I'm not familiar with how betting on horse races works. What happens to the bet if the horse is scratched from the race? Does the bettor get his money back, or is that just part of the risk of making an early bet?
If the bet is in the early pools, you lose it. If made at the track yesterday or today, you get it back.
Every where I’ve ever bet you got your money back if you “cashed” it in or “changed your bet” right up to the time the gates opened. If your jockey falls off and the horse comes in first or last, you lose.