There’s nothing more frustrating than watching your horse win, only to not be paid out. By knowing William Hill’s first past the post rule, you can avoid the heartache. So, does William Hill pay first past the post? Let’s dive into how those sticky horse racing situations are dealt with on the site:
Does William Hill Pay First Past The Post?
- Does William Hill pay first past the post?
- William Hill’s first past the post policy
- Tips for using William Hill's first past the post policy
What is the first past the post rule in horse racing?
It’s a punter’s worst nightmare. You watch your horse sail past the finish line, lengths in front. You start celebrating, getting ready to collect your winnings, but then, a steward’s inquiry. Your horse is disqualified – and on course, you’re probably not going to get paid out.
However, in the world of online horse racing betting, you probably will. Why? The first past the post rule. This rule states you will be paid out if your horse ‘passed the post’ first and is available at most of the best betting sites, though there are a few exceptions.
Does William Hill pay first past the post?
Yes! William Hill pays first past the post as standard. There’s no need to enter any William Hill promo code or ‘opt in’. However, there are a few exceptions which are common across all bookmakers.
William Hill’s first past the post policy
The best way to explain William Hill’s first past the post policy is that it always applies, except in the following situations:
- The horse is demoted instead of disqualified
- The horse is running in the Grand National
- The horse carries the wrong weight
- Any antepost bets
- Forecasts or Tricast bets
- Races that are declared void (as technically no horse passed the post)
- The horse takes the wrong course
- The winner is declared in error (they didn’t pass the post first)
- A jockey fails to weigh-in
- Any Totepool bets
- Favourite points markets
- Distance markets
- Bets placed on a two runner race
- Special match bets
- Novelty bets
- Any race run outside of the UK and Ireland
Demoted horses – what happens?
When a horse is demoted instead of disqualified, this means they’re still given a place in the race – it just isn’t first. In this instance, William Hill’s first past the post policy does not apply.
Instead the ‘new’ position of the horse is honoured. This means if your horse is demoted to a placing position and you’ve had any kind of bet where a place pays out, the horse is paid out in its ‘new’ position, rather than the winning one.
A first past the post example at William Hill
It’s day one of the Cheltenham Festival and your horse storms past the post in front. But, after it’s declared winner, it’s disqualified for interference. In this situation, as long as you’ve had your bet with William Hill, your bet will still be paid out.
Even better news, everyone who bet on the horse who was originally in second (but is the newly declared winner) will also be paid out.
Tips for maximising your chances of receiving a first past the post payout
The first past the post rule was one of the simplest ‘bonuses’ or perks that we found in our William Hill review. There’s really no wrong way to use it. However, being informed on exactly how it works is key to avoiding disappointment.
Remember, stick to UK and Irish racing, avoid antepost bets, and keep in mind the exclusions like two-runner races or novelty markets. If you’re betting each-way, remember that demoted horses will usually still pay out in their new position.
Claudia Hartley
