What is Quinella?
A Quinella is a horse racing bet where you pick two runners to finish first and second in any order. The order does not matter. Your selection wins as long as both horses fill the top two positions, regardless of which one finishes ahead.
Quinella bets are popular in many racing jurisdictions, including the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, and Europe, because they provide a higher chance of winning than exactas while still offering better returns than simple win bets.
How a Quinella works
A Quinella focuses on the first two finishers in a race and settles according to clear, rule-based criteria used by most UK and European bookmakers.
When placing the bet, you select two runners. Your stake covers the single combination of those two horses finishing in the top two positions in any order. Bookmakers calculate the potential return based on the combined probability of this outcome.
A Quinella is settled as a winning bet only when both selected horses finish first and second in any order. It is settled as a losing bet if:
- one of the two horses finishes outside the top two, or
- one or both selections fail to complete the race.
Example:
You select Horse 3 and Horse 7 in a Quinella at combined decimal odds of 6.50 (+550).
- If Horse 3 wins and Horse 7 finishes second, the bet wins.
- If Horse 7 wins and Horse 3 finishes second, the bet also wins.
- If either horse finishes third or lower, the bet loses.
A £10 Quinella at 6.50 (+550) returns £65 including stake.
If a selected horse is declared a non-runner before the race starts, most bookmakers will void the bet and refund your stake. If late withdrawals reduce the field below the minimum required runners, the Quinella market is typically voided entirely.
Common variations of Quinella bets
Quinella bets can be structured in several ways beyond the standard two-horse combination, allowing bettors to manage risk and cover more outcomes.
Bet type | How it works | Key feature | Example selections & cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Straight Quinella | Select two horses to finish first and second in any order. | Simple, single-combination bet. | Horses 5 and 8. Cost: £2. |
Quinella Box | Choose three or more horses; you win if any two of them finish first and second. | Covers all possible pairs from your selections; cost increases with more horses. | Horses 2, 3, 4. Cost: £6 (covers 2-3, 2-4, 3-4). |
Quinella Wheel | Pick one “key” horse and pair it with other horse(s) to finish in the top two. | Focuses combinations on one or more key horses; can be more cost-effective than a box. | Key Horse 1 with Horses 2, 3, 4. Cost: £6 (covers 1-2, 1-3, 1-4). |
Quinella vs other similar bets
Quinella shares features with several other horse racing bets, but key differences lie in finishing order requirements, number of selections, and difficulty level. The table below highlights these distinctions:
Bet type | How it works | Finishing order | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
Quinella | Pick two horses to finish 1st and 2nd | Any order. Your bet wins whether it's A-B or B-A. | Moderate difficulty. Higher chance of winning than an Exacta, but payouts are generally smaller. |
Exacta | Pick two horses to finish 1st and 2nd | Exact order required. Your bet wins only if the result is exactly A-B. | More difficult. Harder to win than a Quinella, but payouts are typically higher for the same horses. |
Trifecta | Pick three horses to finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. | Exact order required. Your bet wins only if the result is exactly A-B-C. | Significantly harder. The most difficult of the three, leading to the highest potential payouts. |
In a nutshell,
- Quinella is less restrictive than an Exacta, offering more flexibility and a higher probability of success.
- Trifecta bets are more challenging, requiring precise prediction of three finishers, which increases the potential reward.
Related article: Quinella vs Exacta: Understanding key differences in wagering types
Conclusion
A Quinella is a versatile horse racing bet that balances risk and reward by allowing any order of two selected horses to finish in the top two. It offers a higher winning probability than Exactas while providing better returns than simple win bets. Understanding its variations and comparing it to similar wagers helps bettors make informed decisions based on strategy and confidence.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What happens if two horses tie?
A dead heat rule applies. If horses tie for 1st, the Quinella pool is divided among tickets with the winning combination. If multiple horses tie for 2nd, the pool is divided among tickets with the winner and any horse that tied for second.
Is a reverse forecast the same as a Quinella?
A Reverse Forecast is functionally similar to a Quinella in that it covers both horses finishing first and second in any order. The terminology differs between regions, but UK bettors may encounter both names used interchangeably.
Can I place a Quinella on any UK race?
No. Quinellas are offered on most UK races, but key restrictions apply. They are not permitted on races with coupled entries (horses running as a single betting unit). The market may also be voided if the field size falls below a minimum number of runners.
Can I include more than two horses in a Quinella?
Yes. Advanced Quinella bets like Quinella Boxes or Quinella Wheels allow you to select three or more horses, covering multiple combinations to increase your chances of winning, though the total cost of the bet rises accordingly.
Can I hedge a Quinella bet?
Yes, some bettors use multiple Quinella combinations or mix Quinella bets with win/place bets to reduce risk. For example, pairing a key horse with several others or backing individual selections separately can limit losses while keeping potential returns.