In horse racing, an “exacta key box” is a type of wager that allows a bettor to select one horse as a “key” horse and then box it with a number of other horses. This means that the bettor is betting on the key horse to finish in either first or second place, along with the other selected horses, in any order.
Here’s how it works in detail:
Key Horse: You choose one horse that you believe will finish in the top two positions.
Boxing: You then select additional horses to box with your key horse. Boxing allows for all possible combinations of the horses selected to finish in the top two positions.
Example: Suppose you select Horse A as your key horse and then choose Horses B and C as the other horses. In this case, you are betting that Horse A will finish either first or second, regardless of whether Horses B or C comes in first or second. The possible combinations would be:
- Horse A finishes 1st, Horse B finishes 2nd
- Horse A finishes 1st, Horse C finishes 2nd
- Horse B finishes 1st, Horse A finishes 2nd
Horse C finishes 1st, Horse A finishes 2nd
Cost: The cost of an exacta key box bet depends on the number of horses you include in your wager. The more horses you include, the higher the cost, since you are covering multiple combinations. The base cost is usually $2 per combination, so you would multiply the number of combinations by the base amount to calculate your total wager.
Flexibility: The exacta key box gives you greater flexibility compared to a standard exacta bet since it allows for multiple outcomes, making it a popular choice among bettors who want to increase their chances of winning.
Overall, the exacta key box is a strategic betting option that can enhance your chances of winning while still focusing on a horse you believe has a strong chance of placing in the top two.