Horse Racing Rules

What is Horse Racing? Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys over a set distance for competition.

Horse Racing Data Licensed from the British Horse Racing Board Limited (BHRB)

General Rules

All bets are governed by Tattersalls Rules of Betting. These rules will govern the settlement of bets if anything occurs that is not covered by our stated rules.
Bets are settled in accordance with the official result at the time of the "weigh in". Any change to a result after this point will not count. Including when a Horse is disqualified due to breaching the BHA's whip rules.
Races will not necessarily suspend at the official off time. This is to allow customers to place their bets right until the off and sometimes just after the off. In the event of this happening all bets will stand.
When we do not offer In Running racing for any races, Then all bets on flat races taken 20 secs after the official off time and all bets on National Hunt races taken 45 secs after the official off time will be deemed late and therefore void.
Any bets other than Ante Post will be void if the race is abandoned or declared void. If the race is postponed to a future day and the final Declarations stand, all bets will stand providing the venue is not changed. If this is the case all bets will be void.
In the event of a false start etc resulting in a race being re-run, the race is not considered to be 'under starters orders' and stakes will be refunded on selections not taking part in the re-run with any returns on the remaining subject to Tattersalls Rule 4(c). The number of runners taking part in the re-run governs the Place terms.
Sky Bet will void single and multiple bets if a horse comes under starters orders, but doesn't race. It applies to stalls starts (horse left in the stalls) or tape starts (where the tape is lifted and the horse doesn't go with the field).
Walkovers and void races count as races but any selection involved will be treated as a non-runner.
Where a race has been declared a no-race and is re-run, all bets will stand for the Horses that take part in the re-run but single bets may be cancelled by mutual agreement up until the revised off time. Prices laid on a no-race will stand for the re-run race unless there is a non runner, in which case all bets will be settled as per Tattersals Rule 4. Bets may be cancelled by mutual agreement prior to the re-run taking place but multiple bets will stand.

In Running Racing - Live/In Play Racing

No Pre Race promotional offers will apply to in running racing. This includes - Best Odds Guaranteed, Money Back as Cash & Extra Place Concessions.
Max Bet applies to this market.
Bets on this market are win only.
All prices are a true representation of live events. Any stream or TV images being viewed by you may be delayed.
We reserve the right to void any part or all, of any bets, on any event on which we are Live Betting that is not completed (ie. False Start, Void Race, Abandoned).
Where we have reason to believe that a bet is placed after the outcome of an event is known, we reserve the right to void the bet.
Bets will be settled on the official result after the weigh-in.
A selection that fails to complete the race is deemed to have finished last for settling purposes.
Dead Heat Rules Apply.
First Past The Post Rules Apply.
'The Field' refers to any runners that aren't named in the market

Win & Each Way Betting

You're betting on: whether a named horse will win or place in a specified race.

A Win bet is a single stake on the chosen selection winning the race. Alternatively, an 'each way (EW)' option is also available. An Each Way bet consists of two parts, the Win part and the Place part. Each part is an equal stake, i.e. £1 EW will cost a total of £2. When you are placing this type of bet you are betting on your selection to either Win or be Placed within the payout terms.
If your selection wins, both the 'Win' and 'Place' parts of your bet will pay out however if your selection is placed, i.e. comes 2nd, then only the place part only of your stake is used to calculate your winnings at the place terms i.e. 1/5 1st 3 places. In this circumstance the Win part of your stake is lost.
For Horse Racing Betting, the 'Place' part of Each Way bets will be given the following Place terms:

Non-Handicap Races
2 - 4 Runners Win Only
5 - 7 Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2
8 or more Runners 1/5 the Odds 1, 2, 3

Handicap Races
2 - 4 Runners Win Only
5 - 7 Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2
8 - 11 Runners 1/5 the Odds 1, 2, 3
12 - 15 Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2, 3
16 or more Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2, 3, 4

Each-Way bets are governed by our S.P. place betting terms. This means that the place terms (1/4, 1/5 and number of places paid) will be determined by the number of horses coming 'under starter's orders' and not by the number of declared runners when the price was taken.
Extra Place concessions over and above the standard place terms may be offered as part of a promotion. Extra place concessions are dependent on the number of runners that come under starters orders and are liable to change in the event of non-runners and/or withdrawals. Sky Bet reserve the right to change the fractional place terms when offering such concessions. In these circumstances Sky Bet reserve the right to withdraw, withhold or change the offer without prior notice.
Best Odds Guaranteed does not apply to Extra Place concessions over and above the standard place terms.

