Horse racing

Aside from the following special betting rules, the common betting rules apply. The special rules will take precedence over the common rules nevertheless.

Please note that the horse racing betting line-up might not be available in your country or on your device.

1.Bet Acceptance
Bets are accepted at fixed odds for named and numbered selections in races where there are three or more runners.
Bets are placed at the price displayed in the bet slip at the time of bet placement or at SP. Before placing the bet, the customer has the option to select at which of these prices he wants to place their bet.
All displayed prices are subject to fluctuation, therefore all prices offered may differ from those originally displayed on the website or published in the press.

2. Bet Settlement

2.1 Bets on horse racing are governed by Tattersalls' Rules of Betting. Tattersalls' Rules or an official announcement of the Tattersalls' Committee will govern the settlement of bets should a situation arise which is not covered by these rules.

2.2 Sportingbet pays out on the Official Race Result (not First Past the Post Result). Where a result is amended after the Official Result (i.e. after the weigh-in) for example as a result of a subsequent disqualification on appeal, the amendment will be ignored for settlement purposes.

2.3 Each-way bets are governed by the SP (Starting Price) place betting terms and are determined by the actual number of starters and not by the number of declared runners when the price is taken.
Unless otherwise stated (Sportingbet reserves the right to not offer each-way terms on any race), the place part of each-way bets will be settled as per the following place terms:

2-4 runners - Win only
5-7 runners - 1/4 odds first and second-placed runners
8 + runners - 1/5 odds first, second and third-placed runners

In Handicap races the following place terms apply:
12 + runners - 1/4 odds first, second and third-placed runners
16 + runners - 1/4 odds first, second, third and fourth-placed runners

If an each-way bet is placed for a race or event which is or becomes Win-only (e.g. reduced to four runners), the total stake will be invested to win.

2.4 In the event of a Rule 4, the amount deducted from the winnings per R will be based on the price of the withdrawn horse at the time when the bet was placed and according to the following table:

In the event that a runner is withdrawn which will result in a deduction under Rule 4, no Show Price can be laid after the time of the withdrawal, unless the market has been reformed.

3. Withdrawals/Non-Runners
Bets will be void on a horse (excluding Ante Post markets) which is withdrawn or adjudged not to have started and declared a Non-Runner by the starter.
Bets placed at Show Prices prior to the withdrawal will be subject to a Rule 4 and will be determined by the Sportingbet price of the withdrawn horse at the time the bet was accepted.
In reformed markets, the total deduction on the two or more horses - one in the original market and one in the reformed market - will be calculated on the prices applicable in the original market.
Bets on horses in subsequent markets that then have one or more withdrawn horses will have a deduction calculated on the prices applicable to that market at the time of the withdrawal.
In the event that there is insufficient time to form a new market on the race, SP bets may also be subject to a Rule 4.

4. Re-run Races
In the event of a race being re-run due to a false start or any other reason, bets will be void on horses taking no part in the re-run.
Returns on the remaining runners will be subject to a Rule 4 deduction and place terms will be governed by the number of runners taking part in the re-run.

5. Abandoned Races/Postponed Races
In the event of a walkover or void race, bets will be void.
If a race meeting is postponed to another day, bets will be void. This applies to all Day-of-Race and Ante-Post Races.

6. Ante-Post Betting
Bets placed under Ante-Post Rules (any bets struck before the overnight declaration stage) will stand whether the horse runs or not, unless the horse is balloted out or the race is postponed, in which case bets will be void.

7. Time of Acceptance
All bets selected with pre-race prices taken from Sportingbet will be accepted up until the official 'Off'. In the case that any bets are erroneously accepted at a later point in time, Sportingbet reserves the right to void these bets.

8. Favourite Betting
Bets nominating the favourite are acceptable where available on certain horse or greyhound races at SP only.
The favourite is the selection returned at the shortest odds. When the favourite is nominated and two or more runners start at the shortest odds, the stakes are equally divided over the joint favourites. For example, where two are returned at the shortest odds, these two are joint first and second favourites and the next shortest price runner is the third favourite.
Bets will be void on single favourite bets where the return, regardless of the result, is less than the original stake (including any deductions). This would occur, for example, if there were 3/1 co-favourites of four.

9. Named Selections
Where a bet is offered for more than one named selection to win at a special combined price, the price is subject to fluctuation as are all Show Prices.
Rule 4 may be applied to all Special Bets if there are any Non-Runners in the races concerned.
If any of the named selections are Non-Runners or the race is declared void, the bet reduces to the next level multiple at SP. For example, if a Special Treble contains a Non-Runner the bet reverts to an SP double etc.

