This bet is a bit more specific than what we’ve covered so far. Exacta bets are all about picking the first and second place finishers in the right order. They’re pretty straightforward, but knowing when and how to place these bets requires strategy and analysis most beginners lack.

What are Exacta Horse Racing Bets?

Exacta Horse Racing Bets

Of all the Horse Racing Bets, Exacta horse racing bets allow you to pick the top two finishers of a race in the exact order to get a fantastic payout. So, what’s the catch? Well, remember, you’re not just predicting which horse will win, but also which horse will come second which adds an extra layer of difficulty.

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

Typically, around $1 or $2 (some places might let you go as low as 50 cents), it really all depends on the track or sportsbook youre going with.

How the Exacta Pool Determines your Payout

To calculate your bet’s payout, you’ll need to consider the horse race odds and the Exacta pool. The Exacta pool gathers all of the money bettors have wagered on an Exacta bet for a particular race. After the race is over and the winning combination turns up, the track or sportsbook takes a small percentage (known as the takeout) from the pool for their operations. The remaining amount in the pool is then divided among all the winning bets.

Here’s the key: the payout you receive depends on how much money was in the Exacta pool and how many people bet on the winning combination.

  • If a lot of people bet on the same horses you did, the payout will be smaller because the pool is divided among more winners.
  • On the other hand, if only a few people bet on the winning combination, the payout will be substantially larger.

A Quick, Exacta Horse Racing Bet Example:

Let’s say there’s a horse race coming up, and you’ve done your research. You’re feeling confident that Lightning Strike will come in first and Speed Demon will finish second, so you place an Exacta bet on these two horses, in that specific order.

The race card will show:

Horse Morning Line Odds Jockey Trainer
Lightning Strike 5-1 J. Doe A. Smith
Thunder Bolt 3-1 M. Johnson B. Lee
Stormy Skies 10-1 S. Williams C. Davis
Speed Demon 7-2 P. Brown D. Garcia
Wild Fire 15-1 L. Jones E. Martinez

Payout Scenarios for Your Exacta Horse Racing Bet

Let’s say you place a $2 Exacta bet on Lightning Strike (to win) and Speed Demon (to place second). Here’s how the potential payouts would look like considering an (also hypothetical) exacta pool).

Note: A few words on the last three columns of this chart related to the race’s exacta pool

  1. The Hypothetical Exacta Pool column shows the total amount of money that all bettors laid on Exactas for this race.
  2. The Total Winning Bets column shows number of people who bet on the exact order of 1st: Lightning Strike and 2nd: Speed Demon.
  3. And last but not least, the Payout per $2 Bet column shows the payout based on the Exacta pool and number of people that got the order right (winning bets).
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $10,000 100
50
$200
$400
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

Payouts for Even Bigger Pool Sizes:

Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $20,000 100
50
$400
$800
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $50,000 100
50
$1,000
$2,000
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

FAQs on Exacta Horse Racing

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

The minimum stake is usually $1 for an exacta bet, although some tracks do have a $2 minimum. Online Exacta bets have the same minimum stake as betting Exactas at the track.

What is an Exacta in horse racing?

An Exacta is a bet where you must pick the first two horses in a race to finish in the exact order.

How does an Exacta bet work?

To win an Exacta bet, the two horses you choose must finish in the exact order you specified. If they do, you win the bet.

What is the difference between an Exacta and a Quinella?

In an Exacta, the order of the horses matters. In a Quinella, the two selected horses can finish in any order to win.

Can you box an Exacta bet?

Yes, boxing an Exacta bet allows you to cover all possible finishing orders of your chosen horses, increasing your chances of winning.

How are Exacta payouts calculated?

Exacta payouts are determined by the betting pool for that specific wager and the odds of the horses you selected.

This bet is a bit more specific than what we’ve covered so far. Exacta bets are all about picking the first and second place finishers in the right order. They’re pretty straightforward, but knowing when and how to place these bets requires strategy and analysis most beginners lack.

What are Exacta Horse Racing Bets?

Exacta Horse Racing Bets

Of all the Horse Racing Bets, Exacta horse racing bets allow you to pick the top two finishers of a race in the exact order to get a fantastic payout. So, what’s the catch? Well, remember, you’re not just predicting which horse will win, but also which horse will come second which adds an extra layer of difficulty.

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

Typically, around $1 or $2 (some places might let you go as low as 50 cents), it really all depends on the track or sportsbook youre going with.