Non Runner No Bet

Non Runner No Bet means if the horse you backed doesn't run in the race specified then your stake will be returned to your account.
This will be displayed as Non-Runner, No Bet (NRNB) in the Bet slip and can be found on the bet market as per the below image.
If you place a bet on a NRNB selection involved in a multiple bet, Your bets will be settled on the remaining selections you have made.
As soon as we have official confirmation that your horse is a non-runner we will refund your stake as soon as practically possible.

Antepost

Ante Post is a phrase used for bets placed at least a day in advance of the event.
It's commonly used in horse racing when bets are placed before the overnight declaration stage (usually 10am on the day before the race).
Betting Ante Post can often ensure you get better odds than if you bet on the day of the event, but be aware that if you've made an Ante Post bet and your selection is a non-runner, your bet won't be void & your stake returned, it will lose & no refund of the stake will be applicable

How do I know it is an Ante Post bet?

It will display on the Bet Selection screen as per below:

Can I Cash Out an Ante Post Bet?

No. For Cash Out Bets look out for the Cash Out Icon displayed on the Bet Selection screen.

Ante Post Terms & Conditions:

1. Ante Post prices are those offered on:

Horse Racing prior to the final declaration stage (48hrs Flat & NH), after this all bets will be "Non-runner, No Bet". From this point on, Tattersalls Rule 4(c) will apply.
Greyhound events up to and including the Semi-Final stage. Any bets placed after the Semi-Finals or on a single race event will be settled on an Early Price "non-runner no bet" basis.

2. Ante Post bets are accepted all in run or not. Stakes are lost on an Ante Post bet if a selection does not take part. Generally no Tattersalls' Rule 4 deductions are made from winning bets, except in certain circumstances. (See Rules for individual sports for further details of non-racing events).

3. All Each-Way Doubles, Trebles, etc., are settled win to win, place to place.

4. If a horse race is postponed to another day then Ante Post bets stand. However, in the event of the following occurrences happening bets on the market will be void.-

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 the current BHA rules.
The venue is altered.
The running surface is altered (e.g. Turf to Dirt/All Weather or vice versa).

5. Ante Post bets are settled at the price and place terms applicable at the time of acceptance. Should a wrong price or place terms be taken in error we reserve the right to settle the bet at the correct price/place terms that were available at the time the bet was struck.

6. Place only bets, conditional bets and forecast betting are not accepted at Ante Post odds. If taken in error, place only and forecast bets will be void and the conditional part of any Ante Post bet will be disregarded.

7. Where the same selection is backed to win two or more Ante Post events in an accumulative bet a special combined price will apply irrespective of any individual odds quoted. Where no special combined price is available e.g. a horse to win a Derby trial and the Derby, settlement will be based on the first available odds after the 1st leg has been completed.
8. Future Racing betting ceases at 10am on the day of the overnight declaration stage and all bets placed after that stage will be 'non-runner no bet', i.e. your bet stake will be refunded if your horse fails to compete. Tattersalls Rule 4 may apply.

Prices - Early, Board and Starting

When placing a bet on Horse Racing you can select from two available pricing options - the price the selection is at time of placement OR the Starting Price (SP). Starting Price means that whatever odds your selection is at the start of the race are the odds you will receive for your bet. If betting is available during a race, then the SP will be the last available odds for the selection. (SP isn't available for Ante Post bets, where the Ante Post price must be taken. For more info on Ante Post, click here).
Early Prices and Board Prices are both similar in nature. Early Prices are the odds we offer for Horse Racing on the day of the event. They are usually offered up to 15 minutes before the race is off and become available between 9.30am & 10.15am daily and 8.30am & 9am on Saturdays. Once time is into the 15 minutes prior to a race, the prices displayed as alternatives to Starting Price (SP) are known as 'Board' Prices. Selecting to bet at anything other than SP will result in settlement being calculated from the price taken at time of placement (subject to these Horse Racing rules as a whole)
Both Early Price and Board Price bets are accepted on a "Non-Runner=No Bet" basis, therefore should a horse be withdrawn not under orders, stakes on that selection will be returned with bets on other horses in the race subject to Tattersalls Rule 4(c) deduction where applicable.
Should a horse be withdrawn and a new market (i.e. set of prices) formed, any bets that were taken at Early or Board Price prior to the new market will be subject to a Rule 4(c) deduction.

