In thoroughbred horse racing, “bumped” refers to interference during a race where one horse collides with another. This term specifically describes when a horse makes contact with or is contacted by another horse during the running of a race.
Bumping incidents often trigger Stewards’ Enquiries, where racing officials review the contact to determine if it was accidental or if a jockey engaged in improper riding. When jockeys are found guilty of fouling or bumping, the horses they’re riding can be knocked down in the finishing order, meaning they may be demoted from their crossing position to a lower official finish.
In racing terminology, bumping is more severe than “brushed,” which describes slight contact between horses.