# Dead heat

> A dead heat is a tie at the finish. The stake is divided by the number of horses tied and settled at full odds. Definition, formula and one example.

Source: https://eachwayatlas.uk/glossary/dead-heat/
Updated: 2026-11-07

A dead heat is a tie at the finish, where two or more horses cannot be separated for a position. The stake on the affected part of a bet is divided by the number of horses tied, and that share is settled at full odds. In UK betting it appears in the rules on settlement and in each-way terms.

## What the term means

When a judge cannot split two horses, bets on them are not settled as full wins. Each backer receives a share, because only one winner was expected.

The rulebook wording is in the Tattersalls Rules and in each operator's terms. We have not yet recorded the current text, so the rule number and wording are Not verified.

**The short version:** a tie divides the stake on that part of the bet, and the rest of the stake is lost.

## How the payout is worked out

In words: the reduced stake equals the stake on the affected part divided by the number of horses tied. That reduced stake is paid at the full odds, and the remainder is lost.

Why this matters to you: a bet on a horse that "won" can pay out less than a clean win, so the result and the payout can differ.

**Example.** An each-way bet has a unit stake of £5, so £10 in all. The horse dead-heats for first with one other horse. On the win part, £5 ÷ 2 = £2.50 is settled at 4/1: profit £10.00, return £12.50.

The other £2.50 is lost. The place part follows the place terms and the rules, so no figure is shown here.

We derived this from the formula above; the rulebook text it relies on is Not verified.

## Where you meet it

You meet it on a settled bet and in the racing rules of each operator. Rules for several bookmakers are compared in [Rule 4 and dead heat rules](https://eachwayatlas.uk/data/rule-4-dead-heat-rules/). The place part uses the [place terms](https://eachwayatlas.uk/glossary/place-terms/) of the race.

**Dead heat in operator rules · source: operator racing rules · date read: not yet read**

| Operator (candidate; licence to be confirmed) | How the rules describe dead heats | Date read |
|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Not verified | Not verified |
| Betfred | Not verified | Not verified |

## Common mix-ups

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A dead heat is not a photo finish. A photo finish is only the way a close result is judged. * It is not the same as a [Rule 4 deduction](https://eachwayatlas.uk/glossary/rule-4-deduction/), which follows a withdrawn horse.
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It does not apply only to the winner. Ties can happen for a place too.

For the basics of the bet itself, see [what each way means](https://eachwayatlas.uk/each-way/what-does-each-way-mean/), and for your own figures use the [calculator](https://eachwayatlas.uk/each-way/each-way-returns-calculator/).