Applies to Tournament style bets only - A ruling which can be applied at the bookies discretion, when a competitor withdraws from an event or race that then changes the other competitors' chances of winning.
Rule 4 is invoked when a horse is withdrawn, and the withdrawal is deemed to have some impact on the other horses. The punter (you) gets his stake refunded less a deduction of the stake, the size of the deduction depends on the odds which applied to your bet.
When a horse is withdrawn shortly before a race and there is insufficient time to form a new market, rule 4 laid down by the Tattersalls Committee, the ruling body on matters concerning betting on horses, comes into play in order to compensate for distortions in the market once a runner has been removed. The rule dictates the percentage of winnings to be deducted, the shorter the price of the horse at the time of withdrawal the larger the deduction. (The returned stake money is not subjected to a percentage deduction.)
A deduction made from the prices of a horse due to the withdrawal of another horse.
If a horse is withdrawn shortly before the start of a race and there is insufficient time to form a new market the remaining horses are subject to a deduction if they win or are placed. These are calculated according to the starting price as follows
When a participant withdraws from an event where prices are available, bets placed prior to the withdrawal still stand, but winnings are subjected to deductions based on the price of the withdrawn participant. Stakes placed on the withdrawn participant are returned
Rule 4 mainly refers to horse racing, and refers to the fact that a deduction will occur on bets when a horse is removed from a race and there is no time to create a new market or change the odds. This can happen in other sports as well, for example motor racing.
If a horse is withdrawn and there is insufficient time to form a new market the remaining horses in the race are subject to a deduction if they win or are placed. These are calculated accoring to the starting price as follows: 3/10 or longer odds - 75p in the £, 2/5 to 1/3 - 70p, 8/15 to 4/9 - 65p, 8/13 to 4/7 - 60p, 4/5 to 4/6 - 55p, 20/21 to 5/6 - 50p, Evens to 6/5 - 45p, 5/4 to 6/4 - 40p, 13/8 to 7/4 - 35p, 15/8 to 9/4 - 30p, 5/2 to 3/1 - 25p, 10/3 to 4/1 - 20p, 9/2 to 11/2 - 15p, 6/1 to 9/1 - 10p, 10/1 to 14/1 - unchanged.
Applies to Tournament-type bets only. A ruling which may be applied at the bookmaker's discretion, when a competitor withdraws from an event thereby altering the other competitors' chances of winning.