Gambling terms, explained straight

In UK racing, the equivalent term is a straight forecast. Also called a perfecta or exactor.

Racing & Pari-Mutuel

Exacta horse

An exacta horse is a bet on a horse race where you must pick the first two finishers in the exact order.

Selections required
Two: 1st and 2nd in exact order31
Minimum bet (UK Tote)
£2, with 10p multiples above24
Eligible races
Races with three or more runners24

Key points

  • You choose one horse to finish 1st and another to finish 2nd; both must place in that order to win.1
  • A reverse exacta covers either order, while a combination exacta includes more than two horses.24
  • The bet is available on horse and greyhound races, typically with three or more runners.12

Where this term is used

Not the same as

  • Exacta — the same bet; 'exacta horse' simply specifies the horse-racing context
  • Exacta straight — another name for the basic exacta, picking two horses in exact order
Racing Exacta horse racing Explains the exacta bet specifically in a horse-racing context. Racing Exacta Covers the exacta bet type across all racing. Racing Horse racing betting Overview of common horse-racing wagers and how they work. Racing Exacta wheel A method to cover multiple horses in the exacta bet. Racing Exacta straight The basic exacta wager with two horses in exact order. Racing Handicap horse racing How handicap weights affect betting, including exactas.

Sources

  1. Glossary | Racing Explained thejockeyclub.co.uk Defines exacta as picking first two finishers in exact order.
  2. Grand National Tote Betting | Aintree Racecourse - The Jockey Club thejockeyclub.co.uk Provides UK Tote exacta rules: minimum bet £2, 10p multiples, three or more runners.
  3. Parimutuel betting - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Confirms exacta definition and parimutuel context.
  4. Tote betting - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Details Tote exacta rules and minimum bet amounts.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.