Key points
- The ALL button selects every eligible horse in one chosen leg or finishing position.
- Bettors use ALL most often in exotic wagers such as Exactas, Trifectas, and Pick bets.
- ALL expands coverage, but it can make a ticket expensive very quickly.
- In an Exacta, “3 with ALL” means Horse 3 must win while any other eligible horse can finish second.
- In a Pick 3, the number of combinations equals the horses selected in each leg multiplied together.
- Check the field size, base wager, combinations, and final cost before placing the ticket.
The ALL button in horse racing betting selects every eligible horse in one specific part of an exotic wager. You might use it for a finishing position in an Exacta or Trifecta, or for one race, called a leg, in a Pick 3, Pick 4, or Pick 5.
For example, if you bet Horse 3 to win an Exacta and select ALL for second, Horse 3 must finish first. Any other eligible horse can finish second.
The ALL button gives you more coverage. It also raises the number of ticket combinations, which can raise your total cost fast.
What does the ALL button mean in horse racing betting?
The ALL button means “include every eligible horse” in the part of the wager where you select it.
It does not mean every horse can win the whole bet. It also does not mean the app predicts every horse will win.
The wager type controls what ALL covers:
- In an Exacta, ALL can cover first or second.
- In a Trifecta, ALL can cover first, second, or third.
- In a Superfecta, ALL can cover any of the four finishing positions.
- In a Pick 3 or other Pick bet, ALL can cover one full race leg.
Tracks and betting apps usually exclude scratched horses from ALL. The exact display can vary by provider, so confirm the active field before you submit a ticket.
Key horse racing betting terms to know
Understanding a few terms makes the ALL button much easier to use.
Exotic wager
An exotic wager asks you to predict more than one outcome. That may mean selecting the correct order of finish in one race or picking winners across several races.
Common exotic wagers include:
- Exacta
- Trifecta
- Superfecta
- Daily Double
- Pick 3
- Pick 4
- Pick 5
A box bet in horse racing is another common way to create multiple exotic combinations. A box covers selected horses in every possible finishing order. ALL selects the entire eligible field in one chosen slot or leg.
Leg
A leg is one race within a multi-race wager.
A Pick 3 has three legs. Each leg is a separate race. You must correctly select the winner of all three races to cash a standard Pick 3 ticket.
Position
A position is a finishing spot in a single-race exotic bet.
In an Exacta, first and second are the two positions. In a Trifecta, first, second, and third are the positions.
Combination
A combination is one possible outcome covered by your ticket.
If you play 3 with 1, 2, 4 in an Exacta, your ticket has three combinations:
- 3 over 1
- 3 over 2
- 3 over 4
Each outcome is a separate combination because it produces a different exact order of finish.
Base wager amount
The base wager amount is the price assigned to each combination. Common base amounts include $0.10, $0.50, $1, and $2.
Your total ticket cost equals the number of combinations multiplied by the base wager amount.
Where do bettors use the ALL button?
Bettors use ALL in wagers where they want broad coverage in one part of the ticket. It appears most often in vertical and horizontal exotic bets.
Vertical wagers
Vertical wagers cover the finishing order within one race.
Examples include:
- Exacta
- Trifecta
- Superfecta
In these wagers, ALL fills a particular finishing position.
For example:
- 3 with ALL in an Exacta
- 3 with ALL with 1, 2 in a Trifecta
- ALL with 4 with 2, 5 in an Exacta
The order matters unless you choose a box or a separate wheel structure.
Horizontal wagers
Horizontal wagers cover winners across consecutive races.
Examples include:
- Daily Double
- Pick 3
- Pick 4
- Pick 5
- Pick 6
In these wagers, ALL fills one complete race leg.
For example, a Pick 3 ticket might include:
- Race 1: Horses 2 and 6
- Race 2: ALL
- Race 3: Horses 1, 4, and 7
That ticket covers every eligible horse in Race 2, while limiting the selections in Races 1 and 3.
How the ALL button works in an Exacta
An Exacta requires you to select the horses that finish first and second in the correct order.
Suppose a race has eight eligible horses. You believe Horse 3 is the most likely winner, but you are unsure who will run second.
You could select:
3 with ALL
That means:
- Horse 3 must finish first.
- Any other eligible horse can finish second.
If all eight horses remain eligible, ALL normally gives you seven second-place options. Horse 3 cannot finish both first and second.
Your combinations would be:
- 3 with 1
- 3 with 2
- 3 with 4
- 3 with 5
- 3 with 6
- 3 with 7
- 3 with 8
This creates seven Exacta combinations.
At a $1 base wager, the ticket costs:
7 combinations × $1 = $7
At a $0.50 base wager, the ticket costs:
7 combinations × $0.50 = $3.50
What “ALL with 3” means
The order changes the bet.
ALL with 3 means any eligible horse can win, but Horse 3 must finish second.
