Forecast Calc
Forecast (exacta) racing payout from two horses' odds and stake.
How to Use This Calculator
- Pick the forecast type — straight (one exact 1-2 order) or reverse (either order)
- Enter the odds of the horse you’ve tipped for 1st
- Enter the odds of the horse you’ve tipped for 2nd
- Punch in your unit stake
- See total stake, combined odds, return and profit
Formula
Combined Odds = Odds₁ × Odds₂
Straight Forecast: 1 bet, total stake = unit stake.
Reverse Forecast: 2 bets (both orders), total stake = 2 × unit stake. Only the correct order wins; payout = unit stake × combined odds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a forecast bet?
A forecast (the US calls it an exacta) is a bet on which two horses cross the line 1st and 2nd. A straight forecast demands the exact order; a reverse forecast covers both orders for double the stake.
How does forecast differ from each-way?
Each-way is two separate bets (one to win, one to place) on a single horse. A forecast is one bet pinning down how two horses’ finishing spots relate. Forecasts pay far bigger but land far less often.
Straight or reverse forecast?
Go straight when you’ve got a firm read on the winner. Go reverse when you reckon two horses will fill 1st and 2nd but the order’s a coin flip — you double the stake to cover both ways.
Are forecast odds just the multiplied book odds?
Most UK bookies settle on the Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) dividend declared by Tote/SP, not straight multiplied odds. Multiplied odds make a handy rough guide, but real payouts can swing ±10-20% depending on the field-strength formula in play.