What does exacta mean?
An exacta is a type of wager used primarily in North American thoroughbred and harness racing, in which the bettor must correctly name the horses that finish first and second in precisely that order. It derives from the phrase "exact order," distinguishing it from looser bets such as the quiniela, which pays regardless of which of the two selections finishes ahead. Because predicting both the winner and the runner-up in sequence is difficult, exactas typically offer substantial payouts, and bettors often use strategies like the "exacta box" to cover multiple finishing combinations at added cost. In Britain and Ireland the equivalent bet is known as a straight forecast, while some American jurisdictions call it a perfecta. Beyond the racetrack, the term occasionally appears figuratively for any outcome predicted with complete precision, though such use remains informal and relatively rare.
nounA bet, chiefly in North American horse racing, in which the bettor must select the first and second place finishers of a race in the exact order.
- A wager on a horse race requiring the bettor to correctly predict the first and second place finishers in their exact order.
"She won the pool when her exacta called the two favorites to finish one-two."
"He hit the exacta by naming both the winner and the runner-up in the correct sequence."
"Bettors often play the exacta box to cover either finishing order of their top two picks."
Regular pluralization; commonly used when discussing betting menus or multiple wagers.
"The track offered daily doubles, exactas, and trifectas on every race."
The exacta is short for 'exact order' — miss the sequence by even one position and your winning ticket becomes worthless.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exacta
The word "exacta" originated in American horse racing as a shortened form of "exact order," the requirement that a bettor name the top two finishers in their precise sequence. It ultimately traces back to the Latin verb exigere, meaning "to drive out, demand, or measure accurately," whose past participle exactus also gave English the adjective "exact." Cognates from the same Latin root include "exaction," "exactitude," and "exigent." The term arose in mid-twentieth-century American racing parlance and remains standard there, alongside its synonym "perfecta."
How exacta is actually used
"Exacta" is the standard term in the United States and Canada; British racing uses the equivalent "straight forecast." The related term "perfecta" is used interchangeably in some American racing jurisdictions. The word is informal-to-specialist, appearing almost exclusively in gambling and racing contexts.
Easily confused with exacta
A quiniela requires picking the first two finishers in either order, whereas an exacta requires them in the precise finishing order.
A trifecta extends the same principle to the first three finishers in exact order, while an exacta covers only the top two.