Each-way questions, answered briefly

These answers cover what the bet is and what it costs.

What does each way mean?

Each way means one bet made of two equal parts: a win bet and a place bet. The win part pays if your selection wins. The place part pays if it finishes in the paid places, at a fraction of the odds. Because there are two parts, the total stake is double the unit stake you enter.

Full answer: what each way means

How much does an each-way bet cost?

The cost is the unit stake multiplied by two, because you pay for a win bet and a place bet. A £10 each-way bet costs £20, and a £5 each-way bet costs £10. The slip shows the total stake before you confirm, so check that it matches the figure you intended.

Full answer: working out each-way returns

How many places does an each-way bet pay?

The bookmaker sets the number of places for each race, so there is no single answer. The terms appear on the racecard or bet slip. Our dated table of the terms bookmakers publish is Not verified on 7 November 2026, so we state no number here; check the terms for your race before you bet.

Full answer: places and fractions

What is the place fraction?

The place fraction is the share of the win odds used to pay the place part. At 1/4, odds of 8/1 become 2/1 for the place part. In decimal terms, the place return is the unit stake × (1 + (decimal odds − 1) × fraction). The fraction is set for the race, not for your bet.

Full answer: place terms

Where do I find the place terms for a race?

Look at the racecard or bet slip for your race: the bookmaker states the number of places and the fraction there, and they can differ from race to race. Note the terms at the time you bet, because they can be revised if a horse is withdrawn.

Full answer: reading place terms on a racecard

Two questions about the price your bet is paid at.

How do I read odds like 5/1 and 6.0?

Fractional odds of 5/1 mean £5 profit for every £1 staked. Decimal odds of 6.0 show the total return per £1, stake included, so 5/1 and 6.0 are the same price. To convert, add 1 to the fraction: 5/1 is 5 + 1 = 6.0, and 3/2 is 1.5 + 1 = 2.5.

Full answer: reading fractional and decimal odds

What is the difference between early price and starting price?

An early price is fixed when you place the bet. The starting price, or SP, is the price of the horse when the race starts. If you take the SP, your bet is paid at whatever that price turns out to be. Your bet slip states which price type you chose.

Full answer: early price or starting price

Three questions about situations that alter what a bet pays or whether it exists.

What happens if my horse is withdrawn?

If you backed the withdrawn horse in a single bet, the bet is void and the stake is returned. If another horse is withdrawn, a Rule 4 deduction can reduce your winnings, in pence in the pound, and place terms can be revised. The scale and wording are in the Tattersalls Rules and your bookmaker's rules.

Full answer: withdrawn horses and Rule 4

What is a dead heat?

A dead heat is two or more runners finishing level. If your horse is involved, the stake on the affected part is divided between the runners concerned, and the return is worked out on that smaller stake. The exact method is set out in the Tattersalls Rules, which we have not yet read for this page.

Full answer: dead heat

Can I bet each way on every race?

No. Some races and markets are offered win-only, and then there is no place part to buy. The bet slip shows whether an each-way option exists for your selection. The conditions bookmakers publish for this are Not verified on 7 November 2026, so we state no race-size rule here.

Full answer: when you cannot bet each way

The cost and odds examples are our own arithmetic.

We have not yet read the Tattersalls Rules or any bookmaker's published rules for this page, so statements about their wording are marked Not verified.

Questions about offers are on the extra-places FAQ, and every term is defined in the glossary. Back to each-way betting explained.

18+ only. Gambling can be harmful.