my page tools	my font tools

Playing To Win

Exacta Box

Many people get confused by the different types of exacta bets - boxes and wheels. But, boxes and wheels are nothing more than a quicker way of shouting out the individual bets. A straight "exacta 3-8", has only one combination. The #3 must win, and #8 must run second. If you also bet an "exacta 8-3", you have done the same thing as an "exacta box 3-8", which gives 3-8 and 8-3. If you bet 3-8 and 3-9, you have done the same thing as an "exacta wheel 3 with 8-9."

The exacta box is the simplest and most popular way to bet the exacta

Bet	What combinations you get	Cost
"$1 exacta box 1,2"	1 or 2 must win and finish second.	Total cost = $2
"$1 exacta box 1,2,3"	1, 2 or 3 must win and finish second.	Total cost = $6
"$1 exacta box 1,2,3,4"	1, 2, 3, or 4 must win or finish second.	Total cost = $12

The exacta box is just a simpler way of saying all the combinations with your horses. It is easy because all numbers are covered in both first and second equally.

The Exacta Box covers all combinations of your numbers
Short way to say it	Long way to say it	Either way, Total cost
"$2 exacta box 4-7"	"$2 exacta 4-7" and "$2 exacta 7-4"	$4
"$2 exacta box 1-2-3"	"$2 exactas: 1-2,1-3, 2-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2"	$12

Exacta Wheel

With an Exacta Box, all horses are weighted equally and played in the same number of combinations. The Exacta wheel, is typically a more advanced strategy, where some horses may be limited to either first or second place.

For instance, if you really like #4 to win, you can save money by only using #4 in the win spot. Where a "$1 exacta box 1,3,4,7" has 12 combinations and costs $12, a "$1 exacta wheel, 4 with 1,3,7" costs $3. This gives you less combinations, but saves a lot of money.

Examples:

"Exacta wheel 4 with 1, 3, 7"

If you really liked #4, you could play an exacta wheel "4 with 1, 3, 7". This means that #4 must win, and either 1, 3 or 7 must run second. This bet has three combinations. A $1 wheel costs $3 in this example.

"Exacta wheel 1,4 with 1,3,4,7"

We could add the #1 to the first spot and #4 to the second spot: 1, 4 with 1, 3, 4 and 7. In this case, either 1 or 4 must win and any one of 1, 3, 4 and 7 must run second. This bet has six combinations. A $1 wheel costs $6. A $2 wheel costs $12.

Handicapping Icon