INTRODUCTION
If a race starts with too few runners, then the bookmaker will drop the number of places they'll pay out for with your each way bet.
For example, a bookmaker may be offering an extra place on a race with 17 runners. The extra place means that the bookmaker are paying out the place part of each way bets for the top 5 places. The race then has 2 non-runners bringing the total number of runners in the race to 15. At this point, depending on the bookmaker's rules, they may now only be paying 4 places instead of 5 places.
The following is a list of when specific bookies will drop their number of places and no longer offer the extra place.
You should still always check the bookmaker itself to see how many places they’re paying. You can also check their terms page which we have listed at the bottom of the day's Extra Place thread.
Most races will follow the rules below. There will sometimes be races where certain bookies are more generous with how many non-runners they’ll allow. William Hill being an example of this for the occasional high profile race.
6+ PLACES
Check the bookmaker's terms since it won’t be standardised and will be custom to the race.
5 PLACES
Terminology: 16+ Runners means that there must be 16 runners or more for the bookie to pay the extra place. 15 runners in this instance would mean the bookie goes from paying 5 places to 4 places.
| Almost Everyone | 16+ Runners |
| Betfair Sportsbook & Paddy Power | Terms say 16+ runners but may pay 15+ |
| Bet365, BetVictor, Parimatch & talkSPORT Bet | 15+ Runners |
| 21.co.uk, 32Red, BetUK, Casumo, Grosvenor, LeoVegas & Mr Green | 20+ Runners |
Note that BetVictor, Parimatch & talkSPORT Bet can occasionally go straight from 5 places to 3 places. Be careful doing extra places with BetVictor/Parimatch/talkSPORT Bet when the race is close to the minimum number of runners.
4 PLACES
Terminology: 12+ Runners means that there must be 12 runners or more for the bookie to pay the extra place. 11 runners in this instance would mean the bookie goes from paying 4 places to 3 places.
| Almost Everyone | 12+ Runners |
| Bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes, BetVictor, AK Bets, Betzone, BresBet, DragonBet, McBookie, NE-Bet, Planet Sport Bet, Vickers, YeeeHaaa, Parimatch & talkSPORT Bet | 11+ Runners |
| Betfair Sportsbook & Paddy Power | Terms say 11+ runners but may pay 10+ |
| 888sport, CopyBet, Hollywoodbets, NetBet, VBet | 10+ Runners |
| PokerStars, Unibet & Sky Bet | 8+ Runners |
3 PLACES
Generally Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill are the only bookies who might offer 3 places in a 2 place race. Other bookies will occasionally do it.
Terminology: 7+ Runners means that there must be 7 runners or more for the bookie to pay the extra place. 6 runners in this instance would mean the bookie goes from paying 3 places to 2 places.
| Coral, Ladbrokes, 21.co.uk, 32Red, BetUK, Casumo, Grosvenor, LeoVegas & Mr Green | 7+ Runners |
| 888sport, Bet365, Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power, Betfred, Sky Bet, Unibet & William Hill | 6+ Runners |
BOOKMAKER TERMS
Sometimes the specific terms for when a bookmaker will change the number of places will be on the race page itself. Sometimes there will be no specific terms page. Below is a compilation of some of the main terms pages for the common extra place bookies: