Quinella Bets in Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing is a classic sport that has dedicated fans worldwide. Many of them love supporting their favorite horses, coaches, or jockeys by placing bets, while others turn it into a full-fledged business.

You can make money by doing what you enjoy, and a quinella bet is one of the things that can bring you excitement and satisfying winnings.

What is a quinella bet? How does it work, and in what ways does it differ from other horse racing bets? You will find all the answers in this quick guide.

Defining Quinella Bet

Quinella is a unique bet where a punter picks 2 horses they think will take the first and the second places when the race ends.

The order in which they arrive is not important: if your prediction comes true, then you win. This type of bet is more risky than when punters bet on just one horse, but it also brings higher rewards.

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Principles of Work

Placing a bet like this is simple. You just need to follow these steps:

  1. Choose a bookie you trust and who accepts quinella bets.
  2. Pick 2 horses in the same race that you believe will win.
  3. Place a bet and wait for the results.
  4. Get your winnings if both horses assume the first and second places.

This is it. Bets like this are perfect for punters who cannot decide which horse will be the ultimate leader and choose to make two selections they consider the likeliest.

Quinella vs. First 4 vs. Exacta vs. Duet vs. Trifecta

Whether you have experience with horse racing betting or you’re new to the scene, you might encounter bets like exacta, duet, trifecta, and first 4.

Some people find their existence confusing, especially when you throw quinella into a mix. To avoid any misconceptions, let’s clarify what each of these bets means.

  • Exacta. When placing this bet, you have to predict which 2 horses will arrive first; however, you also need to point out in which order this will happen.
  • Duet. Bettors choose 2 horses by claiming that they will take one of the first three winning places; the order of their positioning is irrelevant.
  • Trifecta. As the name implies, you choose three horses that will take the top 3 places in a race; you must also indicate in which order it’ll happen.
  • First 4. It’s among the most complex bets: a punter should guess which four horses will arrive first, second, third, and fourth; getting the order right is essential.

You already know what quinella means, so you can see how it differs from these bets. It’s simpler as you don’t have to bother with the order of horse arrivals; at the same time, it still delivers solid payouts.

A Boxed Quinella Bet

There is also a boxed quinella bet, something you might consider if you already have experience with standard quinellas.

It means that you can choose more than two horses as those finishing in the leading places. This will expand your chances of winning. Note that you will have to spend more money to place such a bet, though.

Here is an example of a boxed quinella bet.

  1. You select Horse 2, Horse 4, and Horse 8, placing separate bets on each.
  2. The bookie’s system combines them automatically.
  3. You now have the following combinations: Horse 2 and Horse 4, Horse 2 and Horse 8, as well as Horse 4 and Horse 8.

If any of the combinations wins, your bet will bring you money. You can choose as many horses as you want for boxed quinella betting.

Price of Quinella Bets

Across most platforms, the cost of a quinella bet ranges between $1 and $2. However, it rises based on how many horse combinations you end up choosing.

Let’s say you pick 5 horses; the number of potential combinations will reach 10, meaning that you’ll have to pay $10 to place a boxed bet like this.

Odds Calculation

The odds shift based on how much money is poured into each specific combination. If you have an idea of how betting works in general, you understand that all the money is spread between the winning bets. It means that the rarer combination of horses a person picks, the more money they can potentially win.

Punters who go with everyone’s favorites have more chances to win, but the payouts will be small. At the same time, if you support less popular horses but they end up winning, your victory will bring you more serious profit. The challenge is that you won’t discover how much you can win until it actually happens.

Possible Strategies for Bettors

There are different betting strategies you should consider for your quinella bets. Take a look at these examples:

  • Pair a favorite and a value horse. Combine a clear favorite with a horse that isn’t as popular but which still has chances at winning. This will keep the risks average and the payouts satisfying.
  • Do speed analysis. If you’re engaging in live betting, consider how quickly the horses are moving. Analyze their speed and place a bet on this basis.
  • Focus on strong horses. This is a sure way to win: just box the strongest combinations of horses.
  • Learn jockey stats. Most people focus on horses, but jockeys are just as important. Check their stats across races to get an idea of what you should expect.

Try some of these strategies to increase your winning chances.

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