Further Rules regarding Pricing of selections

In the event of a WRONG PRICE being transmitted then the bet will be settled at the correct price at the time the bet was struck or at S.P. whichever is the greater.
Should a horse be WITHDRAWN whereby Tattersalls Rule 4(c) would apply, then no "Board/Show Price" can be taken after the time of withdrawal, unless the "Market" has been re-formed.
Horses offered as 'Price Boosts', will also be subject to a Rule 4 deduction if there is an applicable non runner in the race.

Forecast & Tricast Betting

For a greater explanation of Forecast & Tricast Betting, please visit the Forecast Betting article available in the General Betting Rules section . In regards to this type of bet's affect on Horse Racing settlement, the following Rules apply:

Forecasts are accepted in all races of 3 or more actual runners and will be settled as a straight forecast (selections to finish 1st and 2nd in correct order) in accordance with the computer straight forecast dividend. This dividend is industry wide and is declared when the result of the race is known and confirmed. If there are less than 3 actually running in a race then all forecasts for that race will be void.
Tricasts are accepted in races where an official computer tricast dividend is declared. Any that are taken on a race where no dividend is declared will stand as a computer straight forecast on the selections chosen to finish first and second with the third being discounted. Like forecasts, the tricast dividend is industry wide and is declared when the result of the race is known and confirmed.
In the event that there is only one finisher in a race and no Forecast dividend is returned, all Forecasts bets with the winning selection to finish first will be settled as WIN SP singles on the winning horse. All other forecast bets will be losing bets.
Forecast Bets are settled in accordance with the computer SP straight forecast returns. If for any reason a Forecast SP return is not given, bets will be made void.
Selections should always be named. Unnamed Favourites are not accepted and where taken in error will be made void.
Forecast Bets involving a non runner will be made void. Tricast Bets involving a non runner will stand as a computer straight forecast on the remaining two selections in the order stated. Bets involving two non runners will be made void.

Unnamed Favourite Betting

When looking over the list of available runners in a Horse Race at Sky Bet, you will notice two extra options available, 'Unnamed Favourite' and 'Unnamed 2nd Favourite'. These are bets on a selection that hasn't been determined yet - either the Favourite (f) or 2nd Favourite (2f) - and these bets are governed by the following Rules:

The first favourite is the horse given in the S.P. returns at the shortest price if there are two or more horses returned at the shortest price they are classed as joint first and second favourites.
The 2nd favourite is the horse given in the S.P. returns at the 2nd shortest price if there are two or more horses returned at the 2nd shortest price they are classed as joint second favourites.
Unnamed favourite & Unnamed 2nd favourite betting is Win Only
Where a horse is withdrawn not under orders but is still returned favourite or 2nd favourite then bets on that favourite or 2nd favourite are treated as a non-runner.
In the event of a walkover after the market has been displayed all bets will be settled as void.
For settling purposes, Dead Heat Rules apply when an unnamed favourite or unnamed 2nd favourite returns joint or co favourites.

Reserves

In races including reserve horses, any bets taken before a reserve horse has been declared to run and if the reserve was not priced up at the time the bet was placed, then any of these bets will be settled on the result 'without the reserve runner(s)'. Each-way bets settled on the result 'without the reserve runner(s)' will be based on the number of runners, excluding reserves, that start the race. In races where reserves are priced but do not run, no Rule 4 (Deductions) will be applicable.

Derived Markets

Below are the rules for the derived markets that we offer. These rules apply to the derived markets listed below for racing from the UK, Ireland, South Africa and Dubai.

Insure Bet

2 places
A price will be offered for the horse to win the race. If the horse finishes second, the stake will be returned.

3 places
A price will be offered for the horse to win the race. If the horse finishes second or third, the stake will be returned.

4 places
A price will be offered for the horse to win the race. If the horse finishes second or third or fourth, the stake will be returned.

In the event of a horse being withdrawn, not under starter's orders, stakes on that selection will be returned. Bets for the remaining horses in the race will be subject to a deduction in accordance with Tattersall's Rule 4 based on the win price of the withdrawn horse(s) at the time of withdrawal.
Best Odds Guaranteed does not apply to this market
Dead Heat Rules apply to this market.

Betting Without

'Betting without' bets will be settled with the finishing position of the "without" runner ignored. If the named "without" selection becomes a non-runner then bets will be settled essentially on the actual race result, which might be subject to further non-runners.
In the event of a horse that isn't the named "without" selection being withdrawn, not under starter's orders, stakes on that selection will be returned. Bets for the remaining horses in the race will be subject to a deduction in accordance with Tattersall's R4 based on the price in the betting without market of the withdrawn horse(s) at the time of withdrawal. If the market is reduced to just one runner due to non-runners, then this will be treated as a walkover and the market will be voided.
Best Odds Guaranteed does not apply to this market.
Dead Heat Rules apply to this market.