10. How many...? Bets
Winning bets must predict how many of the specified eventualities will occur such as 'How many favourites will win at Ascot?'.
In the event of any races not being run for whatever reason all bets will be void.

11. Jockey Challenge
Winning bets must predict which of the nominated jockeys will ride the most winners at a specified meeting or meetings.
Dead Heat rules will apply where challenges are offered between three or more jockeys. In a two-jockey challenge, a price will be offered for the 'Tie'.
If, for any reason, a nominated jockey does not ride his intended mount in a race but the horse still runs, the horse will still count for settlement as if it had been ridden by the 'intended' jockey.
The intended mount will be taken to be the horses published in the Racing Post on the day of the race to be ridden by the jockey concerned. If the jockey rides any horse which, according to the day's Racing Post he was not scheduled to ride, that ride does not count towards the challenge.

12. Jockey Performance
Winning bets must predict the level of jockey performance based on a defined points' scoring system.
25 points are awarded for a winner, 10 points for a runner up and 5 points for a third. Dead Heat rules apply so if a jockey's mount dead heats for the first 17.5, points are awarded (i.e. 25 points+10 points divided by 2).
Markets may take two forms based on the scoring system.

Points' Bands - for example, A P McCoy may be offered at 5/1 to score between 35-40 points at Cheltenham.
Over/Under - for example, Frankie Dettori may be offered at 6/4 to score under 40 points at Ascot.

If, for any reason, the jockey on whom the bet was placed does not ride his intended mount in a race but the horse still runs, then for settlement purposes, the horse still counts as if it had been ridden by the 'intended' jockey. The intended mounts will be taken to be the horses published in the Racing Post on the day of the race, to be ridden by the jockey concerned. If the jockey rides any horse which, according to the day's Racing Post he was not scheduled to ride, that ride will not count for the purposes of performance bets on that jockey. If the jockey has a Non-Runner and no betting show has been passed by SIS, the SP forecast for that horse given by the Racing Post will be determine how points are awarded:

Equal to or greater than 5/1 = 5 points
Less than 5/1 but greater than Evens = 10 points
Evens or less = 15 points

If a betting show has been passed by SIS, then points will be awarded as above according to the horse's price at the time of withdrawal. If a race is declared void, the jockey's mount will be considered a Non-Runner. If a jockey's mount is made a walkover by way of others withdrawing, 20 points will be awarded to the total. If no price is available for a points' total, Dead Heat rules apply.

13. Top Jockey at a Festival
Winning bets must predict who will be the jockey riding the most winners over the course of a meeting or festival.
For the purposes of this bet, bets are accepted 'All In, Run or Not'. For settlement purposes, the result will be determined by who lifts the trophy at the end of the festival and will not be affected by any subsequent enquiries, disqualifications or alterations.

14. Meeting Favourites' Challenge
Winning bets must predict which of the two nominated meetings will have the most winning favourites.
Dead Heat rules apply for Favourites' Challenges where three or more meetings are nominated. Where only two meetings are nominated, a price will offered for the 'Tie'.
If there are joint or co-favourites in a race, the horse with the lowest race card number will be considered for the purposes of the bet to be the favourite.
In the event of no SP being returned, the favourite will be deemed to be the shortest price horse in the Racing Post betting forecast to come under starter's orders. If the returned favourite (as published in the following day's Racing Post) does not come under starter's orders then, for the purposes of the bet it is considered to be a runner.

15. Favourites Performance
Winning bets must predict the level of favourites' performance based on a defined points' scoring system.
25 points are awarded for a winner, 10 points for a runner-up and 5 points for a third. Dead Heat rules apply so if a trainer's horse dead-heats for first 17.5 points are awarded (i.e. 25 points + 10 points divided by 2).
Markets may take two forms based on the scoring system.
Points' Bands - for example, Favourites may be offered at 5/1 to score between 65-70 points at Cheltenham.
Over/Under - for example, Favourites may be offered at 10/11 score under 65 points at Cheltenham.
If there are joint or co-favourites in a race, the horse with the lowest race card number will be considered for the purposes of the bet to be the favourite. If the returned favourite (as published in the following day's Racing Post) has not come 'under starter's orders then, for the purposes of the bet, points will be awarded as follows based on its price at the time of withdrawal:

Equal to or greater than 5/1 = 5 points
Less than 5/1 but greater than Evens = 10 points
Evens or less = 15 points

In the event of no SP being returned, the favourite will be deemed to be the shortest price horse in the Racing Post betting forecast to come 'under starter's orders. If a race is declared void, the favourite will be considered a Non-Runner. If a horse race is made a walkover by way of horses withdrawing, 20 points will be awarded to the total. If no price is available for a points' total, Dead Heat rules apply.

