In horse racing, there are hundreds of terms that are used to describe different scenarios in the sport, and understanding all of them can be quite tricky, especially when trying to
watch horse racing. One of the most frequently used terms is dead heat, which occurs when two horses finish so close that no clear winner emerges and clarification is needed to determine the true winner. Let’s have a look at how a dead heat affects horse racing, in terms of what happens when one occurs, and how it can even affect betting.
What Happens In A Dead Heat?
When a dead heat is declared, the finishing position is shared. This can happen for first place, second place, or any other placing position. Modern photo-finish technology is used to try to separate horses, but if officials cannot determine a clear result, a dead heat is announced. Dead heats usually occur in close finishes, particularly in sprint races where horses cross the line at nearly the exact same moment. Even with all the modern technology and high-speed cameras, some finishes are simply too close to call.
When a dead heat occurs, both horses are officially recorded as finishing in the same position. There is no re-run of the race, and prize money for that position is split equally between the tied horses. For example, if two horses dead heat for first place, they are both listed as winners.
How Does A Dead Heat Affect Betting?
Dead heats can affect betting and
free bets directly, and how they are settled, as the returns are usually reduced compared to races that finish with a clear winner.
For a win bet, if two horses dead heat for first place, the returns are divided by the number of tied horses. For example, if you stake £10 on a horse at 6/1 and it dead heats with one other horse, half of your stake is settled at the winning odds. This means £5 is paid at 6/1, returning £35, while the other £5 is returned as stake, giving a total return of £40 instead of £70.
For an each-way bet, dead heats can apply to either the win part, the place part, or both. If a dead heat occurs for a placing position, the relevant portion of the bet is divided accordingly before the returns are calculated.
It is important to remember that bookmakers might apply dead heats in different ways, particularly for more complicated bets such as multipliers or enhanced odds promotions. Some bookmakers clearly display dead heat reductions on settled bets, while others incorporate them automatically into the final return.
Dead Heats In Horse Racing
Dead heats affect official race results, prize money distribution, and the settlement of many different bet types. They can reduce betting returns, alter accumulators, and lead to shared winners in race records. Knowing how dead heats work beyond the basic definition gives you a clearer understanding of both racing results and betting outcomes.