Horse Racing Calculator
Calculate your exacta box ticket cost by entering a base bet and the number of horses in the box. An exacta box covers every two-horse finishing order among your selected runners. Cost grows with each additional horse because the formula is n × (n − 1).
Enter your base bet per combination and the number of horses in the box. The calculator applies n × (n − 1) to find total combinations, then multiplies by your base bet.
Enter a base bet and horse count, then press Calculate to see ticket combinations and estimated cost.
Formula: combinations = n × (n − 1). All values below are pre-verified against the permutation formula.
| Horses in box | Combinations | $0.50 base | $1 base | $2 base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $4.00 |
| 3 | 6 | $3.00 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| 4 | 12 | $6.00 | $12.00 | $24.00 |
| 5 | 20 | $10.00 | $20.00 | $40.00 |
| 6 | 30 | $15.00 | $30.00 | $60.00 |
| 7 | 42 | $21.00 | $42.00 | $84.00 |
Adding horses to an exacta box increases coverage but also raises cost at an accelerating rate. A 4-horse box costs $12 at $1 base. A 6-horse box costs $30.
More horses do not automatically create better expected value. Exotics are high-variance bets and the pool takeout applies regardless of how many combinations you buy.
The minimum exacta box uses 2 horses, creating 2 combinations (2 × 1 = 2). At a $1 base, the ticket costs $2.
A straight exacta requires one specific finishing order — horse A first, horse B second. An exacta box covers every order among your selected horses, so it hits regardless of which of your horses finishes first or second. The box costs more because it buys multiple combinations.
A larger box increases coverage, meaning more finishing-order combinations are covered. It does not improve the underlying edge or change the track takeout rate. You are paying more for broader coverage, not for a better mathematical return.
Track takeout is deducted from the total exacta pool before any payouts are calculated. The remaining pool splits among all winning tickets. A higher-cost box does not affect the takeout percentage or the size of the pool — it only determines how much of the pool you have claim to if you win.
No. This calculator covers full box bets only, where every selected horse can finish in any covered position. Exacta keys and partial boxes use different combination structures and require a separate calculation.
Run the cost, compare it against your bankroll, and remember: more combinations increase cost, not edge.