16. Horse Race Match Betting
Winning bets must predict which named horse will achieve the best finishing position. Bets are settled on the Official Result (not “First Past The Post”). If both horses finish in the same position bets are void. If either horse is a Non Runner bets are void. In National Hunt (“Jumps”) races, a horse must complete the Race to win the Match Bet (unless otherwise stated).

17. Aggregate Distances
Winning bets must predict the aggregate winning distances at a specified meeting or meetings.
The maximum winning distance will be 12 lengths for Flat races and 30 lengths for National Hunt races. In the case of a horse finishing alone or winning by a 'Distance', the distance will be settled as 12 lengths for a Flat race and 30 lengths in a National Hunt race.
For distances below a length the following distances will be applied:

Short head = 0.1 of a length
Head = 0.2 of a length
Neck = 0.3 of a length
Half a length = 0.5 of a length
Three quarters of a length = 0.75 of a length

If no official winning distance is declared Sportingbet will use all available evidence to determine the distance.
No account shall be taken of any subsequent disqualification, enquiry or amendment, unless the official distance is amended by the judge on the day of the race. If a race is declared void distances will 2 lengths for Flat races and 10 lengths for National Hunt races.
If a race is made a walkover by horses withdrawing after the market is made, distances will be 5 lengths for a Flat race or 12 lengths for National Hunt races.
If no distance total is quotedb then Dead Heat rules apply.

18. Winning Distances for Selected Horses
Winning bets must predict the winning distance of a selected horse.
Markets may take two forms based on the scoring system:

Points Bands - for example, Black Jack Ketchum may be offered at 6/1 to win by between 0-2 lengths.
Over/Under - for example, Black Jack Ketchum may be offered at 9/4 to win by under 4 lengths.

If the market is opened before the day of the event and the selection does not run, all bets will be losers, unless otherwise stated.
In the event of (a) Non-Runner(s) resulting in a Rule 4 deduction of R2.50 in R or more on early prices, unless specified otherwise, all bets will be void.

19. Owners or Trainer’s Runners
Winning bets must predict the level of performance exhibited by a specified trainer or owner.
Markets may take two forms based on the scoring system:

Points' Bands - for example, Aidan O'Brien may be offered at 3/1 to score between 35-40 points.
Over/Under - for example, Paul Nicholls may be offered at 4/1 to score under 40 points.

In the event of an Owner/Trainer having more than one runner in the race, the selected mount for the purposes of this bet is the horse starting at the lowest price. If two or more mounts start at the same price, stakes will be equally divided between the two horses. That day's Racing Post will determine the Owner/Trainer of a horse. When long-term markets are offered for a selected Owner or Trainer to own or train the winner of a nominated horse race, it is the 'actual' owner and trainer according to the Racing Post on the day of the event that counts. Ante Post Rules apply unless otherwise stated.

20. Partially Abandoned Meetings
When a race meeting is abandoned before it is completed, the following rules apply to bets placed on markets involving Points' Bands.
If the performance total at the time of abandonment falls in the bottom band (e.g. 'Under 12 lengths' or 'Under 50' for performance), all bets in that market will be made void if the result could still have totalled any of the bands originally offered.
If an abandoned meeting could not have made up in one or more bands, bets placed in those bands are settled as losers and bets placed in the possible bands will be settled as joint winners and will be subject to Dead Heat rules dependent on the number of possible winning bands.
If there is only one possible winning band, that is settled as an outright winner. If the performance total at the time of abandonment falls into a middle band (e.g. '12-15 lengths' or '50-65 for performance'), all bets in lower bands will be settled as losers. Bets placed in that middle and higher bands are settled as joint winners and are subject to Dead Heat rules.
Bets that cannot mathematically win at this point will be settled as losers. If the performance total at time of abandonment falls in the top band (e.g. 'Over 15 lengths' or 'Over 65 for performance'), all bets are settled with this band as the winner and the others as losers, as the result has effectively been determined.