A dead heat is a tie between two or, rarely, more horses in a race for a win or placing. Usually, a photo finish can determine the placings, but at times it is impossible to separate the horses. If there is a dead heat for a win, wagers are paid on all winning horses and first and second prize money is divided between the two horses in a double dead heat. Before the 20th century the race was settled by a deciding heat or run-off, unless the owners agreed to divide the prize.
April 24, 1801, King's Plate at Newmarket, between Worthy and Sorcerer, Worthy won in a deciding heat.
May 15, 1828, Epsom Derby, between Cadland and The Colonel. Cadland won in a deciding heat.
June 21, 1832, Ascot Gold Cup, between Camarine and Rowton. Camarine won in a deciding heat.
September 17, 1850, St. Leger Stakes, between Voltigeur and Russborough. Voltigeur won in a deciding heat.
May 28, 1884, Epsom Derby, between Harvester and St. Gatien.
July 5, 1926, the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack: double dead heat between Macaw, owned by Harry Payne Whitney and Nedana, owned by the Rancous stable.
June 10, 1944, the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack: triple dead heat between Brownie, Bossuet, and Wait A Bit; the first triple dead heat in a stakes race.
3 October 1953, the first triple dead heat in harness racing occurred when Patchover, Payne Hall, and Penny Maid dead-heated for a win at Freehold Raceway.
November 3, 1956, triple dead-heat between Fighting Force, Ark Royal, and Pandie Sun in the Hotham Handicap at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
July 3, 1957, the first triple dead-heat for win at Hollywood Park Racetrack involved Joe's Pleasure (John Dominguez), Challenger Tom (Bill Shoemaker), and Leaful (William Harmatz)
November 27, 1957,Flaxey Dream, Great Knight and Navy Song finish in a triple dead heat for win at Roosevelt Raceway in New York.
December 27, 1957, At Westport Trotting Club, New Zealand, a triple dead heat was adjudged from the photo finish print.
October 14, 1970, Arnold Gem, Banjo Phil, and Bervaldo triple dead heat for a win at Windsor Raceway in Ontario.
August 12, 1972, The Adios Stakes at The Meadows Race Track has a dead heat finish of Jay Time and Strike Out
1977 Aintree Hurdle: Monksfield and Night Nurse
July 6, 1980, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud between Dunette and Shakapour
January 27, 1985, Coaltown Stakes between of Entropy and Muskoka Wyck
May 2, 1988, Jack Des Rivieres, Kingwood Tog and H F Elaine triple-dead heat for a win at Hippodrome Trois Rivieres. This is the 15th triple-dead heat for a win in harness racing history.
1989 Hambletonian Race-off: Park Avenue Joe and Probe
1995 Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup: between Makarpura Star and Survey King, both trained by John Moore
1995 Hollywood Park Racetrack Sunday December 7, 1995 Race #4 triple dead heat for first place: Tina Celesta, Chains Pearl and Cool Miss Ann
May 12, 1996 Yakima Meadows Triple Dead Heat - In the day’s third race, horses - Fly Like A Angel, Allihavonztheradio and Terri After Five all hit the wire together after running one mile.
September 27, 1998, Kentucky Cup Classic: between Silver Charm and Wild Rush
2003 Breeders' Cup Turf: between High Chaparral and Johar
2004 Dubai Duty Free Stakes: Right Approach and Paolini
2004 Doncaster Cup: Millenary and Kasthari
March 2006 Doncaster Mile Stakes: Kandidate and Vanderlin
April 8, 2006: During an eleven-race program at Aqueduct Racetrack that included the Wood Memorial Stakes, dead heats for each of the three "money" positions (Win, Place and Show) occurred in three separate races. Saint Anddan and Criminal Mind dead-heated for Place in race 5, Naragansett and Emotrin dead-heated for Show in race 6, and Karakorum Tuxedo and Megatrend dead-heated for Win in race 10.
September 2007 Jockey Club Rose Bowl: Distinction and Solent
March 2009, Tsm Goldenridge, Serious Damage and Teen Elvis at The Meadows became the 25th overall to triple dead heat in harness racing history.
May 23, 2010: 71st Yushun Himba at Tokyo Racecourse, a Japanese Classic horse race that is part of the Japanese Triple Tiara (the Triple Crown for fillies) and is commonly known as the Japanese Oaks. Apapane (also the winner of Oka Sho) and Saint Emilion hit the wire at the same time in the race, the first time that a Japanese Grade I race has resulted in a dead heat for the win. Apapane would win the Shūka Sho to complete her triple crown.
April 17, 2011: The Maharaja Harisinghji Trophy (Gr.3) at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai witnessed a dead heat between two horses when SPRINT STAR and MISSCHIEVOUS TROT dead heated for win. It was the first time in the history of Indian Horse racing that a dead heat had been witnessed in a graded race. The odds were 17/4 and 18/1 respectively.
July 16, 2011: Cambina and Nereid were dead-heat winners in the Grade 1 $250,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park.
September 10, 2011: The Irish St. Leger, between Duncan and Jukebox Jury.
August 25, 2012: The Travers Stakes, between Alpha and Golden Ticket.
August 31, 2013: The Atalanta Stakes between Integral and Ladys First.
December 8, 2013: Hollywood Park Racetrack Race #4 Boat Trip wins Turf Express with triple dead heat for second(Place): No Silent, Chips All In, and Unbridled’s Note
April 11, 2014: Triple dead-heat between All In The Art, Chessie Slew, and Memories Of Trina at Evangeline Downs.
May 31, 2014 Clever Cookie and Ralston Road at York
October 18, 2014 Miracles of Life and Bel Sprinter in the Perri Cutten Caulfield Sprint
January 25, 2015 Gladiator King and Prince of Scars at Leopardstown, Ireland.
March 4, 2015 Ventriloquist & Hakam at Lingfield.
May 20, 2015 Ferryover & Ancient Astronaut deadheat at Ayr.
May 21, 2015 Lilly's Legend & Minella Hero deadheat at Wetherby.
May 21, 2015 Critical Risk & Sugar Boy deadheat at Sandown.
August 3, 2015 A triple dead-heat for third comprising Glamour Art, Cemento Rapido and Master Paige at Hobart
August 21, 2015 Libran & Memorial Day deadheat at York.
December 19, 2015 Jolly's Cracked It & Sternrubin deadheat in The Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.
January 6, 2016 Dutch Golden Age & Light From Mars deadheat in the 18:40 Good Luck On Your Adventure Greg Handicap at Kempton Park Racecourse.
June 5, 2016 Fox Dream & Mr Adjudicator deadheat in the 14:30 Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Maiden (Plus 10) at Listowel.
12 November, 2016 My Khaleesi & Irish Roe deadheat in the 16:05 BetVictor at Cheltenham Race Course.
