Racing glossary
Disqualification
Disqualification removes a horse that has been found to breach the rules from the official placings and revises the order accordingly.
Also written as horse disqualified · disqualified runner · DQ in horse racing
Disqualification is the removal of a horse from the official placings after it has been found to breach the rules, with the finishing order revised accordingly. It is an important distinction when checking whether the order at the winning post became the final result.
When might disqualification be considered?
An incident that may amount to a rule breach, such as interference with another horse’s path, can be referred for review. Contact or a visible change of course does not by itself prove that a horse will be disqualified. The stewards’ official decision and the confirmed finishing order must be checked together.
Order at the line versus official placings
The order at the line is simply the sequence in which the horses crossed the finish. If a subsequent ruling disqualifies a runner for a breach, the official placings can be different. Race readers should therefore distinguish the first order shown after the finish from the result declared official.
A common misunderstanding
An untidy run or close proximity to another horse does not automatically lead to disqualification. The measure follows an official application of the rules, not a viewer’s impression or prediction. Video can provide useful context, but a personal interpretation should not be treated as the confirmed outcome; always consult the official announcement.
For the basic sequence of information used to read entries and results, including official placings, see How to Read a Korean Race Card.
Informational content based on public data. It does not guarantee race outcomes or profit.