Each-Way AtlasEach-way betting explained
What happens to an each-way bet if a horse is withdrawn?
If the horse you backed is withdrawn before the race, the stake on that selection is returned. If another horse is withdrawn, your stake stays in, but a Rule 4 deduction may reduce what you are paid on a winning or placed bet. Ante-post bets follow different terms, set by the bookmaker.
Editorial team of Each-Way Atlas · Checked
Facts: who is affected when a horse is withdrawn
| Situation | Your stake | Winnings | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your horse is withdrawn | Returned | None | Rule text not verified |
| Another horse is withdrawn | Stays in | May be reduced by a Rule 4 deduction | Rule text not verified |
| Ante-post bet | Set by the operator's ante-post rule | Set by the operator's ante-post rule | Not verified |
| Size of the deduction | Not applicable | Read from the deduction table | Not verified |
The short version: a withdrawn horse returns its own stake and can trim the winnings on every other bet in the race.
Why does a withdrawal change what other bets pay?
A withdrawn horse leaves the market, and the remaining prices were set with that horse in the race. A deduction restores balance by trimming winnings, so that the bookmaker does not pay out on prices that no longer fit the field.
For you this matters because the headline price on your slip may not be the price that settles. See Rule 4 deduction for the definition.
The short version: the deduction is a cut applied to profit, and its size depends on the withdrawn horse's price.
How does a Rule 4 deduction apply to each way?
The deduction is quoted in pence in the pound, and it applies to the profit on both parts: profit after deduction equals profit × (1 − d ÷ 100), where d is the pence figure. The stake is not reduced.
The size of d comes from the deduction table in the current Tattersalls Rules. We have not yet recorded that edition, so no table is reproduced here. Operators publish their own wording, compared on Rule 4 and dead-heat rules.
The short version: deduct d pence in the pound from the profit of each part, and leave the stake alone.
Example: £4 each way at 3/1 with an invented 15p deduction
The bet costs £8, two parts of £4. The horse wins, and the place fraction is 1/4. Before any deduction, the win profit is £4 × 3 = £12.00 and the place profit is £4 × 3 × 1/4 = £3.00.
| Part | Profit before | Profit after (× 0.85) |
|---|---|---|
| Win part | £12.00 | £10.20 |
| Place part | £3.00 | £2.55 |
| Total profit | £15.00 | £12.75 |
The total return is the £8 stake plus £12.75, which is £20.75. The 15p figure is invented and is not taken from any rule table.
The short version: the deduction cut £2.25 from the profit and left the £8 stake untouched.
What is different on ante-post bets?
An ante-post bet is placed days or weeks ahead, so the bookmaker's own rule decides what happens if the horse is withdrawn. The two possible outcomes are a returned stake or a lost one.
Which applies is stated in the operator's ante-post terms. We have not yet recorded the wording of any operator. Read how ante-post each-way betting works before you bet early.
The short version: do not assume the day-of-race rule covers a bet placed weeks early.
How we checked
This page explains the mechanism and the arithmetic.
The current Tattersalls Rules text and the withdrawal terms of at least three operators are Not verified as of 7 November 2026, and we add them with source and date before publication. See how we check and how to work out each-way returns.
18+ only. Gambling can be harmful.
The short version: the rule text and operator wordings are still to be recorded.
What changed
7 November 2026: first version, with an invented deduction in the worked example. Return to the each-way hub.
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