{"id":1518,"date":"2022-08-01T12:05:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T12:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.top10bettingsites.co.uk\/?page_id=1518"},"modified":"2022-08-01T12:12:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T12:12:06","slug":"forecast-v-exacta-which-offers-better-value","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/horse-racing\/forecast-v-exacta-which-offers-better-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Forecast v Exacta: Which Offers Better Value?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes, horse racing punters feel they have such a good read on a race that they can predict who will finish first AND second.<\/p>\n

For other punters seeking to enhance their fun, betting on the 1-2 adds additional intrigue \u2013 not to mention a bigger payout than simply attempting to back the winner.<\/p>\n

There are three different bet types you can explore in this way, and they are outlined in more detail below.<\/p>\n

What is a Forecast Bet?<\/h2>\n

\"ForecastA forecast is as easy to explain as it gets: you simply have to guess which horses will finish first and second in a race.<\/p>\n

Note that you have to get them in the right order to score the win on your betslip, so it\u2019s a stringent bet type that can yield a nice return if you\u2019re bang on the money.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d rather have a bit more of a safety net, you can try your hand with a reverse forecast \u2013 this gives you the freedom of guessing the 1-2 but in either order, so you\u2019ll win whichever of your picks finishes first and which second.<\/p>\n

What is an Exacta Bet?<\/h2>\n

\"ExactaTaken from the word exactly (probably), an exacta bet has some pretty easy rules to follow.<\/p>\n

Again, you have to guess the 1-2 in the correct order, so it\u2019s the same punt as the straight forecast outlined above.<\/p>\n

But the difference here is that an exacta is offered by the Tote, the pool betting platform that has enjoyed a marked renaissance in recent times.<\/p>\n

How are Forecast\/Exacta Bets Calculated?<\/h2>\n

\"BookmakerThe manner in which forecast bets are calculated is a little different to traditional fixed odds betting.<\/p>\n

Many bookmaking firms use the Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) formula to work out the odds for your selection. This is a fairly complex calculation that uses the SP, the number of runners and other factors to determine the fair price for your pair of picks.<\/p>\n

The CSF calculation was first introduced in the 1970s, apparently, and its exact inputs are still a closely-guarded secret in bookmaking to this day.<\/p>\n

The Tote\u2019s exacta bet is calculated along the same lines, although your payout is not known until after the race \u2013 that is a result of the odds taken, the amount of money in the pool and so on.<\/p>\n

Forecast vs Exacta: Which is Best?<\/h2>\n

If we define \u2018best\u2019 as the highest paying of the two similar bet types, then we can take a dive into some real-world examples to get us started.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the result card from the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup. We\u2019ve opted for the Racing Post result as this clearly displays the different returns for the forecast (CSF) and exacta (Ex) as shown below:<\/p>\n

\"forecast-vs-exacts-765px\"<\/p>\n

As you can see, the bookies bashed the Tote on this occasion with a differential of \u00a37.85 to a \u00a32 stake.<\/p>\n

We can examine how the two different bets paid out on the Flat too \u2013 here\u2019s a look at the 2022 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes:<\/p>\n