How the Exacta Pool Determines your Payout

To calculate your bet’s payout, you’ll need to consider the horse race odds and the Exacta pool. The Exacta pool gathers all of the money bettors have wagered on an Exacta bet for a particular race. After the race is over and the winning combination turns up, the track or sportsbook takes a small percentage (known as the takeout) from the pool for their operations. The remaining amount in the pool is then divided among all the winning bets.

Here’s the key: the payout you receive depends on how much money was in the Exacta pool and how many people bet on the winning combination.

  • If a lot of people bet on the same horses you did, the payout will be smaller because the pool is divided among more winners.
  • On the other hand, if only a few people bet on the winning combination, the payout will be substantially larger.

A Quick, Exacta Horse Racing Bet Example:

Let’s say there’s a horse race coming up, and you’ve done your research. You’re feeling confident that Lightning Strike will come in first and Speed Demon will finish second, so you place an Exacta bet on these two horses, in that specific order.

The race card will show:

Horse Morning Line Odds Jockey Trainer
Lightning Strike 5-1 J. Doe A. Smith
Thunder Bolt 3-1 M. Johnson B. Lee
Stormy Skies 10-1 S. Williams C. Davis
Speed Demon 7-2 P. Brown D. Garcia
Wild Fire 15-1 L. Jones E. Martinez

Payout Scenarios for Your Exacta Horse Racing Bet

Let’s say you place a $2 Exacta bet on Lightning Strike (to win) and Speed Demon (to place second). Here’s how the potential payouts would look like considering an (also hypothetical) exacta pool).

Note: A few words on the last three columns of this chart related to the race’s exacta pool

  1. The Hypothetical Exacta Pool column shows the total amount of money that all bettors laid on Exactas for this race.
  2. The Total Winning Bets column shows number of people who bet on the exact order of 1st: Lightning Strike and 2nd: Speed Demon.
  3. And last but not least, the Payout per $2 Bet column shows the payout based on the Exacta pool and number of people that got the order right (winning bets).
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $10,000 100
50
$200
$400
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

Payouts for Even Bigger Pool Sizes:

Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $20,000 100
50
$400
$800
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $50,000 100
50
$1,000
$2,000
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

FAQs on Exacta Horse Racing

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

The minimum stake is usually $1 for an exacta bet, although some tracks do have a $2 minimum. Online Exacta bets have the same minimum stake as betting Exactas at the track.

What is an Exacta in horse racing?

An Exacta is a bet where you must pick the first two horses in a race to finish in the exact order.

How does an Exacta bet work?

To win an Exacta bet, the two horses you choose must finish in the exact order you specified. If they do, you win the bet.

What is the difference between an Exacta and a Quinella?

In an Exacta, the order of the horses matters. In a Quinella, the two selected horses can finish in any order to win.

Can you box an Exacta bet?

Yes, boxing an Exacta bet allows you to cover all possible finishing orders of your chosen horses, increasing your chances of winning.

How are Exacta payouts calculated?

Exacta payouts are determined by the betting pool for that specific wager and the odds of the horses you selected.

This bet is a bit more specific than what we’ve covered so far. Exacta bets are all about picking the first and second place finishers in the right order. They’re pretty straightforward, but knowing when and how to place these bets requires strategy and analysis most beginners lack.

What are Exacta Horse Racing Bets?

Exacta Horse Racing Bets

Of all the Horse Racing Bets, Exacta horse racing bets allow you to pick the top two finishers of a race in the exact order to get a fantastic payout. So, what’s the catch? Well, remember, you’re not just predicting which horse will win, but also which horse will come second which adds an extra layer of difficulty.

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

Typically, around $1 or $2 (some places might let you go as low as 50 cents), it really all depends on the track or sportsbook youre going with.

How the Exacta Pool Determines your Payout

To calculate your bet’s payout, you’ll need to consider the horse race odds and the Exacta pool. The Exacta pool gathers all of the money bettors have wagered on an Exacta bet for a particular race. After the race is over and the winning combination turns up, the track or sportsbook takes a small percentage (known as the takeout) from the pool for their operations. The remaining amount in the pool is then divided among all the winning bets.

Here’s the key: the payout you receive depends on how much money was in the Exacta pool and how many people bet on the winning combination.

  • If a lot of people bet on the same horses you did, the payout will be smaller because the pool is divided among more winners.
  • On the other hand, if only a few people bet on the winning combination, the payout will be substantially larger.

A Quick, Exacta Horse Racing Bet Example:

Let’s say there’s a horse race coming up, and you’ve done your research. You’re feeling confident that Lightning Strike will come in first and Speed Demon will finish second, so you place an Exacta bet on these two horses, in that specific order.

