How to Bet Exactas at Dog Tracks

An exacta bet at a dog track is one way to make some money when a heavy favorite wins the race. Also called perfectas, the exacta allows the player to have a chance to profit on a contest in which the overwhelming favorite comes out on top. The concept of betting exactas is not hard to grasp, but there are various strategies to it. Here is a quick look at how to bet exactas at a dog track.

Instructions

  1. How to Bet Exactas at Dog Tracks

    • 1

      You must be exact to hit the exacta. An exacta, or perfecta, is a wager in which you choose the first two finishers in the exact order. For example, if you were to play a 1-7 exacta, the 1 dog has to win the race and the 7 must run second. An exacta differs from a quiniela in that a quiniela wager involves the first two dogs over the line, but in either order.

    • 2

      Know which races you can bet an exacta in. Exactas are offered at some dog tracks in every race, such as at Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida. Other tracks offer an exacta only in designated races. Always check the program at the dog track to be sure an exacta is offered before you bet.

    • 3

      If there is a dog in a race that is a heavy favorite that you feel has to win, try an exacta bet. The quiniela with this dog will normally come back "short," meaning it won't pay much, especially if another favorite comes in with it. However, an exacta usually pays two to three times what the quiniela pays. What would be an $18 payoff for a "chalk" quiniela would be around $36 for the exacta. If you are reasonably sure a certain dog is going to win, it makes sense to bet the exacta rather than the quiniela.

    • 4

      Wheel a dog in the exacta. This makes it possible to always hit the race if you pick the winner. An exacta wheel gives you the dog you choose to win with the rest of the field. A $1 base exacta wheel goes for $7. You can also wheel a dog for second in an exacta wheel, giving you that greyhound with the rest of the field. However, it will be quite frustrating if that dog goes on to win, leaving you with a losing ticket. An exacta part-wheel is one in which you choose a dog and combine it with a few others, but not the entire rest of the field.

    • 5

      Consider exacta boxes. Boxing three dogs in an exacta gives you six possible winning combinations. For instance, if you were to box 1-2-3, then you win if the race runs 1-2, 2-1, 1-3, 3-1, 2-3 or 3-2. The cost of the bet equals the base amount you want to wager times the number of possible combinations.