Tote Quadpot: How the Quadpot Works, Rules, Stakes & Dividends

The Tote Quadpot is a four-race pool bet where you select a horse to be placed in each of four consecutive races.

On a standard British Quadpot, the four legs are races 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the meeting.

Your selection needs to finish within the qualifying places in every leg for your line to remain successful.

The Quadpot is similar to the Tote Placepot, but the Placepot normally covers six races while the Quadpot covers four.

The final return is determined by the Quadpot pool rather than fixed bookmaker odds

Find out more about a Tote Quadpot today.

What Is a Tote Quadpot?

A Quadpot requires you to find a placed horse in each of four races.

The standard format is:

• Leg 1: Race 3.
• Leg 2: Race 4.
• Leg 3: Race 5.
• Leg 4: Race 6.

You can select one horse in each leg to create a single Quadpot line.

You can also select multiple horses in one or more legs. This creates additional combinations, known as permutations, and increases the total stake.

The bet is part of the wider range of Tote horse racing pool bets.

How Do You Win a Quadpot?

You need at least one of your selections to qualify as placed in each of the four legs.

If you have one selection in every race, all four horses must be placed.

If you have multiple selections in a leg, you only need one of those selections to qualify for your line to continue.

The precise number of places depends on the number of runners and whether a large field is a handicap.

Under the standard Tote Quadpot rules:

• 2 to 4 Runners: Only the winner qualifies.
• 5 to 7 Runners: First and second qualify.
• 8 to 15 Runners: First, second and third qualify.
• 16+ Runners in a Non-Handicap: First, second and third qualify.
• 16+ Runners in a Handicap: First, second, third and fourth qualify.

This differs from conventional each-way betting because the Quadpot operates under its own pool rules.

Our horse racing handicaps section explains why handicaps form such a large part of British racing.

Tote Quadpot Example

Suppose races 3 to 6 are the four Quadpot legs.

You select:

• Race 3: Horse A.
• Race 4: Horse B.
• Race 5: Horse C.
• Race 6: Horse D.

If all four horses finish within the qualifying places for their respective races, you have a winning Quadpot line.

Horse A does not necessarily need to win.

If three places are available and Horse A finishes third, that leg remains successful.

The same applies to the other three races.

If Horse C finishes outside the qualifying places, however, your single line loses regardless of what happens in race 6.

Is a Quadpot a Win Bet?

No.

A standard Quadpot is based on horses placing, not winning.

This is an important distinction because the word “Quadpot” can sound like a four-race accumulator.

It is not a conventional four-fold.

With a four-fold win accumulator, all four horses normally need to win.

With a Quadpot, each selection only needs to finish within the qualifying places for that particular leg.

The number of places changes according to field size and race type.

Quadpot vs Placepot

The Quadpot and Placepot use the same basic idea but cover different numbers of races.

A standard Placepot requires a placed selection across six legs.

A standard Quadpot requires a placed selection across four.

The Quadpot therefore provides another opportunity at a meeting after the first two Placepot legs have taken place.

This is why it is sometimes described as a second chance for bettors whose Placepot ended early.

The main differences are:

• Quadpot: Four legs.
• Placepot: Six legs.
• Quadpot Starting Race: Normally race 3.
• Placepot Starting Race: Normally race 1.
• Objective: Find a qualifying placed horse in every leg.
• Return: Determined by the relevant betting pool.

See our full Tote Placepot guide for the six-leg version.

Quadpot vs Jackpot

A Tote Jackpot is fundamentally different because it is based on winners rather than placed horses.

The distinction is:

• Quadpot: Find a placed horse in each qualifying leg.
• Jackpot: Find the winner in each qualifying leg.
• Placepot: Find a placed horse across the specified Placepot legs.

The number and structure of Jackpot legs can depend on the particular pool being offered, so check the current bet before placing it.

See our Tote Jackpot page for more information.

How Does Quadpot Pool Betting Work?

A Quadpot is a pool bet.

That means bettors are effectively betting into the same pool rather than taking fixed odds against a bookmaker.

Money staked into the pool is combined.

After the applicable deduction, the remaining pool is divided according to the winning stakes.

This produces the Quadpot dividend.

The final return therefore depends partly on how many successful lines remain after the final leg.

That is very different from placing four conventional fixed-odds bets where you know the potential return when the bets are struck.

What Is the Tote Quadpot Deduction?

The standard Tote Quadpot rules currently specify a 26% pool deduction.

That leaves a net pool of 74% of the gross pool before the winning stakes are used to calculate the dividend.

