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A Daily Double bet is a multi-race wager in horse racing betting. You must correctly pick the winner of two consecutive races, usually the first two races on the card or any designated pair.
If you miss either race, the bet loses. If you get both winners right, you get paid. Fewer combinations than larger multi-race bets, but still more challenging than a single-race wager.
How a Daily Double Bet Works
A Daily Double links two races together into one ticket. You can select one or more horses in each race, creating multiple combinations within the same wager.
Daily Double bets are placed into a separate pool. The final payout depends on how much money is wagered on each winning combination and is finalized once betting closes for the first race.
Because the outcome spans two races, Daily Double payouts are typically higher than single-race win bets.
Understanding Daily Double Payouts
If your selected horses win both races, you receive a payout from the Daily Double pool, plus your original wager.
Payouts vary based on the odds of the two winners. A Daily Double involving two favorites will pay less, while combinations including longer-priced horses can produce strong returns.
The difficulty comes from needing two correct outcomes instead of one.
Why Experienced Bettors Use Daily Double Bets
Experienced bettors use Daily Doubles when they have strong opinions in back-to-back races.
This wager allows bettors to leverage confidence across two races rather than isolating a single outcome.
Daily Doubles are also popular because they offer a clear step into multi-race betting without the complexity of larger Pick wagers.
Value Is the Real Goal
As with all multi-race wagers, value determines whether a Daily Double is worth playing.
A combination that feels exciting may still be a poor bet if the payout does not justify the difficulty of winning two races in a row.
Beginner Tips and Daily Double Strategy
1. Start With Strong Opinions
Daily Double bets work best when you feel confident in at least one of the two races. Spreading randomly in both legs quickly increases cost without improving value.
2. Control the Number of Combinations
Each additional horse added to a race multiplies the total cost of the bet. Always calculate the full ticket cost before placing the wager.
3. Beware of Favorite-Heavy Tickets
Daily Doubles using heavy favorites often produce small payouts. Consider whether the expected return justifies tying up money across two races.
4. Daily Double Bets vs Win Bets
Win bets require one correct outcome. Daily Doubles require two. The added difficulty increases potential reward, but also increases variance. Daily Doubles should be used selectively, not automatically.
Explore Other Horse Betting Types
Basic bets: Win, Place, Show, Across the Board, Straight Wager
Popular exotics: Quinella, Exacta, Box Bet, Trifecta, Superfecta, Exotic Bets
Multi-race wagers: Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 6, Place Pick All
When Daily Double Bets Make Sense
Daily Double bets are best used when you see opportunity in consecutive races and want to link those opinions together.
For bettors ready to explore multi-race wagering, the Daily Double offers a manageable introduction before moving on to more complex Pick bets.