Betting rules

Bets on horseracing are governed by 'Tattersalls' Rules of Betting' - only these, or an official announcement of Tattersalls' Committee, will govern the settlement of bets should a situation arise not covered by these rules.

Dead heats: If there are two or more horses in a dead heat, the stake money on each horse is divided by the number of runners in the dead heat, with full odds being paid on the remaining stake. In a dead heat for second, place stakes are halved in races of six or seven runners. In a dead heat for third, place stakes are halved unless the first four are being paid out. In a dead heat for fourth place, stakes are halved, with full odds paid on the remaining stake.

Betting tax: Until 2002, tax free betting was only available with bookmakers on the racecourse. However, a change in the betting tax legislation in that year meant that the tax structure for bookmakers was changed and most punters now pay no tax on their winnings. It is worth noting that some offshore telephone and betting operations can offer slightly better odds as they do not have any tax on their profits whatsoever.

Non runners: There are a complex set of rules applying to bets on non-runners, which can be roughly summarised as follows:

    Ante-Post

Ante Post prices are those offered on horse racing prior to the overnight declaration stage (usually 10.00am on the day before the race). Unless otherwise stated at the time of acceptance, ante-post bets are accepted on the basis of 'all-in run or not' and 'all-in enter or not'. Selections not taking part in the race/event concerned count as losers. Bets placed after the overnight declaration stage on selections which do not take part will be void and stakes will be returned.

If a race is postponed to another day and overnight declarations stand, then Ante Post bets stand. However, Single Ante Post bets on horse racing will be made void and any selection involved in accumulative bets will be treated as a non-runner if:
The race is abandoned.
The race is officially declared void.
The conditions of the race are altered after bets are made (as defined under Tattersalls' Rules).
A horse is balloted out under Jockey Club Rules of Racing.
The venue is altered.
The running surface is altered (e.g. Turf to Dirt / All Weather or vice versa)

     Late Withdrawals

Where a horse is withdrawn before coming under Starter's orders, or is officially deemed by the Starter to have taken no part in the race, stakes will be returned on the withdrawn horse and winning bets will be subject to deductions in accordance with Tattersalls' Rule 4(c). The rate of deduction will be based on the following scale:-
Current price at withdrawal Deductions in the £
3/10 or lower £0.75
3/0 to 2/5 £0.70
2/5 to 8/15 £0.65
8/15 to 8/13 £0.60
8/13 to 4/5 £0.55
4/5 to 20/21 £0.50
20/21 to 6/5 £0.45
6/5 to 6/4 £0.40
6/4 to 7/4 £0.35
7/4 to 9/4 £0.30
9/4 to 3/1 £0.25
3/1 to 4/1 £0.20
4/1 to 11/2 £0.15
11/2 to 9/1 £0.10
9/1 to 14/1 £0.05
15/1 and higher no deductions made
In the event of two or more horses being withdrawn before coming under Starter's orders, the total deductions shall not exceed £0.75 in £.

Should a horse be withdrawn and a new market formed, then any bets laid at 'Show' prices prior to the new show will be subject to the above deductions. In the event of a further withdrawal after the market has been re-formed, bets placed at 'Show' prices in the original market will be subject to a further deduction based on the price of the withdrawn horse in the original market. Bets placed in the new market will be subject to a deduction based on the current price.

     Re-Runs

In the event of a false start etc. resulting in a race being re-run, 'Under Starters Orders' is negated and stakes will be refunded on horses taking no part in the re-run, with returns on the remaining runners subject to Tattersalls' Rule 4(c). The number of runners taking part in the re-run governs Place terms.
Walk-Overs and Void Horse Races

Walkovers and void races count as races but any horse so involved will be treated as a non-runner for settling purposes.

     Favourites

Bets for the un-named favourite in horse races are accepted as win only. Where two or more runners are returned at the same shortest odds i.e. joint or co-favourites, stakes will be divided and invested equally on each runner. Should the favourite be withdrawn before coming under Starter's orders but too late for a new market to be formed, bets involving the favourite are void.

     Forecast Betting (First and Second)

Forecasts are accepted on horse racing for named selections as a Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) (correct order) in races of 3 or more runners. The CSF is a computer-generated dividend based on the Starting Prices of all runners in a race. The CSF dividend is declared to a £1 stake.
Should a Starting Price not be returned, forecast bets will be void, win or lose, and stakes refunded.

In races where a horse finishes alone, all Forecast bets nominating that horse to finish first will be settled as a Win single at Starting Price on the winning horse. All other Forecast bets in the race are lost.

Should a non-runner be selected in a Forecast bet, the bet will be settled as a Win Single on the remaining selection. In reversed or combination Forecasts, each Forecast is treated separately.

In the event of two or more horses "dead heating" for first or second place, separate dividends will be declared and paid to each qualifying forecast.

Forecast doubles and trebles are accepted, but accumulators are not accepted on horseracing.

     Tricast Betting (First, Second and Third)

Tricast bets require the selection of the first, second and third in correct order. The Tricast dividend is a computer-generated dividend based on the Starting Prices of all runners in a race. The Tricast dividend is declared to a £1 unit stake.
Tricast betting is generally offered in handicap races of 6 or more runners, where full race by race results are announced by SIS and from time to time, in certain other races providing the result and return are announced by SIS.

Where the actual runners fall below 6, or a Tricast is not declared, the bet will be settled as a Computer Straight Forecast on the first two selections in the order as given, with the third selection disregarded.

A Tricast containing a non-runner will be settled as a Computer Straight Forecast on the remaining selections in the order as given and in the case of two non-runners will be settled as a win single at Starting Price on the remaining selection.

In the event of two or more horses "dead heating" for first, second or third place, separate dividends will be declared and paid to each qualifying Tricast.

Tricast doubles, etc are not accepted.

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