How many horses

[blackcat77]

How many horses have to run in a flat race to be paid out on a third place (each way bet) and does it make any difference if nine horses were entered but only eight actually ran? Thanks

[mightyWBA]

It's the amount of runners that actually came under starters orders that count Blackcat
If 8 runners started an each way bet would count on the 1st 2nd and 3rd at one fifth the odds for a place.

If there were 7 runners only 1st and 2nd count
Each way betting is only allowed if there are 5 runners or more.

16 runners and more pay 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th at either one fifth or one quarter the odds depending on the type of race.
Hope this helps :-)

[lankeela]

Up to 4 runners � no place betting
5 � 7 runners � 1st & 2nd
8+ runners � 1st, 2nd & 3rd
Handicap 16+ runners � 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th

This is the Tote betting rules, but some on course bookies will have different rules of their own.

[blackcat77]

Thanks very much, mightyWBA and Lankeela - that is very helpful.