What is an Exacta?.

An exacta is a racing exotic where you pick the first two horses in a race in the correct finishing order. It is one of the easiest exotics to start with, because you only need to get two horses right, and it is a natural step up from a straight win or place bet.

How an exacta works

To win a straight exacta you must select the horse that finishes first and the horse that finishes second, in that order. If your two horses run first and second but in the wrong order, a straight exacta loses. An exacta is a tote bet, so the dividend is set by the pool and declared after the race.

Boxing an exacta

If you fancy two horses but are not sure which will beat the other, you can box the exacta. A boxed exacta wins if your two horses finish first and second in either order. Boxing two horses costs two units instead of one, because it covers both orders.

Combinations in a boxed exacta:

2 horses = 2 combinations

3 horses = 6 combinations

4 horses = 12 combinations

How to bet an exacta on Bet Right

1. Open the race and choose the exacta option.
2. Pick your horse for first and your horse for second, or choose box to cover both orders.
3. Set your stake, or use flexi betting to take a percentage of the full bet.
4. Check the combinations and total cost on the bet slip.
5. Confirm. The bet settles to the declared tote dividend if your horses run first and second.

Exacta strategy: box or standout

If you are confident which horse will win but unsure what runs second, a standout exacta is efficient: you lock in your top pick for first and take several runners for second. This costs less than boxing every selection equally, because you are not paying to cover orders where your main horse runs second. If you genuinely cannot split two horses, a simple box of the pair is the cleaner play.

Exacta FAQs

What is the difference between an exacta and a quinella?

An exacta needs the first two horses in the correct order; a quinella pays if your two horses run first and second in any order.

What does boxing an exacta mean?

Your bet wins if your two horses finish first and second in either order.

Is an exacta a good bet for beginners?

It is a sensible first exotic, because you only pick two horses. From there you can move up to a trifecta or a first four.