What Is Exotic Betting In Horse Racing?

What are exotic bets?

Don’t know your quaddies from your exactas or your quinellas from your First Four? Well PickABookie, the only place for Bookmaker reviews, AI betting tips and betting news does all the leg work for you to lay bare the wonderful world of Exotic Betting.

Multiple Horses

Across all three codes in Australia, bet types that involve picking multiple horses in one or more races, rather than just a single horse to win, place, or show are called exotic bets.

Exotic Betting History

These type of bets have their roots in innovations by racetracks and betting operators to make betting more engaging and to increase revenues leading to bigger payouts and greater cuts for regulators.

Exotic Bets On Course

Imagine it’s the year 1925, you’re on the rails at Randwick and you strongly fancy the favourite in the first.

You sidle on up to the main stand, where you are greeted by a row of gentleman in flat caps,  puffing on pipes and standing in front of elaborate chalkboards. Sounds familiar so far. But the key difference to a modern day punter, is that you only get an extremely limited choice of how to bet – i.e. back a selection to win or place.

Introduction of Exotic Wagers​

It wasn’t until the 1930s that bookies on the rails began to introduce exotic wagers to not only increase excitement for punters but to also ensure bigger payouts. Bigger pools meant more revenue for the tracks and the government which in turn encouraged further spending in the racing industry. A win, win for all!

Quinella & Exacta

The quinella and exacta were the first two bet types off the block. As systems and tech started to improve, more complex wagers were added.

Main Exotic Bet Types For Single Races

• Exacta: Punters pick the first two horses to finish in order.
• Quinella: Pick the first two finishers, but in any order.
• Trifecta: Pick the first three finishers in order.
• First Four: Pick the first four finishers in order.

Main Exotic Bet Types For Multiple Races

• Daily Double: Pick the winner of two consecutive races.
• Early Quaddie/ Quaddie: Pick winners of four nominated races in a row.

Please remember to think before you bet. Stay in control, set limits, and seek support if gambling is no longer fun. Head to https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/ if you require help.