The previous version of this British Racecourses page quoted an outdated 28% deduction.

Pool deduction rates can change, and Tote can operate particular pools at promotional rates, so current Tote rules should take precedence if the terms change.

How Is the Quadpot Dividend Calculated?

The Quadpot does not have fixed odds.

The dividend depends on the pool and the total amount of successful stakes.

In simplified terms:

• Step 1: Stakes are combined in the Quadpot pool.
• Step 2: The applicable pool deduction is taken.
• Step 3: The remaining net pool is divided by the total winning stakes.
• Step 4: A dividend is declared to a £1 stake.
• Step 5: Your return is calculated according to your successful stake.

This means the dividend cannot be known with certainty when you place the bet.

It also explains why two Quadpots can produce very different returns despite both containing four races.

Why Do Quadpot Dividends Vary?

The dividend depends heavily on which horses qualify.

If the most popular selections are placed throughout the four legs, many tickets can survive.

More winning stakes means the pool has to be divided more widely.

If several heavily backed horses fail to qualify, far fewer lines may reach the end.

That can produce a larger dividend.

Other factors include:

• Pool Size: Larger pools contain more money to distribute.
• Number of Winning Stakes: Fewer successful stakes can increase the dividend.
• Popular Selections: Well-backed favourites placing can leave many tickets alive.
• Outsiders Placing: Less popular selections can eliminate a large proportion of the pool.
• Permutations: Bettors covering multiple horses can hold several successful combinations.
• Carry-Forwards: Money can sometimes be carried into another Quadpot under the Tote rules.

There is therefore no meaningful fixed “average payout” that tells you what today’s Quadpot will return.

Can a Quadpot Pay More Than a Placepot?

Yes.

A Quadpot can produce a larger dividend than a Placepot even though it has fewer legs.

Pool betting does not determine the return simply by counting how many races are involved.

The dividend depends on the size of the pool and how much winning money survives.

An unexpected result in one or more Quadpot legs can eliminate a large number of combinations.

If relatively little winning stake remains after leg four, the resulting dividend can be substantial.

The opposite can also happen.

Four strongly fancied horses all qualifying can produce a comparatively modest return.

What Is a Quadpot Perm?

A permutation, usually shortened to a perm, allows you to select more than one horse in one or more legs.

This creates multiple Quadpot lines.

Suppose you select:

• Race 3: 2 Horses.
• Race 4: 2 Horses.
• Race 5: 2 Horses.
• Race 6: 2 Horses.

The number of lines is:

2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16 lines.

If your unit stake were 50p, the total stake would be:

16 × £0.50 = £8.

Perms improve your coverage, but they also increase your stake.

The important calculation is therefore not simply how many horses you want to include. It is how many combinations those selections create.

How to Calculate a Quadpot Perm

Multiply the number of selections in each of the four legs.

For example:

• 1 × 1 × 1 × 1: 1 line.
• 2 × 1 × 1 × 1: 2 lines.
• 2 × 2 × 1 × 1: 4 lines.
• 2 × 2 × 2 × 1: 8 lines.
• 2 × 2 × 2 × 2: 16 lines.
• 3 × 3 × 3 × 3: 81 lines.

You then multiply the number of lines by your chosen unit stake.

A seemingly small increase in selections can therefore increase the cost quickly.

Our free bet calculator can help with general betting calculations, although a Quadpot remains a pool bet rather than a fixed-odds multiple.

What Is a Quadpot Banker?

A banker is a horse you rely on as your sole selection in one particular leg.

Suppose you are particularly confident that Horse A will finish in the required places in race 3.

You could banker Horse A and use more selections in the remaining legs.

For example:

• Race 3: 1 Selection.
• Race 4: 3 Selections.
• Race 5: 2 Selections.
• Race 6: 3 Selections.

That produces:

1 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 18 lines.

Using a banker keeps the number of permutations lower than adding several horses to every race.

The disadvantage is concentration.

If your banker fails to qualify, every line depending on that horse loses.

Should You Use a Favourite as a Quadpot Banker?

Not automatically.

A short-priced favourite can look attractive because the market considers it more likely to perform well than its rivals.

But the relevant question in a Quadpot is whether it is sufficiently likely to place to justify relying on it as your only selection.

