# Scratchings and deductions in racing, explained

> A scratching is a runner withdrawn from a race. How deductions can reduce a fixed-odds return, how a tote pool differs, and worked examples with invented numbers.

Source: https://bookiechecklist.com/scratchings-and-deductions/
Updated: 2026-11-13

A scratching is a runner withdrawn from a race after betting has opened. Bets on that runner are refunded, and fixed-odds bets on the other runners may have a deduction taken from any win. On an A$10 win bet at 5.00 with a 20 cents-in-the-dollar deduction, the return is A$42.00. Each operator's rules set the deduction.

## The two terms

A scratching is a runner taken out of a race. A deduction is the adjustment made to winning fixed-odds bets on the remaining runners, because the field has changed.

The deduction is stated as cents in the dollar and is taken from the winnings, not from the stake.

**Where this stands:** a scratching changes the field; a deduction adjusts fixed-odds winnings.

## Fixed-odds bets

A fixed-odds bet on a scratched runner is refunded. Bets on the other runners stay in place at the price taken, but a deduction can reduce a win.

The formula in these examples is: return = stake + profit × (1 − deduction). The way each operator sets the deduction is read from its own rules and is not confirmed.

**Winning fixed-odds bets after a scratching · illustrative arithmetic, not an operator's table · checked 2026-11-13**

| Stake | Odds | Deduction | Profit after deduction | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A$10 | 5.00 | 20c in the dollar | A$32.00 | A$42.00 |
| A$25 | 3.20 | 10c in the dollar | A$49.50 | A$74.50 |
| A$50 | 2.10 | 5c in the dollar | A$52.25 | A$102.25 |

**Where this stands:** a deduction trims the profit only; the stake is returned in full on a win.

## Tote bets

In a tote, stakes go into a pool and winners share it. After a scratching, the pool is worked out without the withdrawn runner, so dividends reflect the final field. The page outline treats this as the main difference from fixed odds.

Compare the two models in [fixed odds or tote](https://bookiechecklist.com/fixed-odds-or-tote/). Combination bets are covered in [exotic bets](https://bookiechecklist.com/exotic-bets-trifecta-quaddie/).

**Where this stands:** the tote adjusts through the pool, not through a deduction.

## Rules still to be read

**Facts for this page · source: operator and organiser rules · checked 2026-11-13**

| Fact | Source to read | Status |
|---|---|---|
| How an operator calculates a deduction | Operator racing rules, at least two | Not confirmed on 2026-11-13 |
| Treatment of scratchings in a tote | Organiser rules | Not confirmed on 2026-11-13 |
| Refund of a bet on a scratched runner | Operator racing rules | Not confirmed on 2026-11-13 |

For the settlement of bets taken at the start, see [starting price](https://bookiechecklist.com/starting-price-sp/). Operator features are collected in [the racing products snapshot](https://bookiechecklist.com/racing-products-snapshot/), and the wider topic is in [horse racing betting](https://bookiechecklist.com/horse-racing-betting-australia/).

**Where this stands:** the examples are invented; operator and organiser rules remain to be read.

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**Where this stands:** free help and exclusion routes exist and are named above.

## FAQ

**What is a scratching?**

A scratching is a runner withdrawn from a race after betting has opened. Bets on that runner are refunded under the arrangement this page describes.

**What are deductions?**

A deduction is an amount taken off the winnings of fixed-odds bets on the remaining runners after a scratching. It is stated as cents in the dollar.

**How is a deduction applied?**

In the illustrative case here, a 20 cents-in-the-dollar deduction applies to the profit. An A$10 win at 5.00 earns A$40.00 profit, reduced to A$32.00, so the return is A$42.00.

**Do deductions apply to a tote bet?**

The outline on this page says a tote pool is recalculated without the scratched runner, so no deduction is taken. The organiser's rules have not been read and are not confirmed on 2026-11-13.