The race card will show:

Horse Morning Line Odds Jockey Trainer
Lightning Strike 5-1 J. Doe A. Smith
Thunder Bolt 3-1 M. Johnson B. Lee
Stormy Skies 10-1 S. Williams C. Davis
Speed Demon 7-2 P. Brown D. Garcia
Wild Fire 15-1 L. Jones E. Martinez

Payout Scenarios for Your Exacta Horse Racing Bet

Let’s say you place a $2 Exacta bet on Lightning Strike (to win) and Speed Demon (to place second). Here’s how the potential payouts would look like considering an (also hypothetical) exacta pool).

Note: A few words on the last three columns of this chart related to the race’s exacta pool

  1. The Hypothetical Exacta Pool column shows the total amount of money that all bettors laid on Exactas for this race.
  2. The Total Winning Bets column shows number of people who bet on the exact order of 1st: Lightning Strike and 2nd: Speed Demon.
  3. And last but not least, the Payout per $2 Bet column shows the payout based on the Exacta pool and number of people that got the order right (winning bets).
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $10,000 100
50
$200
$400
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

Payouts for Even Bigger Pool Sizes:

Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $20,000 100
50
$400
$800
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $50,000 100
50
$1,000
$2,000
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

FAQs on Exacta Horse Racing

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

The minimum stake is usually $1 for an exacta bet, although some tracks do have a $2 minimum. Online Exacta bets have the same minimum stake as betting Exactas at the track.

What is an Exacta in horse racing?

An Exacta is a bet where you must pick the first two horses in a race to finish in the exact order.

How does an Exacta bet work?

To win an Exacta bet, the two horses you choose must finish in the exact order you specified. If they do, you win the bet.

What is the difference between an Exacta and a Quinella?

In an Exacta, the order of the horses matters. In a Quinella, the two selected horses can finish in any order to win.

Can you box an Exacta bet?

Yes, boxing an Exacta bet allows you to cover all possible finishing orders of your chosen horses, increasing your chances of winning.

How are Exacta payouts calculated?

Exacta payouts are determined by the betting pool for that specific wager and the odds of the horses you selected.

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This bet is a bit more specific than what we’ve covered so far. Exacta bets are all about picking the first and second place finishers in the right order. They’re pretty straightforward, but knowing when and how to place these bets requires strategy and analysis most beginners lack.

What are Exacta Horse Racing Bets?

Exacta Horse Racing Bets

Of all the Horse Racing Bets, Exacta horse racing bets allow you to pick the top two finishers of a race in the exact order to get a fantastic payout. So, what’s the catch? Well, remember, you’re not just predicting which horse will win, but also which horse will come second which adds an extra layer of difficulty.

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

Typically, around $1 or $2 (some places might let you go as low as 50 cents), it really all depends on the track or sportsbook youre going with.

How the Exacta Pool Determines your Payout

To calculate your bet’s payout, you’ll need to consider the horse race odds and the Exacta pool. The Exacta pool gathers all of the money bettors have wagered on an Exacta bet for a particular race. After the race is over and the winning combination turns up, the track or sportsbook takes a small percentage (known as the takeout) from the pool for their operations. The remaining amount in the pool is then divided among all the winning bets.

Here’s the key: the payout you receive depends on how much money was in the Exacta pool and how many people bet on the winning combination.

  • If a lot of people bet on the same horses you did, the payout will be smaller because the pool is divided among more winners.
  • On the other hand, if only a few people bet on the winning combination, the payout will be substantially larger.

A Quick, Exacta Horse Racing Bet Example:

Let’s say there’s a horse race coming up, and you’ve done your research. You’re feeling confident that Lightning Strike will come in first and Speed Demon will finish second, so you place an Exacta bet on these two horses, in that specific order.

The race card will show:

Horse Morning Line Odds Jockey Trainer
Lightning Strike 5-1 J. Doe A. Smith
Thunder Bolt 3-1 M. Johnson B. Lee
Stormy Skies 10-1 S. Williams C. Davis
Speed Demon 7-2 P. Brown D. Garcia
Wild Fire 15-1 L. Jones E. Martinez

Payout Scenarios for Your Exacta Horse Racing Bet

Let’s say you place a $2 Exacta bet on Lightning Strike (to win) and Speed Demon (to place second). Here’s how the potential payouts would look like considering an (also hypothetical) exacta pool).

