Exacta betting is usually suitable for punters who believe they are good at reading races. This exacta bets guide will tell you how an exacta operates, exacta bet meaning / explanation, give some good tips, and how they stack up against other exotic bets such as quinellas and trifectas.
Exacta Bets Guide
Exacta Bets Explained
Wish to support the 1st and the 2nd place finishers in the correct order? That is where an exacta bet comes in and AustralianBettingSites is here to help you pick a winner.
Here is an exacta bet explained in the most simple terms. An exacta bet in horse racing is an exotic bet in which you have to pick the first and second place finishers in the correct order. Compared to a quinella (when the order is not important), exactas are more specific and as a result, provide greater payouts, especially via new betting sites.
Exacta Betting Strategies
There’s more to exacta bet horse racing strategy than picking two favourites. These proven exacta betting strategies that I use can improve your success rate:
- Shortie + Roughie: Take a short-priced favourite to win and pair it with a longer odds runner for 2nd place. Melbourne Cup tips usually focus on this strategy. Look out for betting bonuses too.
- Boxing Three or More Runners: Can’t decide on two? Box three+ runners to cover all possible finishing orders. Sort of like AFL tips when you can’t pick a head to head winner and use total points instead.
- Standout Exacta: Pick one runner to win and box multiple runners to finish second. Good for dominant favourites and horse racing tips use it a lot.
- Speed Maps & Form Analysis: A good exacta horse betting strategy is to use data to anticipate pace scenarios and pick leaders and strong closers. Think NRL tips and picking teams that are in form or Tennis betting in Grand Slam tournaments.
- Track Conditions Match-Up: Combine a wet-tracker with a dry-track form runner to cover changing conditions. Useful for unpredictable Greyhound betting at different tracks.
Examples of Exacta Bets
What is an example of an exacta bet? Here is a short overview of how a standard, boxed and standout exacta work, using horse racing and common exacta bet rules that betting apps employ.
| Bet Type | How it Works | Example Bet | Winning Bet | Losing Bet |
| Standard Exacta | Pick two horses to finish 1st and 2nd in exact order | Back Horse 3 to win, Horse 5 to place 2nd | Result: 3-5 → You win | Result: 5-3 or any other order → You lose |
| Boxed Exacta | Select 2+ horses; any two can finish top 2 in any order | Box 2, 4, 7 → Covers 2-4, 4-7, 2-7, etc. | Any combo finishes top 2 → You win | None of your runners finish top 2 → You lose |
| Standout Exacta | One horse to win; combine with 2nd-place options | Horse 1 to win, box with 4, 6, 7 | Result: 1-4, 1-6, 1-7 → You win | If Horse 1 doesn't win → You lose |
Exacta Bet vs Other Exotic Bets
Exacta vs Quinella
Here, I’m looking at exacta vs quinella with some examples and how it works.
| Bet Type | How it Works | Example Bet | Winning Bet | Losing Bet |
| Quinella | Pick two horses to finish top 2 in any order | Back Horses 2 and 5 | Result: 2-5 or 5-2 → Win | One misses top 2 → Lose |
| Exacta | Pick the top 2 in exact order | Horse 2 to win, Horse 5 2nd | Result: 2-5 → Win | Result: 5-2 → Lose |
Which Should You Choose?
- Quinella: Safer when you like two horses but are not confident in the order.
- Exacta: Use when confident in precise finishing order - higher payout, more risk.
Exacta vs Trifecta
If you think picking 1st and 2nd is hard, try the top three!
| Bet Type | How it Works | Example Bet | Winning Bet | Losing Bet |
| Exacta | Select 1st and 2nd place finishers in order | Horse 2 to win, Horse 5 to place | Result: 2-5 → Win | Result: 5-2 → Lose |
| Trifecta | Pick 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in order | 2-5-7 | Finish in that exact order → Win | Any other order → Lose |
Box Exacta vs Straight Exacta
A quick comparison between an exacta straight bet and using boxed.
| Bet Type | How it Works | Example Bet | Winning Bet | Losing Bet |
| Straight Exacta | Pick 2 runners for exact 1st and 2nd order | 3 to win, 8 to run 2nd | Result: 3-8 → Win | Result: 8-3 or any other → Lose |
| Boxed Exacta | Pick 2+ runners to finish 1st and 2nd in any order | Box 3, 8 | Result: 3-8 or 8-3 → Win | Neither finishes top 2 → Lose |
Exacta Bet Tips
FAQs
What is an Exacta bet in Australia?
In Australia, an exacta bet is a bet in which you have to select the 1st and 2nd place horses in the exact order.
How does Exacta betting work?
You choose two horses and you win the bet when they come first and second but in the order you put them in.
How does an Exacta payout work?
Exacta payouts are based on an overall pool of bets and the profits are divided among winners who correctly guessed the exact order, once a commission is taken out.
What is an Exacta box bet?
An exacta box bet enables you to select two or more horses and win when two of them come 1st and 2nd in any position.
How to place an Exacta box bet?
On betting sites, select the box option, select two or more horses, place your stake and click on the bet.
What is a tote Exacta bet?
A tote exacta bet is made via a totalisator system and payouts are made out of a betting pool, not at fixed odds.
What is an Exacta bet example?
When you bet on Horse 4 to win and Horse 7 to finish second, then you win the exacta only when the outcome is 4-7.
What is the difference between a Quinella and an Exacta?
A quinella allows the two horses you pick to finish anywhere, but an exacta needs the finishing order to be right.
What is the difference between a Trifecta and an Exacta?
An exacta is a bet on 1st and 2nd in order, a trifecta is a bet on 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the exact order.
What pays more, Quinella or Exacta?
Exactas tend to be more expensive than quinellas since it is much more difficult to win.
How to calculate an Exacta?
To compute your exacta payout, multiply your flexi percentage by the stated dividend (e.g. 50 percent of a 40 dollar dividend = 20 dollar payout).
Matt is a sports and racing writer who has been working in the field since 2016. He has provided betting tips for some of the biggest companies in the market, including Sportsbet, William Hill, PlayUp, and Betr, across a range of sports such as AFL, NRL, NBA, NFL, BBL, MLB, and Horse Racing. He is a serious participant in horse racing as a race horse owner with Viva Racing and a close associate of thoroughbredsales.com.au, the leading racehorse directory in Australia. His betting strategy focuses on identifying trends and using them to generate the best possible tips or advice.
