Racing and football glossary

A race or meeting that does not proceed to its normal completion. An empty results page does not establish abandonment: look for an explicit event status.

Time allowed by the referee within a half for time lost. The indicated amount is a minimum, so reaching it on a clock does not prove that the half has ended.

The combined match scores across the legs of a tie. It is separate from the score of the individual match. Check the competition’s current rules before deciding what a level aggregate means.

A race run on an artificial surface rather than turf. Keep the surface type and its reported condition together; a standard all-weather description is not interchangeable with a good-turf description.

The second-named team in the usual home–away fixture order. A match at a neutral venue can still have a designated home and away team.

The reported gap between finishers. A provider may give the gap behind the previous horse or the cumulative gap behind the winner. Establish the convention before comparing or adding figures.

A race classification within the applicable racing system. It is context for the event, not the horse’s finishing position, and systems differ between jurisdictions and race types.

When results.fast received the provider record. This is not necessarily the event time, the provider’s last change or the moment an official result was confirmed.

A recorded shared placing. The tied horses retain the same placing even if the interface lists one name first. A photo-finish review does not itself establish a dead heat.

A feed whose information can arrive after the sporting event, including delays associated with an account plan. Refreshing a website more often cannot remove a delay already present upstream.

The assigned starting stall in races that use stalls. It is different from the runner’s saddlecloth number and from its final position. A blank draw may be appropriate for the race type.

A reported review of a matter related to the race. Preserve the notice with the result and wait for the applicable decision; do not treat it as another word for a photo finish.

An additional match stage used when the competition rules require it. Goals scored during extra time belong to the match, while a subsequent penalty shoot-out is displayed separately.

A runner-level non-completion code. It is not a numeric finishing position. Retaining the code avoids making a horse that did not finish look like an ordinary placed finisher.

A common label for a completed match, interpreted with the provider’s status and score-duration fields. In knockout football, also check for extra time or penalties.

A unit of distance equal to 220 yards. There are eight furlongs in a mile. The abbreviation f describes the race distance, not a finishing margin.

The reported condition of the racing ground or surface. Preserve qualifications such as “in places” and use the description attached to the relevant event rather than a current report for an old race.

The interval between the halves and, when attached to a score, the score at that interval. A half-time lead does not establish the eventual winner.

A race in which allocated weights are intended to account for differences in assessed ability under the applicable conditions. The weight carried is context for the performance, not a prediction or a guarantee of an equal finish.

The first-named team in the usual fixture display. “Home” is a fixture designation and does not guarantee that the match takes place at that team’s normal ground.

A declared horse that does not take part. Distinguish it from a starter that failed to finish, and do not include it in a count of confirmed finishers.

The scheduled or reported starting time, depending on the field supplied. Read the field definition: the scheduled off time can remain the race identifier even if the actual start is delayed.

An attacker is in an offside position when part of their head, body or feet is in the opposing half and closer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. Arms and hands do not count; being level is onside. Position is judged when a teammate plays or touches the ball, not when the attacker receives it. Position alone is not an offence: the player must become involved by playing the ball, interfering with an opponent, or benefiting from a rebound, deflection or save. For example, a forward beyond the second-last opponent and ahead of the ball when a teammate passes is penalised if they then play that pass. Receiving directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner cannot be offside. An offside offence gives the other team an indirect free kick; a goal resulting from that offence does not count.

A separate method of deciding a match outcome when the applicable rules call for it. Successful kicks in the shoot-out are kept separate from goals scored during the match.

A finish requiring examination of dedicated finish-line evidence. It can concern a placing other than first, and the final verdict may separate the horses or record a shared placing.

A fixture deferred from its scheduled time. A replacement date may not yet be known. Do not supply one by guessing from the original fixture or turn the absent result into a draw.

An initial report that can be revised. A quick finishing order can be useful while still requiring confirmation or fuller detail; its early availability does not make it official.

A runner recorded as pulled up rather than completing in an ordinary finishing position. Keep this code visible instead of assigning the next number in the results table.

The normal match period together with its added time, before a separate extra-time stage. A regulation-time score can differ from a score recorded after extra time.

A last-known record whose collection freshness needs attention. The site retains it with a notice rather than pretending a failed refresh supplied new information.

Play that has been interrupted. The score at the interruption is not automatically the final result; follow the provider’s subsequent status and any applicable competition decision.

A runner-level code indicating that the rider was unseated. It should remain distinct from a fall, a non-runner and a numbered finishing place.