Dead heat calculator
When two horses dead-heat, half your stake is paid at full odds and the other half is lost; with three or more, the stake is cut in proportion. A £10 win bet at 5/1 on a horse that dead-heats for first returns £30.00.
Checked 2026-11-07. Source: Tattersalls Committee Rules on Betting, Rule 10.
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The dead heat rule
In the event of a dead heat, a bet on either horse involved in the dead heat loses half the stake, with full odds being applied to the remaining half (if there is a triple dead heat or more, the reduction is in proportion).
stake paid at full odds = stake × places left ÷ horses tied (never more than the full stake)
"Places left" is 1 for a dead heat for the win. For a place bet it is the number of paying places from the tied position down: two horses tied for 2nd with 3 places paid share places 2 and 3, so both are paid in full.
Worked examples
Win bet. £10 at 5/1 (6.0), two horses tie for 1st: £10 ÷ 2 = £5 at 6.0 = £30.00, a profit of £20.00.
Each way, dead heat for 3rd. £10 each way (£20) at 10/1, 1/5 odds 3 places. The win part loses. The place part is paid on half the stake: £5 at 1 + 10 × 1/5 = 3.0 returns £15.00. Total return £15.00, a loss of £5.00.
Each way, dead heat for 1st. Same bet, two horses tie for 1st: win part £5 at 11.0 = £55.00. The place part counts in full because two places (1st and 2nd) cover the two horses: £10 at 3.0 = £30.00. Total £85.00.
Share of the stake paid at full odds
| Dead heat | Horses tied | Places left | Stake counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two horses tie for 1st (win bet) | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Three horses tie for 1st (win bet) | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Two tie for 3rd, 3 places paid | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Two tie for 2nd, 3 places paid | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| Three tie for 2nd, 3 places paid | 3 | 2 | 66.7% |
| Two tie for 4th, 4 places paid | 2 | 1 | 50% |
Bookmakers settle by these rules unless their own terms say otherwise; check your bookmaker's racing rules for a specific bet. Non-runners are a separate deduction: Rule 4 calculator.
For the full returns of an each way bet without a dead heat, use the each way calculator. For exact-order bets see the tricast calculator.
Questions
How are dead heats paid?
Under Tattersalls Rule 10, half the stake on each horse in a two-way dead heat is lost and the other half is paid at full odds. A £10 win bet at 5/1 that dead-heats returns £30.00 instead of £60.
What happens with a dead heat for a place?
The stake is cut by the number of horses tied over the number of places still paid. If two horses tie for 3rd and 3 places pay, there is one place for two horses, so half the place stake counts: £15.00 on a £10 each way at 10/1 with 1/5 odds.
Can a dead heat bet lose money?
Yes, at odds shorter than evens. At evens half the stake doubled gives your stake back; at 1/2 a £10 win bet that dead-heats returns £7.50.
Does a dead heat for 2nd affect a win bet?
No. Only the horse that won outright pays the win part; a dead heat for 2nd or lower affects place bets and forecasts.