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- Rule 4 and non-runners: how deductions reduce winning returns
Term
Rule 4 and non-runners: how deductions reduce winning returns
A Rule 4 deduction reduces the winnings on a horse-racing bet when a runner is withdrawn after the bet was placed. Each operator publishes its own scale in its rules. In the example here, a €10 win bet at 4/1 (5.00) returns €50.00 with no deduction and €46.00 with an example deduction of 10 cent in the euro.
What is a Rule 4 deduction?
A Rule 4 deduction is a reduction in winnings when a runner is withdrawn after bets were placed. It reflects that the field has changed.
Each operator publishes its own scale in its rules, so the size of a deduction is a question for the operator you use, not a fixed figure.
Bottom line: Rule 4 takes part of the winnings away when a runner is withdrawn late.
How does a deduction change a return?
Figures below are examples and are not an operator's scale.
| Example deduction | Winnings before | Winnings after | Stake returned | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | €40.00 | €40.00 | €10.00 | €50.00 |
| 10 cent in the euro | €40.00 | €36.00 | €10.00 | €46.00 |
| 25 cent in the euro | €40.00 | €30.00 | €10.00 | €40.00 |
Check in the operator's rules whether the deduction applies to winnings only, as in this example, and whether ante-post bets are treated differently.
Bottom line: the deduction cuts the winnings, not the stake.
Where do you find the rule?
The scale sits in the betting rules of the operator you use. We did not record any scale on 7 November 2026.
| Operator (candidate, licence to be confirmed) | Scale and conditions | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Could not be verified on 7 November 2026 | Operator rules page, URL to be recorded | 7 November 2026 |
| Paddy Power | Could not be verified on 7 November 2026 | Operator rules page, URL to be recorded | 7 November 2026 |
| BOYLE Sports | Could not be verified on 7 November 2026 | Operator rules page, URL to be recorded | 7 November 2026 |
Because the rule is applied after the race, find the wording before you bet, not after a runner is withdrawn.
Bottom line: each operator publishes its own scale, and we have not yet recorded any.
Where to go next
- Read each-way settlement.
- Learn how a starting price is used.
- See horse racing and the terms hub.
Bottom line: each link stays inside this site.
What changed?
No changes recorded since first publication on 7 November 2026.
Bottom line: this is the first version of the page.