quinella
LowInformal, Technical (Gambling/Horse Racing)
Definition
Meaning
A bet in horse racing (or similar sports) where the bettor must select the first two finishers in a race in any order.
The winning combination or result of such a bet. Can also be applied more broadly to competitions where predicting the top two in any order is relevant.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a gambling term. It is specific and has no metaphorical use in general language. It is not to be confused with 'exacta' (where order matters).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American, Australian, and New Zealand racing terminology. In UK/Irish racing, the equivalent term is 'forecast' or 'dual forecast', though 'quinella' is understood.
Connotations
Neutral technical term within gambling contexts. No special connotations.
Frequency
Higher frequency in countries where the bet type is marketed under this name (e.g., US, AUS, NZ). Lower frequency in the UK where 'forecast' is standard.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to bet on a quinellato pick/select the quinellathe quinella paid [amount]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in the gambling industry financial reports, e.g., 'Quinella wagering increased 5%.'
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Only used by people discussing horse/greyhound racing bets.
Technical
Core term in pari-mutuel betting systems and racing forms.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I never quinella the favourites; the odds are too low.
- He quinellaed the third race and won a tidy sum.
American English
- I'm going to quinella the 4 and 7 horse.
- She successfully quinellaed the last race at Belmont.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- The quinella payout was surprisingly high.
- He placed a quinella wager.
American English
- Check the quinella odds on the tote board.
- It was a quinella bet that saved his day.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle sometimes bets on a quinella.
- A quinella is a type of horse racing bet.
- The quinella on horses five and eight paid out fifty pounds.
- He explained the difference between an exacta and a quinella.
- To hedge his position, he boxed three horses in a quinella, covering all possible top-two combinations.
- The savvy punter identified the race as a perfect opportunity for a value quinella, avoiding the overbet favourite.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'QUIN' sounds like 'WIN' and 'ELLA' sounds like 'a pair' – you need to win with a pair of horses in any order.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREDICTION IS A CONTAINER (the 'quinella' contains the two winning horses).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить буквально. Не связано с 'квинтет' (quintet).
- В русском языке часто используется описательный перевод: 'ставка на первые два места в любом порядке' или заимствование 'квинелла'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'exacta' (where the order is specified).
- Using it as a general term for any bet.
- Misspelling as 'quinnela' or 'quinela'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the key distinction between a quinella and an exacta?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily for horse and greyhound racing. It can be conceptually applied to any competition with a defined 'first and second' result, but its use is overwhelmingly in racing.
A quinella is for the top two finishers. A (boxed) trifecta is for the top three finishers in any order. They are different bet types with different levels of difficulty.
Yes, in informal gambling contexts (e.g., 'I'm going to quinella these two horses'), though it is less common than its noun form.
The etymology is uncertain but it is believed to originate from American Spanish 'quiniela', referring to a type of lottery or pool. It entered English via the gambling world.