Consider:

• Field Size: A horse may have one, two, three or four qualifying places available.
• Race Type: A large handicap creates different risks from a small conditions race.
• Horse’s Consistency: Some horses regularly run close to their form while others are less predictable.
• Going: Unsuitable conditions can weaken an apparently obvious banker.
• Course: Track configuration may suit some horses better than others.
• Pace: Race shape can affect even a strong favourite.
• Price and Popularity: A very obvious banker is also likely to appear on many rival tickets.

A favourite can be the correct banker without necessarily providing an edge over the rest of the pool.

How to Pick Quadpot Horses

The objective is different from finding four winners.

You are trying to identify horses with a strong chance of finishing in the qualifying places.

That changes the analysis.

Look at:

• Recent Form: Consistent recent performances can be valuable.
• Course Form: Previous evidence at the track can strengthen the case.
• Distance Form: Check whether the horse is proven over the trip.
• Going: Make sure today’s conditions suit.
• Handicap Mark: In handicaps, assess whether the horse remains competitive from its current rating.
• Trainer Form: Current stable performance can provide useful context.
• Jockey: Consider the booking and previous experience with the horse.
• Draw: Stall position can matter in some Flat races.
• Pace: Look at how the race is likely to develop.
• Field Size: The number of qualifying places changes according to the number of runners.

Our how to analyse a horse race page explains these factors in more detail.

Quadpots and Horse Racing Form

Consistency can be particularly useful when analysing place-based pools.

A horse with form figures such as:

22342

has repeatedly finished near the front without necessarily winning.

That does not automatically make it a good Quadpot selection, but it may be more relevant to a place-based bet than simply counting victories.

Check the quality of those performances.

A second place in a weak race may be less valuable than a fourth in much stronger company.

Our horse racing form page explains how to read recent form figures.

Course and Distance Form

Previous course and distance form can help when narrowing down a difficult leg.

Racecards commonly use:

• C: Previous course winner.
• D: Previous winner over the distance.
• CD: Previous course-and-distance winner.

These markers are useful evidence rather than automatic selection rules.

A previous CD winner may now be badly handicapped, out of form or facing unsuitable ground.

Our course and distance winners guide explains how to assess these indicators.

Quadpots and Handicaps

Handicaps can create difficult Quadpot legs because runners carry different weights according to their ratings.

Large handicaps can also produce four qualifying places when 16 or more horses run.

That extra place increases the number of horses capable of keeping your line alive.

It does not make the race straightforward.

Large handicaps often contain closely matched runners, making them among the hardest legs to solve.

Check the horse’s current rating against previous competitive marks using our horse racing handicapping guide.

What Happens to a Non-Runner in a Quadpot?

A Quadpot selection that becomes a non-runner before coming under Starter’s Orders is not normally treated as a losing selection or simply refunded.

Under the standard Tote rules, the non-runner is replaced by the Starting Price favourite.

If there are joint or co-favourites, the horse with the lowest racecard number is used.

The rules contain further substitution procedures for situations where the favourite itself is withdrawn too late for the SP market to reform or where a conventional SP is unavailable.

This is an important difference from many single-race fixed-odds bets.

What If the Favourite Is Already One of My Quadpot Selections?

Multiple selections can sometimes result in more than one of your lines transferring onto the same substitute.

This does not necessarily mean the extra line disappears.

Your stake structure still matters when the dividend is calculated.

Check the final settled ticket rather than assuming that two identical surviving selections have become one line.

What Happens if a Quadpot Race Is Abandoned?

If one Quadpot leg is a walkover, void, abandoned or otherwise has no official result and is not rerun on the same day, Tote normally settles the pool on the remaining legs.

Selections in the affected leg are treated as successful.

If none of the Quadpot legs takes place, the pool is void and stakes are refunded.

Provided at least one leg takes place, a dividend can still be declared under Tote rules.

What Happens if There Are Not Enough Finishers?

If fewer horses officially finish than the standard number of qualifying places, only the horses that actually finish are treated as placed.

If there are no finishers in a particular leg, that leg is treated as successful for all selections and the Quadpot is settled on the remaining legs.

This is unusual, but it is covered by the official rules.

What Happens With a Dead Heat?

Dead heats do not automatically eliminate a Quadpot selection.

If horses dead-heat for a position that qualifies as a place in a particular leg, the Tote rules treat the dead-heating horses as fully placed for the Quadpot.

This is simpler for the bettor than the reduced-stake dead-heat calculations that can apply to some conventional fixed-odds bets.

What Happens if Nobody Wins the Quadpot?

If there are no winning tickets in the pool, the entire gross pool can be carried forward to another Quadpot selected by Tote.

A carry-forward can therefore increase the amount available in a future pool.

