Exacta

Exacta

An exacta is one of the most common exotic bets made by punters. Easier than a trifecta but more challenging than a quinella, an exacta usually pays out somewhere in between those bet types.

What is an Exacta?

An exacta is a bet on two horses to finish first and second, picked in the exact order. If your selections come first and second, but not in the order you selected, then your exacta loses. The added difficulty of having to select the correct finishing order means an exacta pays out much better than a quinella.

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Where Can I Place an Exacta?

You can place an exacta at any online betting site with a horse racing section, as it is a very popular exotic bet type. We recommend sites like SportsBet, where the betting interfaces are intuitive and easy to use. These sites may also offer bonus bets that allow you to make even more money on a winning exacta, so they are a much better option than a TAB or other brick and mortar betting shop.

How Do I Pick a Winning Exacta?

First of all, you need to do your research. Look into the stats of the horses you are considering a bet on and work out what their chances should be on paper. The more information you can gather, the better.

Once you have an idea of how the horses run, you can compare their previous performances to the conditions of the race you are betting on. From there you should work out the top chances.

Now, it comes down to luck. You never know exactly how a horse is going to perform on the day, so an exacta will always be a bit riskier than a bet with some flexibility. If you end up consistently getting the horses right but the order wrong, it may be worth considering quinellas instead. If keep picking the wrong two horses from your initial shortlist, then a box exacta may be the way to go, so that you can cover those extra runners.

Melbourne Cup Exacta

Picking the Melbourne Cup exacta will impress your friends and weigh down your wallet. It’s a tricky bet to get right, but it pays off big to make up for the challenge. Picking a quinella is hardly impressive at all – it’s a Melbourne Cup exacta that will really have everyone in the office coming to you for betting tips.

Caulfield Guineas Exacta

A Caulfield Guineas exacta may be hard for the average punter to pick – which is why box bets were invented! By including all the likely contenders in your Caulfield Guineas exacta box bet, you can benefit from a big payout if you win without having to be so lucky as to get the exact finishing order.

Caulfield Cup Exacta

As the more popular Caulfield Cup exotic bet is the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, the Caulfield Cup exacta isn’t as popular as you might expect. However, as the Caulfield Cup is one of the first major races in the season, the Caulfield Cup exacta betting pool still draws plenty of action.

Cox Plate Exacta

The epic competition of the Cox Plate can make Cox Plate exacta decisions a little difficult – which champions do you pick to come first and second? The upshot is that Cox Plate exacta payouts can be quite high due to exceptional runners getting longer odds than they would in another race.

Victoria Derby Exacta

Picking a Victoria Derby exacta can be something of a warm up for punters, as the Melbourne Cup is usually held just a few days later. The best part about betting on a Victoria Derby exacta is that even if you lose, you’ll have a perfect opportunity to repair your punting reputation with a bet on the Melbourne Cup!

Crown Oaks Exacta

As the Victoria Derby is fun to bet on for being just before the Melbourne Cup, a Crown Oaks exacta helps you deal with the big race being over. The perfect cure for a Melbourne Cup betting hangover, a Crown Oaks exacta can be made easier to pick if you pay attention to the Wakeful Stakes, as it has produced many top Crown Oaks performers.

Emirates Stakes Exacta

As the last of the big spring races, the Emirates Stakes is the final stand for bettors trying to reach their betting goals for the season. It is worth preparing for an Emirates Stakes exacta early in the season, though, as the Toorak Handicap is a good indicator race and it is held in October. It can also be work watching the Chatham Stakes and Crystal Mile to help your Emirates Stakes exacta selections.

Epsom Handicap Exacta

It is definitely worth placing an Epsom Handicap exacta if you intend to bet on later races in the season, as it is good practice before the season has fully begun. It can be a bit hard to pick, but watching races with similar distances and conditions will help you get your selections right for a winning Epsom Handicap exacta.