A Rule 4 deduction can reduce winnings on certain racing bets after another runner is withdrawn. The quoted deduction is expressed in pence per pound of winnings. It is not normally a percentage removed from the entire cash return including the original stake.
Identify which horse was withdrawn
There are two separate questions: what happens to a bet on the non-runner, and what happens to bets on the remaining runners. A refund on the withdrawn selection does not prevent an applicable deduction on another winning selection in that race.
The relevant timing and price of the withdrawal matter. A bet accepted after a revised market is formed can have different exposure from one accepted before the withdrawal. Read the deduction associated with your own receipt rather than copying a percentage from another customer.
Worked example: 15p in the pound
Assume a hypothetical winning £8 cash bet at 5/1 and an applicable 15p deduction. Original profit is £40. The deduction is 15% of £40, or £6. Adjusted profit is £34. Add the original £8 stake once to obtain a £42 total return.
Deducting 15% from the unadjusted £48 total return would give £40.80 and incorrectly reduce the returned cash stake. This example explains the arithmetic, not the deduction that would apply to a particular withdrawal.
| Step | Result |
|---|---|
| Unadjusted profit: £8 x 5 | £40 |
| Deduction: £40 x 0.15 | £6 |
| Adjusted profit | £34 |
| Add £8 cash stake | £42 return |
Where the deduction rate comes from
William Hill explains that its Rule 4 amount is linked to the withdrawn runner price and that multiple withdrawals can create additional deductions. Its published rules also describe exceptions and market reformations. Use the applicable operator table; the example above is not a replacement for it.
Source notes: 1.
Multiples, place parts and promotional funds
In an accumulator, apply the relevant adjustment to the affected component rather than deducting a percentage indiscriminately from the whole bet. An each-way wager has separate win and place components, and the rules can require separate treatment.
If the stake was a free-bet token, its return policy also matters. A worked cash example cannot establish the amount due on a stake-not-returned reward. Keep the original odds, deduction and funding type together when requesting a calculation.
How to query an unexpected return
Ask for the withdrawn runner, withdrawal time, applicable price, deduction rate and revised calculation. Distinguish Rule 4 from a dead heat or a change to place terms, since more than one adjustment may be involved. Save the response alongside the original receipt.
Common questions
Does every non-runner create a deduction?
No. The applicable table, price, timing and rules determine whether a deduction is made. There can also be operator-specific concessions.
Does Rule 4 always apply to ante-post bets?
Ante-post betting has different rules and commonly uses an all-in basis. Check the market classification and any explicit exception; do not apply day-of-race rules automatically.
Sources and editorial notes
Official source material consulted for this edition. Operator examples are dated illustrations, not a guarantee of current terms or personal eligibility. Worked examples are hypothetical.
Published by eLand, Lda. See our editorial policy. Report a correction.