Quinella Bet

A Quinella Bet is picking horses to finish first and second. Final order does not matter. Place a straight quinella, quinella wheel or quinella box. Each quinella variant has its own mechanics and cost. This tutorial explains how to place each quinella. See example quinella bets and cost tables below.

A winning quinella bet can produce a modest payout. Winning quinellas with longshot horses pay more than those with heavy favorites.

$2 Quinellas operate like $1 exacta boxes. Handicappers may notice occasional differences between each bet’s payout. Always take the more profitable bet.

Table of Contents

  1. Straight Quinella
  2. Quinella Box
  3. Quinella vs Exacta Box
  4. Quinella Wheel

First, let’s define a quinella bet.

The following video clip explains how to place this bet. Watch the entire video for other horse bets.

Straight Quinella Bet


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Choose 2 horses to finish top 2. Final order does not matter.

Your quinella wins if the horses finish top 2 in any order.

Cost: $2

How to Place a Quinella Bet
How to Place a Quinella Bet

Time needed: 1 minute

  • Your quinella bet wins if the horses finish in the top two in any order

    Carefully review the race results. If the top two finishers match the horses you specified, your quinella bet wins.

  • Example Ticket:

    $2 Straight Quinella on horses 7-3 means you are betting $2 that horses 7 and 3 will finish top 2 in any order.

    Quinella Box Bet


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    A Quinella Box bet is picking any number of horses to finish top 2. Final order does not matter.

    Your quinella box bet wins if any of your horses finish in the top 2 in any order.

    The quinella box costs more than a straight quinella because you must pay for each possible finishing combination.

    Note: Quinellas boxes operate like exacta boxes. There may be a slight difference in final payouts. Choose the most profitable option. This is an advanced horse betting strategy.

    Cost: $2 per Combination

    Quinella Box Cost

    H = Total number of horses being boxed.
    C = Cost per Combination, usually $2.

    ((H x (H – 1))/2) x C

    A 4 horse quinella box costs $12 for 6 combinations: ((4 x 3)/2) x $2.

    Tip

    Racebooks will calculate quinella box cost for you. See also this calculator.

    How to Place a Box Bet
    How to Place a Quinella Box Bet

    1. Choose “Quinella Bet”.
    2. Horses will be listed on the left. The next “ML” column contains the odds.
    3. Select 3 or more horses to finish top 2. Final order does not matter.
    4. You must select “Box” wager. Alernatively, just select 3 or more horses. This indicates the bet is a Quinella Box.
    5. Notes: Sportsbook will calculate box cost automatically.

    Example Ticket:

    A 5 Horse Quinella Box on Horses 2-7-5-8-6 means you are betting $2 that any combination horses 2, 7, 5, 8 or 6 will finish top 2 in any order. This quinella box costs $20 for 10 possible finishing combinations.

    Quinella vs 2 Horse Exacta Box


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    A quinella and exacta box payout after the same race result. Two horses must finish first and second in any order. The mechanics of each bet differ.

    Quinella
    The quinella is one bet on 2 horses. Horses A and B can finish either A-B or B-A.

    Exacta Box
    The 2 horse exacta box is 2 different bets on A and B.

    1. Horses finish A-B.
    2. Horses finish B-A.

    Each horses’s odds will produce two different payouts. This happens when a favorite is paired with a longshot. A winning longshot followed by a heavy favorite would pay more than the reverse result.

    Quinella vs. 2 Horse Exacta Box Equation

    Use the following equation to determine whether a quinella or exacta box is better for 2 horses.

    Q/E1 + Q/E2 <> 1

    • Q = 2 horse quinella payout.
    • E1 = 2 horse exacta payout finishing A-B.
    • E2 = 2 horse exacta payout finishing B-A.
    • Results greater than 1 indicate the quinella is a better choice than an exacta box.

    Example:
    Q = $15 Quinella Payout
    E1 = $20 Exacta Payout A-B
    E2 = $50 Exacta Payout B-A

    $15/$20 + $15/$50 = 0.75 + 0.3 = 1.05

    1.05 > 1. Therefore, the quinella is the better bet.

    Quinella Wheel Bet


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    A Quinella Wheel bet is picking sets of horses to finish top 2 in any order. Each set is called a key. Each key contains 1 or more horses.

    Two Quinella Wheel Bets

    Quinella Full Wheel – Put one horse in the 1st key with all other horses in the 2nd key. Alternatively, wheel 1 horse in the 2nd with all others in the 1st.

    Quinella Part Wheel – Put one or more horses in the 1st key with your own set of horses in the 2nd key. The part wheel does not include all other horses.

    Quinella Wheel Details

    A horse can be included in multiple keys. This is common for heavy favorites. They are more likely to finish in the top 2 than a longshot.

    A quinella wheel bet requires horses in the top 2 from 2 sets of horses. Note that a quinella box bet requires any order of 3 or more horses.

