How an exacta payout is calculated
Posted exacta payouts are quoted for a $2 bet, and the posted figure is the total return, including your original stake. If an exacta is posted at $48.60 and you hold a winning $2 ticket, you receive $48.60, a profit of $46.60. A $1 base returns half of that, $24.30, and a $5 base returns two and a half times it, $121.50. The calculator above scales the posted $2 payout to your base and then subtracts what the ticket cost.
Why a box costs more but pays the same per winning combination
A box covers every order of the horses you choose, so a three-horse exacta box has six combinations (3 × 2). At a $1 base that is $6 to play. Only one of those six combinations can finish first and second, so a winning box pays the same as a straight exacta on that one combination: $24.30 on a $48.60 posted payout. Net of the $6 cost, the result is +$18.30. Boxing buys flexibility about the finishing order; it does not raise the payout.
Worked examples: what a winning ticket returns
| Posted $2 payout | $1 base returns | $2 base returns | $5 base returns |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20.00 | $10.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 |
| $48.60 | $24.30 | $48.60 | $121.50 |
| $100.00 | $50.00 | $100.00 | $250.00 |
What this calculator cannot do
It cannot tell you in advance what an exacta will pay. The payout is set by the exacta pool, meaning how much was bet on each combination, after the track takes its share and rounds the result down. Win odds on the individual horses do not determine it. The calculator also cannot say whether any exacta is a good bet. For that, compare your own probability with the price using the fair-odds calculator, and remember that passing is a valid decision.
Related tools and guides
Count combinations and cost first with the ticket cost calculator, see the exacta box cost chart, or read how an exacta box works and how pari-mutuel pools set the price.
Common questions
Does the posted payout include my original bet?
Yes. The posted payout is the total amount returned for the base shown, so subtract your stake to get profit.
What if my track offers a $1 exacta?
Enter your base per combination. The calculator pays half the posted $2 figure at a $1 base. Minimum bases and offered pools vary by track and operator, so check yours before betting.
Sources and scope
Official references and GAMELIN's published evidence. Check current track and operator information before acting.