Place betting on Australian Horse Racing

[bob1957]

Bet Angel returns 3 placegetters as winners in races where there are less than 8 runners. This happens when there are 8 or more runners originally declared for the race, but it does not take into account scratching s before the official morning deadline which can reduce the field to less than 8. Betfair only pay 2 place dividends in this case.

Attached is a screenshot of a place betting Sunshine Coast race 13/4/25 which had 7 runners after the official morning scratching deadline but Betangel returned 3 place winners, Betfair only paid 2 placegetters.

If there are less than 8 runners before the official morning scratching deadline then Betangel returns 2 placegetters.

Could the win status of placegetters in races where there are less than 8 and greater than 4 runners be amended to reflect the actual number of runners after the official morning scratching time i.e 2 placegetters. I note the number of selections on the one click screen reflects the actual number of runners.

Below is the response from Betangel AI support,
"In the context of place betting on Australian gallops using Bet Angel, if the number of runners drops below 8 due to scratchings before the morning deadline, then only 2 place dividends are paid. This adjustment reflects the standard practice in horse racing where the number of placegetters is determined by the number of runners at the time of the final declarations, taking into account any scratchings that occur before the deadline."

[jamesedwards]

Is Aus racing treated differently by Betfair? As far as I know Betfair would still pay out on 3 places in the 'to be placed market' in that situation if UK/US etc.

eg 14:50 @ Stratford today. Was declared 8 runners but now down to 7, but each way and TBP markets are still paying out the top 3 finishers.

Addendum:
Betfair market rules on Aus markets would suggest the same approach: "THIS BET IS FOR A HORSE TO PLACE 1st, 2nd or 3rd. NON RUNNERS DO NOT CHANGE THE PLACE TERMS."

[TipTopTrader]

It was a normal pre 7am scratching, not a non runner no deductions. Scratched at 6.13 am. TAB paid 2 places

[bob1957]

Thanks for your replies, TipTopTrader is correct, scratched before the official scratching deadline does not constitute a non runner.
If the field is reduced to less than 8 at the scratching deadline then only 2 place dividends are payable.
Scratched after the official deadline then it becomes a non runner as jamesedwards suggests.
It would be appreciated if Betangel reflects the win/ status on place markets with less than 8 runners at the scratching deadline, i.e 2 placegetters.

[TipTopTrader]

I reread your OP bob, and realized that you know the rules. Betangel made a mistake and you're wondering why.

[bob1957]

Todays horse racing in Mackay there are 2 examples where the races had more than 7 starters nominated but before the official scratching deadline were reduced to less than 8 and Betfair will only pay the top 2 placegetters in those races.
One race was reduced to less than 8 before the official scratching deadline and Betfair changed to top 2 placegetters only and then there was a late scratching after the official deadline and Betfair rightly declared it a non runner.
This would confirm if the field is reduced to less than 8 at the official scratching time then only 2 placegetters are paid, if it is a late scratching it is declared a non runner and does not affect the original number of placings paid.