Making a vertical bet on a horse race means you are attempting to predict multiple placings – not just the horse who is going to win a race.
Examples of vertical bets include:
- Exacta (picking the top two finishers)
- Trifecta (picking the top three finishers)
- Superfecta (picking the top four finishers)
- Super-Hi (picking the top five finishers)
To successfully cash a vertical bet, you must predict the finish in the correct order.
Many bettors will use “box” bets that automatically cover all possible outcomes. In other words, a $1 trifecta using the 3, 7, and 9 horses costs $1, but they have to finish in that exact order. A $1 trifecta box using those same three horses costs $6, but as long as they finish in the top three, you will collect on your ticket no matter the order they finish. It's a higher buy-in, but your chances of cashing a major payday are greatly increased.