Horse Betting Cheat Sheet
Bet cost calculator
Pick the bet, how many horses and the base amount. It shows how many combinations you are buying and the total cost.
Trifecta box, 4 horses, $1: 24 combinations × $1 = $24.00
What each bet costs
- WIN, PLACE or SHOW: the base amount (often $2).
- Across the board (WIN + PLACE + SHOW): 3 times the base. $10 across the board = $30.
- Exacta box: horses × (horses − 1). A 3-horse box is 6 bets.
- Quinella box: half of an exacta box (order doesn't matter).
- Trifecta box: horses × (horses − 1) × (horses − 2). A 4-horse box is 24 bets: $24 at $1.
- Superfecta box: horses × (horses − 1) × (horses − 2) × (horses − 3). A 4-horse box is 24 bets.
The smallest bet allowed for each type is in the track's program. Many exotic bets can be played for less than $1.
What a $2 WIN bet pays, by odds
| Odds | $2 WIN pays back about |
|---|---|
| 1-5 | $2.40 |
| 1-2 | $3.00 |
| 4-5 | $3.60 |
| 1-1 (even money) | $4.00 |
| 3-2 | $5.00 |
| 2-1 | $6.00 |
| 5-2 | $7.00 |
| 3-1 | $8.00 |
| 7-2 | $9.00 |
| 4-1 | $10.00 |
| 5-1 | $12.00 |
| 6-1 | $14.00 |
| 8-1 | $18.00 |
| 10-1 | $22.00 |
| 15-1 | $32.00 |
| 20-1 | $42.00 |
| 30-1 | $62.00 |
Rule: $2 × odds + your $2. Real payouts are set by the pool when betting closes and are rounded down a little (breakage).
Before you bet
Set a budget. No system wins every time. Read the honest guide to betting. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Questions
How much does a $2 horse bet pay out?
A $2 WIN bet pays back $2 times the odds plus your $2. At 5-2 that is about $7.00, at 2-1 about $6.00, and at 10-1 about $22.00. PLACE and SHOW bets pay less, and the exact amount is set by the betting pool when betting closes.
How much is a $10 win place show bet?
$30 in total: $10 on WIN, $10 on PLACE and $10 on SHOW, all on the same horse. If the horse wins you collect all three; if it runs second you collect PLACE and SHOW; if it runs third you collect SHOW.
How much is a $1 trifecta box with 4 horses?
$24. A 4-horse box covers every order of 3 of those horses: 4 × 3 × 2 = 24 combinations, and each costs $1. A 3-horse box is 6 combinations ($6 at $1).
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