Virginia Law

A. Generally. For all wagers other than the daily double, pick three or pick six, a refund at face value shall be made to all holders of pari-mutuel tickets on horses that have been excused by the stewards, participated in a race where no horse finished, or a race, where in the discretion of the stewards, was declared "no contest" for wagering purposes. Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, no refund shall be made if the horse excused by the stewards is part of a coupled entry or the field.

B. Nonstarters. If any horse is prevented from obtaining a fair start by failure of the starting gate or other untoward events, the stewards, in their discretion, may order a prompt refund in any pool on that horse.

C. Cancelling pools due to nonstarters. If any horse or horses are prevented from obtaining a fair start so that it would reduce the total number of starters below six, the following shall apply:

1. If horses representing five wagering interests obtain a fair start, the licensee may refund the entire amount wagered in the show pool;

2. If horses representing four or fewer wagering interests obtain a fair start, the licensee may refund the entire amount wagered in the show pool as well as place pool; and

3. If horses representing fewer than two interests obtain a fair start, the race may be declared "no contest" and the entire amount wagered in the win, place and show pools shall be promptly refunded.

D. Cancelling pools due to late scratches. After wagering has commenced on a race and prior to the race being run, should a horse or horses be excused by the stewards resulting in a field of less than six different wagering interests, the following apply:

1. If horses representing five wagering interests will start, the licensee may refund the entire amount wagered in the show pool;

2. If horses representing five or fewer wagering interests will start, the licensee may refund the entire amount wagered in the show pool as well as place pool;

3. If horses representing fewer than two interests will start, the race may be cancelled and the entire amount wagered in the win, place and show pools shall be promptly refunded. However, the horse or horses shall race for the purse as nonwagering event.

E. No refunds. If a horse is left at the post at the start, or the rider or driver is unseated, there shall be no refund.

F. Scratches in entries. If two or more horses in a race are coupled as a wagering interest or the field, there shall be no refund unless all of the horses so coupled are excused by the stewards or all of the horses so coupled are prevented from obtaining a fair start. Discretion, however, is vested in the stewards to order a refund where a part of an entry is excused by the stewards or prevented from obtaining a fair start, where it is in the public interest to do so. In this instance, the remaining part of the entry may race for the purse only.

G. Postponed races. In the case of a race postponed beyond the day originally scheduled, all money wagered on the race shall be refunded.

H. Cancelling turf races. In the event conditions require a race to be moved from the turf to the main racing surface, any advance wager shall be refunded at the request of the holder of the pari-mutuel ticket up until post time of the race. This regulation does not apply to pick (n) wagering.

I. Announcement of refunds. In those cases where a refund is due the public or a pari-mutuel pool is cancelled, the licensee shall promptly inform the public through the public address system and other appropriate means of communication.