    Your quinella wheel bet wins if a horse from the 1st key finishes top 2 and a horse from the 2nd key finishes top 2.

    Cost: $2 per Combination

    Quinella Wheel Cost

    This calcuation is more complicated because the same horse can included in multiple keys. Racebooks will calculate your quinella wheel cost automatically.

    Quinella Wheel Combination Calcuation
    A = Number Horses Key 1
    B = Number Horses Key 2
    AB = Number same horses in both keys.

    (A x B) – (AB) = Combinations

    Multiply combinations times cost per combination.

    Tip

    Racebooks will calculate quinella wheel cost for you. See also this calculator.

    Example Ticket:

    4 Horse Quinella Part Wheel. 1 with 2-3-4 costs $6.

    • 1st Key – Horse 1
    • 2nd Key – Horses 2, 3 and 4

    Example Cost Calculation:
    (A x B) = 1 x 3 = 3
    – (AB) = 0
    3 – 0 = 3 Combinations x $2 = $6

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    Quinella Betting Reference

    $2 Quinella Box

    Quinella Box Costs, $2 Per Combination
    Horses Combinations Cost
    33$6
    46$12
    510$20
    615$30
    721$42
    828$56

    $2 Quinella Part Wheel

    Quinella Part Wheel Costs, $2 Per Combination
    Each horse to 1 key, not every possible permutation is shown
    Key 1Key 2Combinations Cost
    12,32$4
    12,3,43$6
    12,3,4,54$8
    12,3,4,5,65$10
    12,3,4,5,6,76$12
    1,23,4,56$12
    1,23,4,5,68$16
    1,23,4,5,6,710$20
    1,23,4,5,6,7,812$24
    1,2,34,5,6,712$24
    1,2,34,5,6,7,815$30
    1,2,34,5,6,7,8,918$36
    1,2,3,45,6,7,8,920$40
    1,2,3,45,6,7,8,9,1024$48
    1,2,3,4,56,7,8,9,10,1130$60

    FAQs on Quinella Bets

    What is a straight quinella bet?

    Choose two horses to finish either first and second in any order. Final race order does not matter. Quinellas cost $2 each.

    What is a quinella box bet?

    Choose 3 or more horses to finish in the top 2 in any order. Final order doesn’t matter. Each possible winning combination costs $1 each.

    What is a quinella full wheel bet?

    Put one horse in the 1st key with all other horses in the 2nd key. Alternatively, wheel 1 horse in the 2nd key with all others in the first key.

    What is a quinella part wheel bet?

    Put one or more horses in one key with your own set of horses in the other key. The part wheel does not include all other horses.

    What is the difference between a quinella bet and an exacta box bet?

    The quinella is one bet on two horses to finish either A-B or B-A. The exacta box is two different bets, one on the horses to finish A-B and the other on horses to finish B-A. The exacta box payout will vary particularly when pairing a longshot with a heavy favorite. The final result will produce a much different payout.

    When should I bet the quinella instead of an exacta box or vice-versa?

    Use our simple equation to compare the quinella payout vs the exacta box payout on two horses. When the sum of the quotients of the quinella payout divided by each exacta payout is 1 or more, the quinella is the more profitable bet to make.

    What is the difference between an quinella bet and an exacta bet?

    A quinella bet is picking two horses to finish first and second in any order, for example either A-B or B-A. An exacta bet is picking a horse to finish first and another horse to finish second in the order you specify.

    Horse Betting Resources

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    • How to bet on Horses – We’ve made horse racing betting easy, giving you a basic rundown of the win, place, show, and win-place-show bet. You’ll also learn how place a trifecta, superfecta, exacta, or quinella bet.

    Exotic Horse Bets

    • Exacta Bet – Bet on two horses to finish first and second in the order you specify. Like other exotic bets, you can box or wheel an exacta bet.
    • Quinella Bet – This bet is similar to the exacta, except you’re picking two horses to finish first and second in any order. That means they could finish A-B, or B-A, and your quinella would still win. You can also box or wheel a quinella.
    • Trifecta Bet – Bet on three horses to finish first, second, and third in the order you specify, or try a trifecta box or trifecta wheel bet.
    • Superfecta Bet – It’s hard to win a superfecta, which is a bet on four horses to finish first, second, third, and fourth in the order you specify. Hitting a superfecta box or superfecta wheel bet might be easier.
    • Daily Double Bet – Pick the winners of two consecutive horse races from the horse track’s list of eligible races. For more flexibility, you can try a daily double wheel bet. You can’t box a daily double bet.
    • Pick 3, 4, 5, or 6 Bets – Pick the winners of 3, 4, 5, or 6 consecutive horse races. Like the Pick 3, you’ll need to review the horse track’s list of eligible races before placing this longshot wager. You can also wheel a Pick bet.

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