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Rule 4 calculator and deductions table
Rule 4 is a deduction from your winnings when a horse is withdrawn after you've taken a price. The shorter the withdrawn horse's odds, the bigger the deduction, up to 90p in the £. Enter your bet and the withdrawn horse's price to see what you'll get.
When Rule 4 applies
Rule 4 only applies to bets struck at a price before the withdrawal. Bets at starting price usually aren't affected, because the SP is set after the withdrawal. The exception is a very late withdrawal, when there's no time to form a new market. Your stake is never touched, only the winnings.
If more than one horse is withdrawn, the deductions add up, to a maximum of 90p in the £. Bookmakers settle on the official Tattersalls figures, and some don't take 5p deductions at all. Check your bookmaker's settlement if the numbers differ.
Rule 4 deductions table
| Withdrawn horse's odds | Deduction | £10 winnings become |
|---|---|---|
| 1/9 or shorter | 90p | £1.00 |
| 2/17 to 2/11 | 85p | £1.50 |
| 1/5 to 1/4 | 80p | £2.00 |
| 2/7 to 3/10 | 75p | £2.50 |
| 1/3 to 2/5 | 70p | £3.00 |
| 4/9 to 8/15 | 65p | £3.50 |
| 4/7 to 8/13 | 60p | £4.00 |
| 4/6 to 4/5 | 55p | £4.50 |
| 5/6 to 20/21 | 50p | £5.00 |
| Evens to 6/5 | 45p | £5.50 |
| 5/4 to 6/4 | 40p | £6.00 |
| 13/8 to 7/4 | 35p | £6.50 |
| 15/8 to 9/4 | 30p | £7.00 |
| 5/2 to 3/1 | 25p | £7.50 |
| 10/3 to 4/1 | 20p | £8.00 |
| 9/2 to 11/2 | 15p | £8.50 |
| 6/1 to 9/1 | 10p | £9.00 |
| 10/1 to 14/1 | 5p | £9.50 |
| Longer than 14/1 | No deduction | £10.00 |
A worked example
You back a horse at 4/1 for £10. A 3/1 shot is withdrawn, so Rule 4 takes 25p in the £. Without the deduction you'd win £40 and get £50.00 back. With it, £10 of the £40 goes, and you get £40.00.
On an each way bet, the deduction comes off the winnings of both the win part and the place part.
Rule 4 and other bets
- Ante-post bets aren't subject to Rule 4. If your horse doesn't run, though, you usually lose your stake.
- Best odds guaranteed still applies. You're paid the better of your price after Rule 4 or the starting price.
- In a multiple, the deduction applies to the leg in that race only.
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Questions people ask
What is Rule 4 in horse racing?
A rule that reduces your winnings when a horse is withdrawn after you've bet at a price. It reflects the fact that your horse's chances went up when the field got smaller.
What is the maximum Rule 4 deduction?
90p in the £. That applies to a single very short priced withdrawal, and is also the cap when several deductions add up.
Does Rule 4 apply to starting price bets?
Usually not, because the starting price is set after the withdrawal and already reflects the smaller field. If a horse is withdrawn so late that there's no time to form a new market, SP bets get a deduction too.
Does Rule 4 affect my stake?
No. It only comes off the winnings. You always get your stake back on a winning bet.