In the same eight-horse field, you would cover:
- 1 with 3
- 2 with 3
- 4 with 3
- 5 with 3
- 6 with 3
- 7 with 3
- 8 with 3
Horse 3 cannot be both the winner and runner-up, so there are still seven combinations.
What “3 with ALL with 1, 2” means
This structure applies to a Trifecta, which requires the first three finishers in order.
3 with ALL with 1, 2 means:
- Horse 3 must finish first.
- Any eligible horse can finish second.
- Horse 1 or Horse 2 must finish third.
The actual combination count depends on field size and whether Horses 1 and 2 are included in the second-position ALL group. A betting interface should calculate the ticket total before you submit it, but you should still understand the structure.
If Horse 1 finishes second, Horse 2 could finish third. If Horse 2 finishes second, Horse 1 could finish third. If another horse finishes second, either Horse 1 or Horse 2 could finish third.
This type of ticket is often called a partial wheel because it uses a key horse in one position and wider coverage elsewhere.
How the ALL button works in a Pick 3
A Pick 3 requires you to select the winner of three consecutive races. Each race is a leg.
Imagine this ticket:
- Race 1: Horses 2 and 6
- Race 2: ALL, with 10 eligible horses
- Race 3: Horses 1, 4, and 7
The number of combinations is:
2 × 10 × 3 = 60 combinations
If the Pick 3 has a $0.50 base wager, your ticket costs:
60 × $0.50 = $30
If the base wager is $1, the ticket costs:
60 × $1 = $60
To cash the ticket:
- Either Horse 2 or Horse 6 must win Race 1.
- Any of the 10 eligible horses can win Race 2.
- Horse 1, Horse 4, or Horse 7 must win Race 3.
ALL protects you from missing the Race 2 winner. However, it does not protect you in Races 1 and 3.
How to calculate the cost of an ALL-button ticket
Use this basic formula:
Number of combinations × base wager amount = total ticket cost
For multi-race wagers, multiply the number of horses selected in each leg.
Leg 1 selections × Leg 2 selections × Leg 3 selections = combinations
For a Pick 4, you might select:
- Race 1: 2 horses
- Race 2: 4 horses
- Race 3: ALL, 9 eligible horses
- Race 4: 3 horses
Your combinations equal:
2 × 4 × 9 × 3 = 216 combinations
At a $0.50 base wager:
216 × $0.50 = $108
That is why you should calculate ticket cost before you use ALL. Adding the full field in one leg can turn a manageable ticket into a costly one.
A quick Exacta cost formula
For an Exacta where one horse is keyed first and ALL fills second:
Eligible horses minus 1 = combinations
If 12 horses are eligible and you select:
5 with ALL
You have:
12 - 1 = 11 combinations
At a $2 base wager:
11 × $2 = $22
If you select ALL in both Exacta positions, the math changes.
In a 12-horse field:
12 × 11 = 132 combinations
At a $1 base wager, that ticket costs $132.
That full-field Exacta gives you every possible first-second order, but the cost often outweighs the value for many bettors.
Why bettors use the ALL button
Bettors use ALL when they have a strong view about part of a race or sequence but less confidence about another part.
A few common uses include:
Keying a likely winner
You may believe one horse has the strongest chance to win based on pace, class, form, track conditions, or rider and trainer data.
You can key that horse first in an Exacta and use ALL for second. This gives you coverage if an overlooked long shot runs second.
Covering a chaotic race
Some races have a large field, several first-time starters, uncertain pace, or weak favorites. You may feel the winner is difficult to isolate.
In a Pick bet, ALL can keep one unpredictable race from ending your ticket.
That protection comes at a price. A 12-horse ALL leg counts as 12 selections, even if you think only a few horses have a realistic winning chance.
Building around a strong opinion
A bettor may have a clear view in one leg and use broader coverage in another.
For example:
- Single one horse in Race 1.
- Use ALL in Race 2.
- Use three horses in Race 3.
The ticket has:
1 × field size × 3
This structure keeps the ticket focused only if the other legs remain narrow.
Protecting against a long shot underneath
In an Exacta or Trifecta, a bettor may feel confident about a top selection but worry that an outsider could hit the board.
Using ALL underneath a key horse can catch more outcomes than selecting only a few logical runners.
Still, a smart ticket starts with a reason for each position. Broad coverage works best when it solves a specific uncertainty.
When the ALL button can hurt your ticket
ALL can create a false sense of safety. It covers every eligible horse in one spot, but it does not make the ticket more efficient by itself.
It can make your ticket too expensive
Ticket cost rises with every added combination.
A $0.50 Pick 4 might look affordable at first. Add ALL to a 10-horse leg, and the cost can double or grow even more.
Always compare the final cost with your bankroll before you submit the wager.
It can include horses you do not want
ALL includes every eligible horse. That includes horses with weak form, poor pace setups, low-class efforts, or other concerns.
If you only want coverage against two or three possible surprises, select those horses directly instead of using ALL.
