Race Payouts

Racing Balance

Each horse enters races with an internal racing balance initially set at 50% of its breeding price.

Stake per Race

Horses automatically stake up to 10% of their current racing balance each time they race.

Race Structure

Races consist of a fixed number of 8 horses automatically matched by rankings on the Matchmaking (MM) leaderboard.

Payout Distribution from Initial Prize Pool

Stakes from all competing horses are combined into a prize pool, distributed among the top finishers:

1st Place: 50%

2nd Place: 30%

3rd Place: 20%

Horses finishing below 3rd receive no payout from that race's initial prize pool.

Side Pots

If horses have significantly different balances, multiple "side pots" form aside from the initial prize pool. Side pots create a race within a race, horses with large balances staking equal amounts within each pot. Each pot pays out independently, based on finish positions within that pot.

Can you place but still lose?

Yes, and that's one of the most important dynamics in ZED Champions. Because each pot pays out independently and not all pots are created equal, your overall finish doesn’t guarantee profit.

You might finish second in the race but come away with less than you staked if you lost out in the higher-value pots. Meanwhile, a horse finishing mid-field could net a profit if it outperformed others in its stake group. Success isn’t just about placement, it’s about who you’re grouped with and what’s at stake in each pot.