Note: A few words on the last three columns of this chart related to the race’s exacta pool

  1. The Hypothetical Exacta Pool column shows the total amount of money that all bettors laid on Exactas for this race.
  2. The Total Winning Bets column shows number of people who bet on the exact order of 1st: Lightning Strike and 2nd: Speed Demon.
  3. And last but not least, the Payout per $2 Bet column shows the payout based on the Exacta pool and number of people that got the order right (winning bets).
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $10,000 100
50
$200
$400
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

Payouts for Even Bigger Pool Sizes:

Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $20,000 100
50
$400
$800
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $50,000 100
50
$1,000
$2,000
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

FAQs on Exacta Horse Racing

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

The minimum stake is usually $1 for an exacta bet, although some tracks do have a $2 minimum. Online Exacta bets have the same minimum stake as betting Exactas at the track.

What is an Exacta in horse racing?

An Exacta is a bet where you must pick the first two horses in a race to finish in the exact order.

How does an Exacta bet work?

To win an Exacta bet, the two horses you choose must finish in the exact order you specified. If they do, you win the bet.

What is the difference between an Exacta and a Quinella?

In an Exacta, the order of the horses matters. In a Quinella, the two selected horses can finish in any order to win.

Can you box an Exacta bet?

Yes, boxing an Exacta bet allows you to cover all possible finishing orders of your chosen horses, increasing your chances of winning.

How are Exacta payouts calculated?

Exacta payouts are determined by the betting pool for that specific wager and the odds of the horses you selected.

This bet is a bit more specific than what we’ve covered so far. Exacta bets are all about picking the first and second place finishers in the right order. They’re pretty straightforward, but knowing when and how to place these bets requires strategy and analysis most beginners lack.

What are Exacta Horse Racing Bets?

Exacta Horse Racing Bets

Of all the Horse Racing Bets, Exacta horse racing bets allow you to pick the top two finishers of a race in the exact order to get a fantastic payout. So, what’s the catch? Well, remember, you’re not just predicting which horse will win, but also which horse will come second which adds an extra layer of difficulty.

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

Typically, around $1 or $2 (some places might let you go as low as 50 cents), it really all depends on the track or sportsbook youre going with.

How the Exacta Pool Determines your Payout

To calculate your bet’s payout, you’ll need to consider the horse race odds and the Exacta pool. The Exacta pool gathers all of the money bettors have wagered on an Exacta bet for a particular race. After the race is over and the winning combination turns up, the track or sportsbook takes a small percentage (known as the takeout) from the pool for their operations. The remaining amount in the pool is then divided among all the winning bets.

Here’s the key: the payout you receive depends on how much money was in the Exacta pool and how many people bet on the winning combination.

  • If a lot of people bet on the same horses you did, the payout will be smaller because the pool is divided among more winners.
  • On the other hand, if only a few people bet on the winning combination, the payout will be substantially larger.

A Quick, Exacta Horse Racing Bet Example:

Let’s say there’s a horse race coming up, and you’ve done your research. You’re feeling confident that Lightning Strike will come in first and Speed Demon will finish second, so you place an Exacta bet on these two horses, in that specific order.

The race card will show:

Horse Morning Line Odds Jockey Trainer
Lightning Strike 5-1 J. Doe A. Smith
Thunder Bolt 3-1 M. Johnson B. Lee
Stormy Skies 10-1 S. Williams C. Davis
Speed Demon 7-2 P. Brown D. Garcia
Wild Fire 15-1 L. Jones E. Martinez

Payout Scenarios for Your Exacta Horse Racing Bet

Let’s say you place a $2 Exacta bet on Lightning Strike (to win) and Speed Demon (to place second). Here’s how the potential payouts would look like considering an (also hypothetical) exacta pool).

Note: A few words on the last three columns of this chart related to the race’s exacta pool

  1. The Hypothetical Exacta Pool column shows the total amount of money that all bettors laid on Exactas for this race.
  2. The Total Winning Bets column shows number of people who bet on the exact order of 1st: Lightning Strike and 2nd: Speed Demon.
  3. And last but not least, the Payout per $2 Bet column shows the payout based on the Exacta pool and number of people that got the order right (winning bets).
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $10,000 100
50
$200
$400
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

Payouts for Even Bigger Pool Sizes:

Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $20,000 100
50
$400
$800
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $50,000 100
50
$1,000
$2,000
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

FAQs on Exacta Horse Racing

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

The minimum stake is usually $1 for an exacta bet, although some tracks do have a $2 minimum. Online Exacta bets have the same minimum stake as betting Exactas at the track.

What is an Exacta in horse racing?

An Exacta is a bet where you must pick the first two horses in a race to finish in the exact order.

How does an Exacta bet work?

To win an Exacta bet, the two horses you choose must finish in the exact order you specified. If they do, you win the bet.

What is the difference between an Exacta and a Quinella?

