Sometimes, even high-speed photo finishes can't separate two horses — and when that happens, it’s called a dead heat. In horse racing, a dead heat occurs when two or more horses finish in an exact tie, and the technology can't declare a clear winner. While rare, dead heats are important to understand because they affect payouts differently depending on the type of bet you placed.
What Counts as a Dead Heat?
What Counts as a Dead Heat?
A dead heat is declared when:
The official photo finish review can't separate horses at the wire
Two or more horses cross the finish line at the same exact moment
Even with high-resolution technology, no clear advantage is measurable
Dead heats can occur for any position, not just first place — including ties for second, third, or fourth.
How Payouts Work in a Dead Heat
How Payouts Work in a Dead Heat
Payouts are split in a dead heat, based on how many horses tied and how many people bet on each of them. Here's how it typically works:
Straight Bets (Win, Place, Show):
The pool is split between the tied horses, and then standard payouts apply within each share.
For a dead heat for first, the Win pool is split, and both horses pay out at half the expected amount (based on the pool share).
Exotic Bets (Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta):
Multiple combinations may be declared winners, each receiving a fraction of the total pool based on how many combinations hit.
Important Note on Dead Heat Payouts
Important Note on Dead Heat Payouts
Not every dead heat results in a 50/50 payout. If three horses tie, the pool is divided in thirds. And remember, pari-mutuel payouts always reflect pool share first — so if one horse was heavily backed and another wasn’t, the actual payouts will still vary accordingly, even after the split.
💡 Did You Know? Golden Ticket and Alpha were declared co-winners of the 2012 Travers Stakes after finishing in a historic dead heat — the first in the race’s 143-year history — with the Win pool split between both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are payouts calculated in a dead heat for Win bets?
How are payouts calculated in a dead heat for Win bets?
The Win pool is split equally between the tied horses. Each half is treated like a standard pool and paid out to those who bet on the respective horse.
Can a dead heat affect multiple bet types in the same race?
Can a dead heat affect multiple bet types in the same race?
Yes. A single dead heat can affect payouts for Win, Place, Show, and all exotic combinations like Exactas and Trifectas in that race.
What happens in a dead heat for Place or Show?
What happens in a dead heat for Place or Show?
The pool is split between the tied horses, and all bettors holding tickets on either horse receive adjusted payouts based on their share of the reduced pool.
Are there ever dead heats with more than two horses?
Are there ever dead heats with more than two horses?
Yes. While rare, three-way or even four-way dead heats have occurred. In these cases, the pool is divided equally among all tied finishers.
Do online platforms like MyWinners handle dead heats automatically?
Do online platforms like MyWinners handle dead heats automatically?
Yes. Dead heat rules are built into the platform, and any necessary pool splits or adjusted payouts are applied automatically to your account.