Tote Placepot Rules Explained: What Is a Placepot Bet?
The Tote Placepot is a popular pool bet spanning the first six races at a race meeting. Rather than backing winners, the goal is to pick horses that finish in a placed position in each leg.
If some of the terminology seems unclear, don’t worry—this blog post walks you through it. We’ll cover what a Placepot bet involves, how the rules work, which races are included, what qualifies as a place, how much it costs to enter, how payouts are calculated, and what happens if one of your selections becomes a non-runner.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Is a Placepot Bet?
A Placepot is a type of Tote pool bet available at most UK horse racing meetings. It requires bettors to select at least one horse to be placed in each of the first six races on the card.
Unlike single-race bets, the Placepot follows the action across multiple races. All stakes from Placepot entries at a meeting go into a shared pool, which is divided among those whose selections have placed in every leg by the end of race six.
With involvement from the first race right through to the sixth, the Placepot can keep bettors engaged throughout the card. But how does it actually work in practice?
How Do Tote Placepot Rules Work?
To take part in the Placepot, bettors must make their selections in each of the first six races before the opening race gets underway. The bet continues from race to race, provided at least one selected horse finishes in a qualifying place in each leg.
A single “line” represents one full combination of selections across all six races. Choosing more than one horse in any race increases the number of lines. For instance, selecting two horses in the first race and one in each of the remaining five creates two lines. If none of the selected horses place in a race, all associated lines come to an end at that point.
All Placepot stakes at a meeting go into one pool. After the sixth race, whatever remains in the pool is divided equally among all successful lines—those that managed to place in every leg. Details on how the payout is calculated are covered later on, but first, it’s worth understanding how the six races are selected.
How Many Races Are Included in a Placepot?
A standard Placepot includes the first six scheduled races at a single meeting, and bettors must have selections in each of these six legs.
Only those six races are included in the bet, regardless of how many races are run on the day. If a leg is missed or a selection is made from a different race, the bet won’t be recognised as a valid Placepot entry.
With the races set in advance, the next step is understanding what actually counts as a place.
What Counts as a Place in a Placepot?
In a Placepot, a horse is considered “placed” if it finishes within the designated placings for that particular race. These place terms vary depending on the number of runners and the type of race:
- 1 to 4 runners: only the winner is placed
- 5 to 7 runners: the first two are placed
- 8 or more runners: the first three are placed
- Handicap races with 16 or more runners: the first four are placed
The place terms for each leg are listed on racecards and in Tote’s official listings on the day. Reviewing these can help bettors decide how many selections they might want to include, especially in races with smaller or more competitive fields.
How Much Does a Placepot Bet Cost?
The cost of a Placepot bet depends on the number of horses selected in each race and the unit stake chosen by bettors.
A basic Placepot has a minimum unit stake of £0.10 per line. One line represents a single combination of selections across all six races. To calculate the total cost, multiply the number of selections in each race together, then multiply that figure by the unit stake.
For example:
- Selecting one horse in each race at £0.10 per line costs £0.10.
- Choosing two horses in one race and one in each of the other five creates two lines, costing £0.20 at £0.10 per line.
- Selecting 2x2x1x1x1x2 horses across the six races results in eight lines, which would cost £1.60 at £0.20 per line.
Most online betslips automatically calculate the total cost, allowing bettors to see the amount before confirming their bet. If you choose to place a bet, it’s important to keep stakes within a budget that feels comfortable.
How Are Tote Placepot Winnings Worked Out?
All stakes placed on the meeting’s Placepot combine to form a prize pool. From this pool, a percentage is deducted as commission to cover operating costs. The remaining amount is then divided by the number of winning lines to determine the dividend, which is expressed for a £1 stake.
A bettor’s return depends on the number of winning lines they hold and the unit stake placed. For example, if the dividend is £30 and a bettor has one winning line with a £0.20 stake, the payout would be £6. If there were two winning lines at the same stake, the return would be £12.
Since the dividend reflects how many players successfully navigate all six legs, payouts can vary significantly from one meeting to another.
What Happens If a Horse Is a Non-Runner in a Placepot?
If a selected horse is declared a non-runner after the bet has been placed, it will automatically be replaced by the starting price favourite for that race. Where there is a joint or co-favourite, the horse with the lowest racecard number is used as the substitute.
This ensures the bet remains active, although it does not guarantee a return. Bettors may find it helpful to check the latest runners and their selections before the first race to stay informed of any changes.
With these rules in place, the Placepot provides a clear structure for following a meeting from start to finish.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.