The goal of horse racing is, of course, to win. But sometimes a horse does not finish a race, either because he could not cross the finish line or completed the race too slowly. When that happens a DNF will show in the race chart.
Photo by Steve Heath

When reviewing a racehorse’s chart, you might see the letters DNF, which stand for “did not finish.” Or you might be considering a recently retired racehorse that had a DNF during his time on the track.

While this might raise questions, DNFs can happen for a variety of reasons—some of which aren’t necessarily cause for concern.

In this article you’ll learn from experienced racehorse trainers and veterinarians about what a DNF is, why racehorses DNF on the track, what’s required to race again and what it means for the horse.

What Is DNF and Why Does It Happen? 

The letters DNF on a racehorse’s chart or other documents indicate that the horse did not finish a race, either because he could not cross the finish line or completed the race too slowly, says Alex Sherman, jockey and racehorse trainer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Most likely, this was because the rider pulled the horse up before the finish line and just jogged over the finish line instead,” she adds. “If a horse had to be vanned off of the track by the equine ambulance, that would also be noted in the notes at the bottom of the chart. The notes would also describe what happened during the race.”

Weather and poor circumstances can also play a part in the reason a racehorse has a DNF on his chart.

“Heat stress, losing the jockey, injuries, respiratory issues or unexplained poor performance are all reasons for horses to DNF,” explains Bonnie Comerford, DVM, racetrack veterinarian with TFB Equine, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

When it comes to injury-related DNFs, Mary Scollay, DVM, chief of science at the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit, and based in Georgetown, Kentucky, explains what some of these wide-ranging circumstances could be.

“The DNF could be the result of an injury such as impaired airway, respiratory disease, or exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH),” says Scollay, a condition that involves bleeding in the lungs during exercise that can result in blood accumulation in the lung tissues and airways. “Even lack of fitness or the horse not being competitive enough could cause a DNF. DNFs happen for a multitude of reasons,” says Scollay.

Sometimes, a DNF could simply reflect equipment failure, such as a broken rein, losing a stirrup or a saddle that slipped. If a jockey felt something concerning, he might have pulled the horse up, resulting in a DNF for that reason.

Returning to the Racetrack: What’s Required After a DNF?

Since DNFs can happen for various reasons, the requirements for allowing a horse to race again vary.

“For a horse to return to racing after not finishing a race, it depends on the reason that the horse did not finish the race, as well as the specific requirements of the jurisdiction in which they are competing,” says Comerford. “When a horse does not finish a race, it will immediately be evaluated by a regulatory vet and/or the attending veterinarian to determine the reason for not finishing the race. They will then attend to any existing medical conditions.”

Racehorses can also end up on a racetrack vet’s list after they DNF and do require veterinary clearance before racing again.

“A DNF could constitute the horse being put on the vet’s list,” says Sherman. “The horse would be taken to the test barn immediately after the race for initial inspection by the state vet to make sure the horse is OK to go back to its barn.

“According to HISA rules, you typically have to wait about 14 days before the horse is eligible to get off of the list,” she continues. “The rider is also questioned as to what happened during the race to further understand why they didn’t finish.”

However, if a racehorse ends up on the vet’s list multiple times within a year, this can cause additional delays for the horse to return to racing.

“Each time a horse is put on the list within a year time frame, the amount of time you must wait to race again gets longer,” adds Sherman. “To get off the vet’s list, the horse is inspected first by your primary vet for soundness and a letter of referral is written. Then, you schedule the state vet to examine the horse. After that, the horse will work a half mile in under 52 seconds. An hour later, they are reexamined by the state vet and blood is drawn. Once lab work is back and approved, you can enter the horse to run.”

“A horse that was injured or DNF’d because of unsoundness would certainly be expected to undergo a physical exam,” agrees Scollay, along with a workout that is observed by a racing regulatory veterinarian, followed by another physical exam after the work. A blood/urine collection is done postwork to submit for testing to ensure that the horse’s clinical presentation is not modified by medication as well.

In some circumstances, where the DNF was from something like faulty tack, being cleared by a veterinarian before returning to racing might not be necessary.

“In general, a horse will many times need to be cleared by a vet before returning to the track,” explains Scollay. “However, the cause of the DNF may be factored in making the determination as to what is required for the horse to return to racing. If it was a broken stirrup, for example, the DNF was unrelated to the horse’s health, so veterinary clearance would not be necessary.”

When Do Multiple DNFs Cause Additional Problems or Force a Horse to Retire from Racing?

Multiple DNFs can delay a horse’s return to racing, raising the question of what happens when a horse has numerous DNFs in a year.

“Numerous DNFs would certainly get the attention of the regulatory veterinarian, who would likely make further inquiries about the horse’s health before allowing the horse to return to racing,” explains Scollay.

Veterinarians also consider the severity of the injury obtained when the horse DNF’d.

“If the DNF was caused by an injury, these injuries exist on a spectrum of short-term injury or career-ending injury,” says Comerford. “Other conditions causing a DNF may require periods of convalescence to recover. Some causes of DNF may not require any period of time off—for example, losing the jockey.”

Situations happen where a DNF can force retirement of a racehorse. If a horse sustains an injury, resulting in a DNF, that is so severe he or she can no longer race, this of course means the horse will retire from the track.

However, circumstances happen where the amount of DNFs itself forces the horse’s retirement from racing.

“After a horse is on the vet’s list three times in one year, they can no longer race permanently,” says Sherman.

After one or more DNFs, it might be necessary to review the race where the DNF occurred and the horse’s workout to determine next steps.

“Not all DNFs come from injury, as sometimes a rider may feel a funny step and decide to pull the horse up,” adds Scollay. “The best thing to do is to read the comments in the chart and watch a race replay, if possible, in these situations. On Equibase.com, you can see all the horses registered for workouts, so you can go and see how long the horse was off before they worked him for the vet. Obviously if they’re off longer, it might mean a bigger problem. I don’t mind seeing a gap in races or workouts when looking at horses, but when the horse goes back into training, I like to see consistent workouts. For example, every week or two weeks might show the horse is staying sound.”

Take-Home Message

DNF, or “did not finish,” in a racehorse’s chart indicates the horse did not complete a race due to reasons ranging from equipment failure to injury. Depending on the cause, returning to racing involves veterinary evaluations and compliance with regulatory protocols. Multiple DNFs might result in extended recovery periods or even permanent retirement.