If there is less than £1 of winning stake, special rules also apply to the undistributed balance.

Check the current pool information when a rollover or carry-forward is advertised.

What Is a Quadpot Rollover?

A rollover occurs when money from a previous Quadpot is carried into another pool under the Tote rules.

This can happen when the previous pool was not won.

A larger starting pool can attract more attention because there is additional money available before new stakes are added.

Do not confuse a larger pool with an easier bet.

The same four-leg selection challenge remains.

What Are Quadpot Running Totals?

During the bet, estimated or running information can give an indication of how the pool is developing.

It should not be treated as a guaranteed final return.

The final dividend cannot be established until the qualifying results and winning stakes are known.

A late result, dead heat or other settlement issue can affect the final position.

Use the declared dividend as the definitive return.

What Is the Minimum Quadpot Stake?

Tote’s formal betting rules state that minimum permitted stakes and stake units apply and direct customers to the relevant point of sale for the current amount.

This is preferable to assuming an old minimum stake remains permanently correct.

Online, racecourse and third-party arrangements can differ.

Always check the stake displayed on the current Quadpot betslip before confirming the bet.

Where Can You Place a Quadpot?

Quadpots can be available through several routes.

These include:

• Online: Through services offering access to the relevant Tote pool.
• Mobile: Through compatible betting apps and mobile websites.
• Racecourse: Tote facilities operate at British race meetings.
• Betting Shops: Pool bets can be available through retail betting outlets.

Our betting shops near me page can help locate retail bookmakers.

For online betting, see our horse racing betting sites comparison.

How to Fill in a Tote Quadpot Betting Slip

A traditional racecourse Quadpot slip requires you to identify the meeting and selections for each leg.

The precise design can change, but the basic process is:

• Choose the Meeting: Make sure you are entering the correct Quadpot pool.
• Leg 1: Mark your selection or selections.
• Leg 2: Mark your selection or selections.
• Leg 3: Mark your selection or selections.
• Leg 4: Mark your selection or selections.
• Choose the Stake: Check the unit stake and total number of lines.
• Check the Cost: Make sure the total stake matches what you intend to spend.
• Submit the Bet: Check the issued ticket carefully before leaving the betting point.

Our Tote betting slips page shows examples of Tote slips, including the Quadpot.

How to Place a Quadpot Online

Online betting removes much of the manual calculation.

The usual process is:

• Open the Quadpot Market: Select the relevant meeting.
• Choose Leg 1: Pick one or more horses.
• Choose Leg 2: Pick one or more horses.
• Choose Leg 3: Pick one or more horses.
• Choose Leg 4: Pick one or more horses.
• Set Your Stake: Choose the available unit stake.
• Check Permutations: Review the number of lines generated.
• Check Total Cost: Confirm the overall stake.
• Place the Bet: Submit it before the relevant pool closes.

Always check the displayed bet details before confirming.

Is the Quadpot Available at Every UK Meeting?

Tote’s standard rules state that the Quadpot operates on all British meetings unless otherwise stated.

The bet can also be offered on selected overseas meetings.

This makes it widely available across UK racecourses.

Check the day’s available pools because the format can vary outside standard British meetings.

Is There a Quadpot on Irish Racing?

Do not assume the standard British Quadpot format automatically applies to every Irish meeting.

Tote’s product range has included different four-leg pools for Irish racing, including a four-leg Irish Jackpot structure based on finding winners rather than placed horses.

The name and rules of the pool matter.

Check the actual bet displayed for the Irish meeting rather than treating every four-leg Tote bet as a Quadpot.

Is a Quadpot Easier to Win Than a Placepot?

A Quadpot has fewer legs than a standard six-leg Placepot, so there are fewer races in which your line can be eliminated.

That does not mean every Quadpot is easy to win.

Difficulty depends on the races involved.

Four competitive handicaps can be harder to solve than six races containing several strong favourites.

Using more selections can increase your coverage, but it also increases your stake.

Is a Quadpot Better Than a Placepot?

Neither is automatically better.

The Placepot gives you six legs and usually begins with the first race.

The Quadpot gives you four legs and normally starts with race 3.

Your preference may depend on:

• The Races: One sequence may look more predictable than the other.
• Budget: Four legs can allow more concentrated coverage.
• Pool Size: Larger pools can be attractive, but the dividend also depends on winning stakes.
• Race Timing: The Quadpot gives bettors another opportunity after the meeting has started.
• Strategy: You may prefer a shorter four-leg sequence or the challenge of the six-leg Placepot.

