The minimum number of runners needed to pay three place dividends reverts to eight from next week.
It has been seven for the past few years but the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) has decided to return to the traditional number of eight, largely as a precursor to when all
money bet in New Zealand and Australia goes into one pool to determine dividends. That is expected this year.
Australia has a minimum number of eight runners for three place dividends.
The numbers of a field are determined at 9am on raceday. If any scratchings after 9am (late scratchings) reduce a field from eight to seven, six or five runners three dividends will still be paid.
But if the field is reduced to four or less, the place pool will be abandoned and bets refunded.
The same conditions apply to overseas races on which the New Zealand TAB is operating, except the time for determining the number of dividends will be two hours before the first race of the meeting which New Zealand is betting on.
Another change to start from Monday concerns place payments when there is a dead heat for third.
In future the dividends of the first two placegetters would not be affected.
In the past when there has been a dead heat between two runners for third, place dividends have been equally reduced to allow for the payment of four place dividends.
Under the new rule, the place dividends of the first two placegetters will not be affected and the dividends of the dead heaters halved.
The minimum dividend rule of one dollar would still apply.
- NZPA