It may dilute a strong opinion
If you have a narrow, well-supported view of a race, ALL can add combinations with little value.
For example, if you think only three runners can win a Pick 3 leg, using ALL across 11 horses adds eight runners and nearly quadruples that leg’s cost.
It does not fix other weak legs
A Pick 3 ticket with ALL in Race 2 still loses if none of your Race 1 or Race 3 selections win.
Use ALL as one part of a ticket plan, not as a substitute for handicapping the full sequence.
ALL button vs. box bet
The ALL button and a box bet both expand a ticket, but they work differently.
A box bet uses only the horses you choose. It covers those horses in every allowable finishing order.
For example, a three-horse Exacta box using Horses 1, 3, and 5 covers:
- 1 with 3
- 1 with 5
- 3 with 1
- 3 with 5
- 5 with 1
- 5 with 3
An ALL selection uses every eligible horse in the chosen position or leg.
For an eight-horse Exacta:
- 3 with ALL covers Horse 3 first and any other horse second.
- An Exacta box with 3 and ALL would cover many more outcomes because it includes every eligible first-second order involving Horse 3.
The interface may label these options differently, so check the ticket summary before placing the bet.
ALL button vs. a system bet
A system bet combines multiple selections into several smaller wagers. The structure can give bettors partial coverage when more than one outcome is possible.
The ALL button is simpler. It selects every eligible horse in a specific spot.
You can use ALL within a larger ticket structure, but the two terms do not mean the same thing. A system bet describes how multiple wagers combine. ALL describes which horses you select in one part of a wager.
ALL button vs. a cover bet
A cover bet spreads risk across multiple outcomes. The goal is usually to improve the chance that at least one wager returns money.
ALL can support a coverage strategy, but it does not guarantee that your ticket is properly covered. A full-field leg may still leave you exposed in every other race or finishing position.
The best approach starts with ticket cost, probable payout, and the specific outcome you are trying to protect against.
When should you use ALL?
Use ALL when you can explain why you need every eligible horse in that leg or position.
It may make sense when:
- You have a strong key horse in an Exacta or Trifecta.
- One Pick bet leg looks unusually unpredictable.
- A large price horse could plausibly complete your wager.
- The base wager is low enough to keep the ticket within your budget.
- You have narrowed the other legs enough to control total combinations.
Avoid ALL when you use it only because you cannot make a decision. If a race feels impossible to handicap, determine whether the cost of full-field coverage fits the expected value of the ticket.
A ticket can be mathematically valid and still be too expensive for the likely payoff.
Checklist before you submit an ALL-button wager
Before you place the bet, take a few seconds to review the ticket.
- Check the field size. Count eligible runners after scratches.
- Confirm where ALL applies. Make sure it fills the intended leg or finishing position.
- Count combinations. Multiply selections across each leg, or review the ticket total in the app.
- Verify the base wager. A $0.50 ticket and a $2 ticket can produce very different totals.
- Review the total cost. Decide whether it fits your budget before submitting.
- Read the order of your selections. “3 with ALL” and “ALL with 3” are different Exacta bets.
- Check for duplicate selections. Some ticket structures remove invalid outcomes automatically, but you should still review the final ticket.
Use ALL with a clear ticket plan
The ALL button can help you cover uncertainty in an exotic wager. It works best when you use it with a clear opinion elsewhere on the ticket.
Start with the horses you believe have the best chance based on the race conditions, running style, recent form, and past performances. Then decide whether broader coverage in one spot earns its extra cost.
For simpler wagers, a win bet lets you focus on one horse to finish first. As you move into Exactas, Trifectas, and Pick bets, the ALL button becomes one tool for building a ticket that matches both your opinion and your budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ALL button in a horse racing betting app?
The ALL button selects every eligible horse in the wager leg or finishing position where you use it. In an Exacta, it can select every possible runner-up. In a Pick 3, it can select every horse in one race.
Does ALL include scratched horses?
Usually, no. Betting systems generally remove scratched horses from the eligible selections. Check the final ticket and field before you place your wager.
What does 3 with ALL mean in an Exacta?
“3 with ALL” means Horse 3 must finish first. Any other eligible horse can finish second.
What does ALL with 3 mean in an Exacta?
“ALL with 3” means any eligible horse can finish first. Horse 3 must finish second.
How much does an ALL-button bet cost?
The cost depends on field size, the number of other selections, and the base wager amount. Multiply the number of ticket combinations by the base wager amount to find the total cost.
Does using ALL guarantee a winning ticket?
No. ALL only covers every eligible horse in the selected part of the wager. You still need to hit every other leg or finishing position on the ticket.
Can I use ALL in a win bet?
No. A win bet selects one horse to finish first. ALL applies to exotic wager structures that allow multiple horses, finishing positions, or race legs.
Is ALL the same as boxing a bet?
No. A box covers all finishing orders among the horses you select. ALL selects every eligible horse in a chosen position or leg.