Analyse the actual races rather than choosing solely by the name of the bet.

Can You Bet the Favourite in Every Quadpot Leg?

Yes, but following the favourite in every race is not automatically a profitable strategy.

If all the obvious favourites qualify, many other tickets may survive as well.

That can suppress the dividend.

If one heavily backed favourite fails to place, a large proportion of the pool may be eliminated.

This is one of the central features of pool betting.

You are not simply trying to identify horses likely to place. You are also participating in a pool against the selections made by other bettors.

Should You Include Outsiders?

An outsider can increase the potential value of a surviving line if relatively few other bettors selected it.

That does not mean you should include outsiders simply because they have big odds.

The horse still needs a realistic chance of finishing in the qualifying places.

A useful outsider might have:

• Better Form Than Its Price Suggests
• Suitable Course Form
• A Competitive Handicap Mark
• Ideal Ground
• A Favourable Pace Setup
• A Strong Trainer Record
• An Excuse for a Poor Recent Run

The objective is to find selections whose chance may be underestimated, not simply the biggest prices on the card.

Quadpot Strategy

A sensible Quadpot strategy starts with the four races rather than the size of the potential dividend.

First identify the races in which you have strongest and weakest opinions.

You might use a single banker in a race where one horse looks particularly reliable and spread across several runners in a difficult handicap.

That can be more efficient than selecting the same number of horses in every leg.

Before placing the bet:

• Set the Maximum Stake: Decide your budget before building permutations.
• Identify Possible Bankers: Look for horses with a strong chance of qualifying.
• Find Difficult Legs: Allocate more selections where uncertainty is greater.
• Check Field Sizes: Know how many places qualify in each race.
• Check Non-Runners: Withdrawals can change field sizes and place terms.
• Study the Going: Conditions can change the strength of individual selections.
• Review the Total Lines: Make sure permutations have not pushed the stake above your budget.

More selections increase coverage, not certainty.

Common Quadpot Mistakes

Thinking Every Horse Has to Win

The Quadpot is a place-based pool.

Your horse only needs to finish within the qualifying places for that leg.

Forgetting That Place Terms Change

A horse finishing third qualifies in some races but not others.

Always check the number of runners and race type.

Adding Too Many Selections

A few extra horses can dramatically increase the number of permutations.

Calculate the total lines before placing the bet.

Using Too Many Obvious Selections

Four popular favourites may give you a strong chance of surviving, but many other tickets may contain the same horses.

That can affect the eventual dividend.

Chasing a Large Dividend

A previous huge Quadpot return tells you nothing about what today’s pool will pay.

Each pool depends on its own results and winning stakes.

Ignoring Non-Runners

Withdrawals can affect field size, qualifying places and the horse substituted for a non-runner.

Treating the Quadpot Like Fixed-Odds Betting

You do not lock in conventional odds when you place the bet.

The final dividend comes from the pool.

Quadpot Results

A Quadpot result consists of the qualifying horses from each of the four legs and the final declared dividend.

The most important figure is the official dividend.

If you have more than one successful line, your total return depends on the amount of winning stake represented by those lines.

Do not calculate your return from a pre-race estimate once the official dividend has been declared.

Quadpot Results Today

Today’s Quadpot results become known as the four legs are completed.

You can follow the relevant meeting through the day’s horse racing racecards and official results.

If you are still alive after the first three legs, your final selection needs to qualify in leg four before the bet can produce a winning line.

Remember that final settlement can depend on the official result and Tote’s pool rules.

Tote Quadpot and Tote+

Tote has offered enhanced dividends on qualifying bets placed directly through its own digital channels under Tote+.

Quadpot has been among the pools eligible for Tote+ enhancements.

Promotional terms can change.

Check the current Tote+ rules before assuming a particular enhancement applies to today’s Quadpot.

Our Tote+ guide explains the product in more detail.

Other Tote Bets

Quadpot is one of several Tote pool bets available to racing bettors.

Other bet types include:

• Tote Win: Select the winner of one race.
• Tote Place: Select a horse to finish within the qualifying places.
• Tote Exacta: Select the first two horses in the correct order.
• Tote Trifecta: Select the first three horses in the correct order.
• Tote Swinger: Select two horses to finish in the first three in either order.
• Tote Placepot: Find placed horses across the specified six legs.
• Tote Jackpot: Find winners across the specified Jackpot legs.

Our Tote exotic bets page explains the wider range.

Tote Quadpot FAQs

What is a Quadpot?

