Does William Hill Pay First Past The Post?

Not only are most horse races hard to predict, but sometimes even when your horse comes first, you can still end up empty-handed. This is because a stewards enquiry can demote or worse disqualify the horse. To soften the blow to punters who suffer this fate, William hill came up with an innovative first past the post policy. In this article we explain exactly what this is and what races are covered.

If you are new to this betting company, read our William Hill review 2024 by our horse racing feature columnist Seymour Biz. We gave him £30 to test the bookie, and the results were pleasantly surprising!

Below is a full description of the first past post and demoted horse policies at William Hill. 

What is First Past The Post in horse racing?

This is a promotion by William Hill where they pay punters who wagered on the horse that crossed the finish line first, even if the said horse is disqualified.

William Hill’s First Past The Post policy

A horse finishing crossing the finish line first doesn’t mean it’s the official race winner. With the first Past The Post policy, punters who bet on the horse that passed the finish line first get their winnings even after disqualification.

At the same time, punters who wagered on the horse that actually won got their winnings. Because of this policy, punters can maximize their winnings by wagering on two horses. So, if one wins but gets disqualified and the other is announced as the actual winner, you’re paid twice.

An example of First Past The Post

If you wager on a horse that wins the race, you win the wager based on the first past post market, despite any other outcome. If the horse ends up being demoted for interfering with the horse that finished second, the second becomes first, and the first becomes second. So officially, your horse came second, but it doesn’t matter because the first past post policy applies. 

How to use William Hill’s First Past the Post offer

To qualify for the First Past the Post offer, simply wager in the markets that qualify. Also, you should only place single or multiple bets.

William Hill demoted horse policy

This policy assures you’ll win the wager if the horse you wager on finishes first but is demoted to a different position.

What bets does William Hill’s First Past The Post apply?

The promotion applies to several bet types, including tricasts, forecasts, RequestABets, specials, enhanced accumulators, and in-running and derived markets.

Exceptions to William Hill’s First Past the Post

The First Past the Post policy only applies to horse races in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The policy doesn’t apply in the contexts including:

•       Tricast and forecast bets
•       Antepost bets
•       Totepool bets
•       The Grand National
•       A horse carrying below the recommended weight
•       Distance markets
•       Favourite points markets
•       A horse taking the wrong course
•       A horse is announced as the winner because of an error from the judge
•       Novelty bets
•       Special match bets
•       A bet placed on a two-runner race

William Hill’s first past the post policy is often paired with the demoted horse policy. Together, these policies guarantee a payout even if the horse you wagered on wins but is later disqualified. However, you should be mindful of the exceptions to the policies. Read through the terms and conditions on William Hill to be on the right track.

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