UK & Irish Horse Racing Rules: Each Way

Each Way

Market Description

Predict a horse to win and/or be placed in a given race. Placed means to come first, second, third or fourth depending upon the type of race and number of runners.

1. Bets are accepted for horse race meetings held under the rules of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and are settled on the official result.
2. Each way bets are accepted on horse races of five or more runners
3. Each way bets on horse racing are made up of two equal stakes meaning that a £5 each way bet has a total stake of £10.
   • One stake is bet on the horse to win the race and the other stake is bet on the horse to be placed in the race. The place terms differ according to the type of race and number of runners  and are settled as per the following Industry Standard place terms, unless special William Hill place terms are available at the time the bet is struck, in which case these will supersede the Industry Standard place terms. Any bets placed prior to the introduction of special William Hill place terms will be settled on the place terms advertised at the time the bet was struck.

   • Type of Race	#Runners	Place terms	#Places
     Non-Handicap	2-4	Win Only	1
     	5-7	1/4 odds	1,2
     	8 or more	1/5 odds	1,2,3
     Handicap	2-4	Win only	1
     	5-7	1/4 odds	1,2
     	8-11	1/5 odds	1,2,3
     	12-15	1/4 odds	1,2,3
     	16 or more	1/4 odds	1,2,3,4

   • The number of runners relates to the number of horses that were deemed to have participated in the race
   • The place terms are given as a fraction of the odds for the price of the horse to win the race
4. The number of places represent the finishing positions in the race where 1,2 means first and second, 1,2,3 means first, second and third and 1,2,3,4 means first, second, third and fourth. Example: -

   A £5 each way bet with a total stake of £10 struck on a horse priced at 4/1 in a six runner non-handicap would return £35 if the horse wins. This is because:

   • £5 bet to win at 4/1 = £25

   • (4 x the £5 stake plus the £5 stake returned)

   • £5 bet to place at 4/1 = £10
   • (1/4 of 4 x the £5 stake plus the £5 stake returned)

   A £5 each way bet with a total stake of £10 struck on a horse priced at 4/1 in a six runner non-handicap would return £10 if the horse is placed. This is because:

   • £5 bet to win – losing bet
   • £5 bet to place at 4/1 = £10

   • (1/4 of 4 x the £5 stake plus the £5 stake returned)

5. Each way multiple bets such as doubles, trebles, etc. are settled as two distinct bets. This means that the win parts of each selection are multiplied together and the place parts of each selection are multiplied together. Example: -

   A £5 each way double with a total stake of £10 struck on two horses each priced at 4/1 in a six runner non-handicap would return £145 if both horses win. This is because:

   • £5 win double at 4/1 and 4/1 = £125

   • First selection (4 x the £5 stake plus the £5 stake returned = £25) invested onto the second selection (4 x the £25 stake plus the £25 stake returned = £125)

   • £5 place double at 4/1 and 4/1 = £20

   • First selection (1/4 of 4 x the £5 stake plus the £5 stake returned = £10) invested onto the second selection (1/4 of 4 x the £10 stake plus the £10 stake returned = £20)

   A £5 each way double with a total stake of £10 struck on two horses each priced at 4/1 in a six runner non-handicap would return £20 if one horse wins and the other is placed. This is because:

   • £5 win double – losing bet
   • £5 place double at 4/1 and 4/1 = £20

   • First selection (1/4 of 4 x the £5 stake plus the £5 stake returned = £10) invested onto the second selection (1/4 of 4 x the £10 stake plus the £10 stake returned = £20)

6. If the selected horse finishes in a dead heat of two for first place, the stake will be divided equally by the number of horses involved in that dead heat.. Example: if a £10 each way bet is placed on a horse priced at 4/1 that is involved in a dead heat of two for first place in a 12 runner handicap, the stake will be divided equally across first and second place and will return £35.
   • If the selected horse finishes the race in a dead heat of two for second place, the stake will be divided equally by the number of horses involved in that dead heat. Example: if a £10 each way bet is placed on a horse priced at 4/1 that is involved in a dead heat of two for second place in a 12 runner handicap, the stake will be divided equally across second and third place and will return £20.
   • If the selected horse finishes the race in a dead heat of two for third place, the stake will be divided equally by the number of horses involved in that dead heat. Example: if a £10 each way bet is placed on a horse priced at 4/1 that is involved in a dead heat of two for third place in a 12 runner handicap, the stake will be divided equally across third and fourth place and will return £10.
7. If the selected horse is withdrawn from the race at any point in time, bets placed at ante post prices will have lost
   • If the selected horse is withdrawn from the race before coming under starter’s orders, bets placed on that horse at William Hill prices and SP will be void.
   • If the selected horse is withdrawn from a race after coming under starter’s orders, bets placed on that horse at William Hill prices and SP will have lost as the horse will be deemed to have been a participant in the race.
   • If any other horse is withdrawn from the race before coming under starter’s orders, bets placed at William Hill prices and SP may be subject to a Rule 4 deduction.
8. If an insufficient number of horses finish the race to fulfil the advertised place terms, bets will be settled only on the horses that actually do finish the race. Bets placed on horses that do not finish the race will have lost.
9. If the number of runners deemed to have participated in the race is reduced due to a horse/horses being withdrawn, each way bets will be settled on the revised place terms regardless of the time of bet placement. This means that an each way bet struck on a 16 runner handicap with 15 runners deemed to have participated will be settled on the first three places; an 8 runner race with 7 runners deemed to have participated will be settled on the first two places etc.
   • If an each way bet is placed on a race with less than five runners having been deemed to have participated in the race, the entire stake will be bet on the selection to win.
10. If a race is abandoned, declared void or has only one runner (also known as a walk-over), bets placed on horses in that race will be void.
    • Adjustments to settlement will not be made for amended results or adjudications made by governing bodies after the weigh-in when the official result is declared.

    In-shop | Telephone

11. Horse racing bets placed in shops or by telephone will be settled as equally divided if this is clearly included in the instructions. An equally divided bet is where the total return from the first leg of the bet is divided into two equal parts and then invested as a win and place stake on the next leg etc.
    • Equally divided bets are not available on-line.