A Quadpot is a four-leg Tote pool bet. On a standard British Quadpot, you select a horse to be placed in races 3, 4, 5 and 6.

How many races are in a Quadpot?

There are four legs in a standard Quadpot.

Which races make up the Quadpot?

At a standard British meeting, the Quadpot normally covers races 3 to 6.

Do Quadpot horses have to win?

No. They need to finish within the qualifying places for their particular race.

How many places count in a Quadpot?

The number depends on field size and race type. Only first qualifies with 2 to 4 runners; first and second with 5 to 7; first to third with 8 to 15; first to third in non-handicaps of 16 or more; and first to fourth in handicaps of 16 or more.

What happens to a Quadpot non-runner?

Under standard Tote rules, a non-runner is normally replaced by the Starting Price favourite. Joint favourites are resolved according to the Tote substitution rules.

What happens if a Quadpot race is abandoned?

If one leg is abandoned and not rerun on the same day, the pool is normally settled on the remaining legs and selections in the affected race are treated as successful. If no legs take place, the pool is void.

What happens with a Quadpot dead heat?

Horses dead-heating for a qualifying place are treated as fully placed under the Quadpot rules.

Can you choose more than one horse in a Quadpot race?

Yes. Multiple selections create permutations and therefore additional lines.

How do I calculate a Quadpot perm?

Multiply the number of selections in each leg. Two horses in every leg produces 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16 lines.

What is a Quadpot banker?

A banker is your sole selection in one particular leg.

How is a Quadpot dividend calculated?

The Quadpot is a pool bet. After the applicable deduction, the net pool is divided according to the winning stakes and the declared dividend is expressed to a £1 stake.

What is the Quadpot pool deduction?

The standard Tote rules currently specify a 26% Quadpot deduction, leaving a 74% net pool.

Can a Quadpot pay more than a Placepot?

Yes. The dividend depends on pool size and the amount of winning stake rather than simply the number of legs.

What happens if nobody wins the Quadpot?

The Tote rules allow the gross pool to be carried forward to another Quadpot when there are no winning tickets.

Is a Quadpot the same as a four-fold?

No. A conventional four-fold normally requires four winning selections at fixed odds. A Quadpot requires qualifying placed selections across four pool-betting legs.

Can I place a Quadpot at a racecourse?

Yes. Quadpot betting is available through Tote facilities at relevant race meetings.

Can I place a Quadpot in a betting shop?

Quadpot and other pool bets can be available through retail bookmakers. Availability can vary by operator.

Can I place a Quadpot online?

Yes. Quadpots can be placed online through services offering access to the relevant Tote pool.

Is the Quadpot available at every British meeting?

The standard Tote rules state that the Quadpot operates at all British meetings unless otherwise stated.

Is there an Irish Quadpot?

Check the current pool offered on the meeting. Irish racing has used a separate four-leg Jackpot structure in place of the conventional Quadpot, so do not assume the rules are identical.

Is a Quadpot easier than a Placepot?

It has fewer legs, but the actual difficulty depends on the races and selections involved.

Responsible Quadpot Betting

A Quadpot can create a large number of combinations very quickly.

Decide your total stake before adding selections.

Useful controls include:

• Set a Budget: Choose the maximum total amount before building the bet.
• Check Permutations: Always calculate the number of lines.
• Use Bankers Carefully: A banker reduces cost but concentrates risk.
• Do Not Chase Losses: A failed Placepot does not mean the following Quadpot is more likely to win.
• Ignore Previous Dividends: A large payout yesterday does not make today’s pool more attractive.
• Check the Final Stake: Make sure the total cost is what you intended before confirming.

Pool betting remains gambling, and no Quadpot strategy guarantees a return.

Summary

The Tote Quadpot requires a qualifying placed selection across four races, normally races 3 to 6 at a British meeting.

It uses pool betting rather than conventional fixed odds.

The current standard rules apply a 26% deduction, leaving 74% of the gross pool before the dividend is calculated from the winning stakes.

Place terms depend on field size and whether a race with 16 or more runners is a handicap.

Multiple selections are allowed, but each additional combination increases the number of lines and therefore the total stake.

Non-runners are normally transferred to the Starting Price favourite, while dead-heating horses that qualify for a place are treated as fully placed.

The Quadpot can provide another opportunity after the first two races of a meeting, but fewer legs do not guarantee an easy win or a large dividend.

For related pool bets, see our Tote horse racing, Tote Placepot, Tote Jackpot and Tote betting slips pages.