Each-Way AtlasGlossary: each-way, odds and racing terms
Rule 4 deduction
A Rule 4 deduction reduces the winnings on bets on the remaining horses when another horse is withdrawn before the start. It is worked out as a number of pence deducted from each £1 of winnings. A worked example is on the page about non-runners and Rule 4. In UK betting it appears in the racing rules.
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What the term means
When a horse is withdrawn, the chance of the others winning improves, so the price you took may no longer reflect the race. The deduction adjusts the payout to account for that.
The rule that sets the deduction comes from the Tattersalls Rules, which operators follow or restate in their own terms. We have not yet recorded the current edition, so the exact table is not reproduced here.
The short version: a Rule 4 deduction trims your winnings, not your stake, when a rival horse is withdrawn.
How it is worked out
In words: winnings after the deduction equal the winnings before it multiplied by one minus the deduction divided by 100, where the deduction is in pence per £1.
As a formula: profit after deduction = profit × (1 − d ÷ 100), where d is the deduction in pence per £1. The size of d depends on the price of the withdrawn horse and is set in the rules.
Why this matters to you: two bets on the same horse can pay different amounts if a rival was withdrawn between them, so check the settled bet and not only the price you took.
See how it applies to each-way bets and use the calculator to apply a deduction to your own figures.
Where you meet it
You meet it in a settled bet, where the returns are lower than the price implied, and in the racing rules of each operator. The wording of the rules for each bookmaker is gathered in Rule 4 and dead heat rules.
| Operator (candidate; licence to be confirmed) | How the rules describe Rule 4 | Date read |
|---|---|---|
| Paddy Power | Not verified | Not verified |
| Sky Bet | Not verified | Not verified |
Common mix-ups
- A Rule 4 deduction is not a fee charged by the bookmaker. It is a rule applied to winnings. * A bet on the withdrawn horse is handled under non-runner rules, not by a deduction.
Ante-post bets follow different terms, covered under ante-post each way. * Rule 4 is separate from dead heat rules, though both can change one payout.
- Which prices the deduction applies to is set in the rules; read them alongside the entry on starting price.
The short version: the deduction depends on the withdrawn horse's price and is applied to profit.
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