Each Way may be offered on this market, Betting Without, the 'Place' part of Each Way bets will be given the following Place terms:

Non-Handicap Races
2 - 4 Runners Win Only
5 - 7 Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2
8 or more Runners 1/5 the Odds 1, 2, 3

Handicap Races
2 - 4 Runners Win Only
5 - 7 Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2
8 - 11 Runners 1/5 the Odds 1, 2, 3
12 - 15 Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2, 3
16 or more Runners 1/4 the Odds 1, 2, 3, 4

Each-Way bets are governed by our S.P. place betting terms. This means that the place terms (1/4, 1/5 and number of places paid) will be determined by the number of horses coming 'under starter's orders' and not by the number of declared runners when the price was taken.

Place Betting

Best Odds Guaranteed does not apply to this market

2 places
Predict a horse to finish in the first two places.
3 places
Predict a horse to finish in the first three places.
4 places
Predict a horse to finish in the first four places.
5 places
Predict a horse to finish in the first five places.
6 places
Predict a horse to finish in the first six places.
7 places
Predict a horse to finish in the first seven places.
8 places
Predict a horse to finish in the first eight places.

In the event of a horse being withdrawn, not under starter's orders, stakes on that selection will be returned. Bets for the remaining horses in the race will be subject to a deduction in accordance with the Rule 4 table below based on the price in the place only market of the withdrawn horse(s) at the time of withdrawal.

The number of places offered will not alter in the event of non-runners unless the number of runners is equal to or less than the number of places offered. In this event, all bets will be void. Standard Dead Heat Rules apply.

Racing League
The Racing League Outright - Which team will win the Racing League?

Racing every Thursday evening for 6 weeks from 25th July 2024. 42 races with 25 points to the winner of the races team down to 1 point for the 10th place finisher. The team with the most accumulative points after 42 races wins the Racing League.

Scoring System for each race - 1st place - 25pts, 2nd - 18pts, 3rd - 15pts, 4th - 12pts, 5th - 10pts, 6th - 8pts, 7th - 6pts, 8th - 3pts, 9th - 2pts & 10th - 1pt.

Outrights will be settled from the official resulting site - https://www.racingleague.uk/
Dead Heat Rules apply.

Horse Racing - Rule 4 Rules

If a horse is withdrawn not coming under starters orders - or is officially deemed by the starter not to have taken part in the race - stakes on that horse will be refunded and winning bets will be subject to deductions in accordance with Tattersalls Rule 4 (c). For a greater explanation of Rule 4, please click here.
If your horse racing bet hasn't returned as much as you thought it would, the first action to take is to check if the race was affected by a 'Rule 4' (or R4). The quickest way to do so is by using our Account History or Settled bets options within the My Account area.

Rule 4 (or Rule 4(c) to give it it's full title) is a Tattersalls Rule of Racing which governs all Horse Racing to compensate for the later withdrawal of a horse or runner in your chosen race. To explain the spirit of the rule in it's simplest terms, please consider the following hypothetical example:
You have elected to bet on Horse A @ 5/1 in the 2.30 at Ascot. There are only 3 runners in this particular race and later on in the day, Horse B @ 7/4 unfortunately has to withdraw from the race.
The race now becomes a 2 runner race and immediately your horse's chance of winning have increased from 1 in 3 runners to 1 in 2 runners. Once the non-runner is official we will revise the race at the earliest opportunity with new odds for the 2 remaining runners. Therefore with this in mind, the 5/1 taken earlier in the day is now no longer a fair reflection of Horse A's chances and some form of reduction is needed to compensate.
Therefore the concept of Rule 4 involves deducting a set value in pence out of every pound (£GBP) of winnings in winning bets. The size of this deduction is determined by the price (Early or Board/Show) of the non-runner at the time of withdrawal. In our example, as Horse B was 7/4 at the time of withdrawal, a deduction of 35p in every £1 of winnings would be deducted from winning bets:

Further Rules regarding Rule 4

The application of Rule 4(c) will be determined by the price of the withdrawn horse at the time of withdrawal.
For races where more than one horse is withdrawn, the deduction won't be bigger than 90p per £1.
In the case of withdrawals in reformed markets, the total deduction over the two or more horses (i.e. one in the original and one in the reformed market) will be calculated on the prices applicable in the original market.
For bets placed in reformed markets, deductions applied to withdrawn horses in these markets will be calculated on the prices applicable in these markets.

