noun
unofficial result; unrecognized record
Used especially in sports for a record or result that is not officially recognized, often because it was set in an exhibition, practice, or non-sanctioned event.
彼は非公式の大会で参考記録を出した。
He set an unofficial record at the unsanctioned meet.
このタイムは参考記録なので、公式記録にはなりません。
This time is an unofficial result, so it won't become an official record.
公式記録 is an official record, while 参考記録 is an unofficial or unrecognized result.
Compound of 参考 (reference) and 記録 (record). The term likely originated in sports contexts to denote a record set under conditions that do not meet official recognition criteria.