Rule 4 Deductions. R4. Bookies Deduction after horse withdrawal. A Rule4

After a bookmaker has created a book of prices for a horse race, there is a possibility that a horse may be withdrawn (become a non runner) before the race commences. This can happen for many reasons, for example: the going has changed dramatically and it no longer suits a particular horse or simply that a horse has become unwell. As the bookmakers made up the original book / odds based on all the horses taking part, the prices will now be incorrect for all bets taken before the withdrawn horse.

In such cases, bookmakers are allowed to make adjustments to returns from any winning bets and this is called a 'Rule 4 Deduction' or R4 for short. Deductions are based on a certain amount of pence in the pound, E.g. 20 pence in the pound and it is the original price of the withdrawn horse which determines the amount of deduction. Rule 4 deductions are applied to both win bets and each way / place bets. It is only your winnings that are affected by the rule 4 deduction and not your original stake. If more than 1 horse is withdrawn, total deductions shall not exceed 75p in the pound.

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If there is enough time before the start of the horse race for bookmakers to create a new book, they will do so. In these cases the Rule 4 deductions will only apply to people who placed bets on horses at the original book prices before the withdrawal.

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