Market Terms

In the event of a horse being withdrawn/not under starters orders, stakes on that selection will be refunded. Bets for the remaining horses in the race will be subject to a deduction in accordance with Tattersall's Rule 4 based on the price in the market of the withdrawn horse(s) at the time of the withdrawal.
If the market is reduced to less runners than is named in the title of the market due to non-runners/walkovers then this will be treated as a walkover and the market will be voided.
Multiples cannot be placed on horses in the same race
Best Odds Guaranteed does not apply to this market.

Horse Racing - International Racing Rules

Sky Bet offers International and US Race Betting through the relevant pools. Below are the rules used to determine acceptance and settlement for this particular category of betting;

Racing Abroad

In countries where there is no S.P. market in operation bets are accepted at PARI-MUTUEL (TOTE) returns for Win, Each-Way and Place Only.
In Win and Each-Way bets, horses in the same ownership are generally coupled in the WIN pool only, The place part of Each-Way bets stand on the named selection and are settled on the returned place dividend.
PLACE ONLY bets are accepted as singles only.

Double Engagements

Where a selection is doubly engaged and the time is stipulated in the bet, it will stand as a bet for the timed race. If the selection runs in the other race it would be treated as a non runner.

Where the selection is un-timed the bet will stand for the first race that the selection actually runs in after the bet is placed.
Where a doubly engaged horse is included in a multiple bet and runs in the same race as another selection in the multiple bet, the horse will automatically be timed for the race in which the entries do not clash.

Australian Racing

General Rules

Bets can only be placed at prices at the price currently available.
SP Betting is not available.
Best Odds Guaranteed is not available on Australian racing.
Advertised race times are estimated OFF times, they are not official. It is possible races will go OFF before the estimated time. When this occurs all bets will stand.
All bets will be voided in the event of a meeting being transferred to another track.

US Racing (Fixed Odds)

You can now place bets on US racing at Early, Board and Starting Prices for selected meetings each day.

Advertised race times are estimated OFF times, they are not official. It is possible races will go OFF before the estimated time. When this occurs all bets will stand.
All Board prices are provided by the Press Association, along with the forecast and tricast dividends, and these are what will be used for settlement purposes.
Starting Prices will be a Sky Bet SP, determined by the last available price provided by the Press Association (PA)
When a horse runs for purse money only it does not form part of the official betting and therefore will be settled as void
If the surface of the race changes for whatever reason all bets will stand.

US Racing (Tote)

We have a direct link with US racing tracks which gives you the chance to place bets on horse racing from across the pond! The bet types we can offer you will all depend on what bets the track are offering and similarly to Tote betting, the odds will be whatever dividend is declared by the US tracks.

General US Racing Rules

US Racing Dividends are announced to a $2 stake. The equivalent stake you place in your native currency will be displayed prior to placement.
If the bets do not reach the pools, customers will have their money refunded and neither the US Pool nor Sky Bet will be liable for any loss of winnings that would have been due had the bet reached the pool. Please remember any TV coverage is a transatlantic broadcast so hence may be delayed by several seconds.

Indian Racing (Fixed Odds)Indian Racing (Fixed Odds)

You can now place bets on Indian racing at Board and Starting Prices for selected meetings each week.

Advertised race times are estimated OFF times, they are not official. It is possible races will go OFF before the estimated time. When this occurs all bets will stand.
All Board and Starting Prices are provided by the Press Association, along with the forecast and tricast dividends, and these are what will be used for settlement purposes.

European Racing (Fixed Odds)

You can place bets on European racing at Early, Board and Starting Prices for selected meetings each day.

European Racing rules cover racing from France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and other selected races from European Racecourses.
All Board and Starting Prices are provided by the Press Association, along with the forecast and tricast dividends, and these are what will be used for settlement purposes. These may sometimes differ from some tote-based SP returns that may be advertised on 3rd party websites.
There will be no Pool or Pari-Mutuel betting available for European Racing.
Dead Heat Rules and Rule 4 rules will apply as per our normal Horse Racing Rules.
Best Odds Guaranteed will not apply to European Racing, unless otherwise stated.
For Trotting Races, all bets will be settled according to the declared official result. First Past The Post rules will NOT apply. If a horse is disqualified for any reason, the horse will be settled as a loser which means all bets placed on that horse are losing bets.