Exploring Exotic Wagers: Beyond the Basics

Don’t go into exotics wagers blind. Stary by carefully selecting a race with two or three reliable horses that have good form on that track. You can start with Quinellas including two favourites, or choose one hot favourite and a slightly longer shot to bump up the odds.  

Checking form is vital, whatever exotic you go for. Online sportsbooks with horse racing odds offer full stats and form on every horse, jockey, and course. We also recommend checking our racing tips here at Sportsboom.

A good tip is to choose horses that came 1st and 2nd in their previous 6 races. Try to find out the ground type for the horse’s previous results too, then compare it to the going on the race you’re betting on.

Exotics are hard to predict in races with large fields. The best bet is to keep to more predictable flat races where unpredictable jumps can upset the results. Start with exotics on races with 8-9 horses and see if your research pays off.

Boxed exotics are great for spreading your bets. You win on the boxed exotic if your horse comes in any order.

For example, you might go for a boxed trifecta on horses 2, 5, and 7, like this:

•    Outcome 1: 2-5-7
•    Outcome 2: 2-7-5
•    Outcome 3: 7-2-5
•    Outcome 4: 7-5-2
•    Outcome 5: 5-2-7
•    Outcome 6: 5-7-2
At $1 a bet, you’d be betting $6 to cover 6 possible permutations. However, if you’ve done your research and picked a long-shot contender, you stand to win a lot more.