What is a Horse Racing Quinella Wager?

Understanding Quinella betting in horse racing

A Quinella bet is the easiest of all horse racing exotic bets to understand!  You simply pick two or more selections and as long as you have the first two home - in any order - you win!

What exactly is a Quinella bet in horse racing?

The definition of a Quinella bet is fairly straight forward: select two horses to finish one and two. As long as those are the first two finishers - in either order - you're a winner! Yes: this is the same bet as an Exacta Box, but it's a separate betting pool, so there is a different payout on Quinella betting.

What is the minimum stake on a Quinella bet?

The minimum stake is usually $1 for a Quinella bet, although some tracks do have a $2 minimum.  Online Quinella bets have the same minimum stake as betting Quinellas at the track.

How much can I win on a Quinella bet?

Winnings are unlimited and are determined by the pari-mutuel system where all the winning tickets share the pool of money collected (less the money the track takes as commission). Since a Quinella wager and an Exacta wager are so similar, it can get confusing for casual race fans to determine how the odds and payouts vary between the two. For more information, consult this guide to help you make a more informed wager.

Are Quinella bets and Exacta bets the same?

They are close, but not exactly the same.  In an Exacta your selections must finish in the correct order, in a Quinella they can finish in either order.

Learn more with our other betting resources below: