Forecast Calculator
Calculate horse racing forecast (exacta) bet payouts. Enter your two horses' odds and stake to see total return for straight or reverse forecasts.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose the forecast type — straight (one specific 1-2 order) or reverse (either order)
- Enter the odds of the horse you’ve picked for 1st place
- Enter the odds of the horse you’ve picked for 2nd place
- Enter your unit stake
- View 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 (also called exacta in the US) is a bet on which two horses will finish 1st and 2nd in a race. A straight forecast requires the exact order; a reverse forecast covers both orders for double the stake.
How is forecast different from each-way?
Each-way is two independent bets (one to win, one to place) on a single horse. A forecast is a single bet specifying the relationship between two horses’ finishing positions. Forecasts pay much more but have lower probability of winning.
Should I use straight or reverse forecast?
Use straight if you have a strong opinion on which horse wins. Use reverse if you think two horses will fill 1st and 2nd but you’re unsure of the order — you double your stake but cover both possibilities.
Are forecast odds the same as the multiplied book odds?
Most UK bookmakers use Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) dividends declared by Tote/SP, not pure multiplied odds. Multiplied odds are a useful approximation but actual payouts can differ by ±10-20% depending on the field strength formula used.