In an Exacta, the order of the horses matters. In a Quinella, the two selected horses can finish in any order to win.

Can you box an Exacta bet?

Yes, boxing an Exacta bet allows you to cover all possible finishing orders of your chosen horses, increasing your chances of winning.

How are Exacta payouts calculated?

Exacta payouts are determined by the betting pool for that specific wager and the odds of the horses you selected.

This bet is a bit more specific than what we’ve covered so far. Exacta bets are all about picking the first and second place finishers in the right order. They’re pretty straightforward, but knowing when and how to place these bets requires strategy and analysis most beginners lack.

What are Exacta Horse Racing Bets?

Exacta Horse Racing Bets

Of all the Horse Racing Bets, Exacta horse racing bets allow you to pick the top two finishers of a race in the exact order to get a fantastic payout. So, what’s the catch? Well, remember, you’re not just predicting which horse will win, but also which horse will come second which adds an extra layer of difficulty.

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

Typically, around $1 or $2 (some places might let you go as low as 50 cents), it really all depends on the track or sportsbook youre going with.

How the Exacta Pool Determines your Payout

To calculate your bet’s payout, you’ll need to consider the horse race odds and the Exacta pool. The Exacta pool gathers all of the money bettors have wagered on an Exacta bet for a particular race. After the race is over and the winning combination turns up, the track or sportsbook takes a small percentage (known as the takeout) from the pool for their operations. The remaining amount in the pool is then divided among all the winning bets.

Here’s the key: the payout you receive depends on how much money was in the Exacta pool and how many people bet on the winning combination.

  • If a lot of people bet on the same horses you did, the payout will be smaller because the pool is divided among more winners.
  • On the other hand, if only a few people bet on the winning combination, the payout will be substantially larger.

A Quick, Exacta Horse Racing Bet Example:

Let’s say there’s a horse race coming up, and you’ve done your research. You’re feeling confident that Lightning Strike will come in first and Speed Demon will finish second, so you place an Exacta bet on these two horses, in that specific order.

The race card will show:

Horse Morning Line Odds Jockey Trainer
Lightning Strike 5-1 J. Doe A. Smith
Thunder Bolt 3-1 M. Johnson B. Lee
Stormy Skies 10-1 S. Williams C. Davis
Speed Demon 7-2 P. Brown D. Garcia
Wild Fire 15-1 L. Jones E. Martinez

Payout Scenarios for Your Exacta Horse Racing Bet

Let’s say you place a $2 Exacta bet on Lightning Strike (to win) and Speed Demon (to place second). Here’s how the potential payouts would look like considering an (also hypothetical) exacta pool).

Note: A few words on the last three columns of this chart related to the race’s exacta pool

  1. The Hypothetical Exacta Pool column shows the total amount of money that all bettors laid on Exactas for this race.
  2. The Total Winning Bets column shows number of people who bet on the exact order of 1st: Lightning Strike and 2nd: Speed Demon.
  3. And last but not least, the Payout per $2 Bet column shows the payout based on the Exacta pool and number of people that got the order right (winning bets).
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $10,000 100
50
$200
$400
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

Payouts for Even Bigger Pool Sizes:

Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $20,000 100
50
$400
$800
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout
Scenario Order of Finish Your Bet Outcome Hypothetical Exacta Pool ($) Total Winning Bets Payout per $2 Bet
Exact Order of Finish 1st: Lightning Strike 2nd: Speed Demon $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Win: Horses finish in the exact order $50,000 100
50
$1,000
$2,000
Any Other Order Any other combination of finish $2 Exacta Bet on Lightning Strike to Win, Speed Demon to Place Lose: Horses do not finish in the exact order (Doesn’t Apply) (Doesn’t Apply) No payout

FAQs on Exacta Horse Racing

What is the Minimum Stake on an Exacta Bet?

The minimum stake is usually $1 for an exacta bet, although some tracks do have a $2 minimum. Online Exacta bets have the same minimum stake as betting Exactas at the track.

What is an Exacta in horse racing?

An Exacta is a bet where you must pick the first two horses in a race to finish in the exact order.

How does an Exacta bet work?

To win an Exacta bet, the two horses you choose must finish in the exact order you specified. If they do, you win the bet.

What is the difference between an Exacta and a Quinella?

In an Exacta, the order of the horses matters. In a Quinella, the two selected horses can finish in any order to win.

Can you box an Exacta bet?

Yes, boxing an Exacta bet allows you to cover all possible finishing orders of your chosen horses, increasing your chances of winning.

How are Exacta payouts calculated?

Exacta payouts are determined by the betting pool for that specific wager and the odds of the horses you selected.

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