<html><body style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><p><font size="3">Greetings ausracers. Long time no post. Was looking through recent postings </font></p><p><font size="3">in the archive a few days ago. Ausrace is still collectively the best pool of knowledge </font></p><p><font size="3">on all things racing. Have a question for the mathematically inclined, if anyone can help.</font></p><p><font size="3">Had a small successful punt at Belmont today which had to be reduced from the </font></p><p><font size="3">face value because there was a scratching at the barrier. </font></p><p><font size="3">The scratched horse (St Bel) was at approx. $11.5/12.0win when it was withdrawn </font></p><p><font size="3">(shortly before start time). </font></p><p><font size="3"></font> </p><p><font size="3">My bet was with an on-course bookie and had a face value of $100 exactly (place bet). Post race the </font></p><p><font size="3">winning horse WITH BOOKIES, was paid out less 8c in $1 for win and less 11c in $1 for place; </font></p><p><font size="3">2nd horse was paid less 11c in $1 for </font><font size="3">place and 3rd horse less 14c in $1 for place.... as said, ONLY </font></p><p><font size="3">WITH ON COURSE BOOKIES.</font></p><p><font size="3"></font> </p><p><font size="3">Why the variation in rate for the 3rd place? </font></p><p><font size="3"></font> </p><p><font size="3">The TAB fixed odds service </font><font size="3">which I think is provided by William Hill, paid less </font><font size="3">8c win for the winner</font></p><p><font size="3">and less 8c place </font><font size="3">for all 3 placegetters. </font></p><p><font size="3"></font> </p><p><font size="3">The fixed odds </font><font size="3">TAB prices (win and place) were very similar to the on course bookies' market.... literally only </font></p><p><font size="3">very small </font><font size="3">SP variations. </font><font size="3"> The answer is probably staring me in the face but I can't see why the place deduction </font></p><p><font size="3">rate is variable </font><font size="3">instead of fixed for all 3 place dividends ala the TAB fixed odds figure.</font></p><p><font size="3"></font> </p><p><font size="3">The 3 placegetters were (memory) at PLACE ODDS of $2.50, $2.70, $5.00 PRIOR to the scratching.</font></p><p><font size="3"></font> </p><p><font size="3">Anyone? </font></p><p><font size="3">Regards, Tony </font><br /></p></body></html>