If a horse gets pulled in the middle of a race, it means that the jockey has intentionally stopped the horse from racing, brought it to a steady walk, and is ready to exit the race. It comes from the act of the jockey sitting up and pulling on the reins to slow the horse down.

That can happen for various reasons, including injury, risk of sustaining an injury, or just sheer tiredness of the horse.

While horseracing can be entertaining, the health and wellbeing of the horses are of utmost importance. 

Pulling up a horse is not that common and is only done when necessary. However, there are types of races where it is more common than others, such as jumps races.

Horse Pulled Up In Grand National – What Happens?

The Grand National is an annual horse racing event held in the United Kingdom. It is considered the most prestigious horse racing event and may be the most exciting and physically challenging for the horses. 

The Grand National typically lasts three days and can be particularly taxing on the horses.

Due to the demanding and challenging nature of the Grand National, horse injuries and fatigue are fairly common. So, suppose a jockey decides to pull up their horse for one reason or another. In that case, it is taken off the racecourse to be attended to by trained veterinary medical professionals.

If you had made bets on the horse, you might lose it along with your bet amounts because if the horse is pulled up, it does not finish the race and, therefore, does not qualify for a title. The bookmakers will put a P next to the horse’s name to indicate that it was pulled up.

Do You Get Your Money Back If Your Horse Pulled Up?

If a horse is pulled up, it essentially means it can’t complete its competition, and therefore, it is considered a losing race for that horse. 

That means you will most likely lose your bet unless you bet on the horse losing the race, something commonly known as lay betting.

However, if you placed a bet on the horse to win or finish in the top three and it gets pulled up, chances are you will lose the bet and, therefore, your bet money. 

But that can also depend on the bookmaker’s terms and conditions. Sometimes, bookies can have specific terms and conditions that take into account the horse being pulled up, such as the “Non-Runner No Bet.”

The “Non-Runner No Bet” condition protects your bet amount in the event that a horse does not finish its race or does not run but was scheduled to run. If this applies to the bookies you bet with, you may receive your bet money back. However, this is rare.

Therefore, it is best to always check the terms and conditions of your chosen bookie regarding the horseracing event you want to place your bet on.

Why Are Horses Pulled Up?

Jockeys are well-trained professionals with a keen sense of how and when their horses need attention. They may pull it up if they notice that the horse is in distress. 

Essentially, the jockeys are trained to prioritise the horses’ wellbeing, so they pull up the horse for safety concerns. Some of the reasons they may pull up the horses include:

• Injury: If the horse is injured in the middle of a race, the jockey will pull up and remove it from the case. The injury could be a sprain, a broken leg or a fall.
• Fatigue: Fatigue is not uncommon in horses, especially if the horses are doing extensive and long races like the Grand National. If the horse is tired, it will likely run slow or have bad form, which can increase the chances of sustaining an injury.
• Bad form: Horses are trained to have a particular form to aid in the type of racing they perform. However, they can sometimes lose the form for several reasons. If that is the case, the jockey can pull up the horse to prevent significant injuries that can potentially keep it from competing for longer.

So, if a horse cannot complete the race in a satisfactory manner, has a major risk of sustaining an injury or can no longer run the way it is meant to, it may be pulled up.

Summary

In summary, if a horse is pulled up, it is removed from the race. The reasons behind it are centred on the health and wellbeing of the horse. If you had placed a bet on the horse being pulled up, you will most likely lose it and not get a refund. 

Therefore, while pulling up the horse may be upsetting if you bet on it, remember that it was done for the good of the horse, and there was no way the horse would complete the race successfully.