The Octafecta: Horse Racing's Most Exciting Bet Is Now Live at MyWinners
What if you could turn a $1 horse racing bet into a life-changing payout? That's not a hypothetical — that's the Octafecta, and it just launched at MyWinners.
This is the bet that keeps racing fans on the edge of their seats long after the race is over. A growing prize pot. No mandatory payout. A jackpot pool that rolls from track to track until one lucky bettor gets it right. Sound familiar? It should. The Octafecta brings lottery-style excitement to pari-mutuel racing — and it's available right now through your MyWinners account or at any Winners venue across Connecticut.
So what exactly is the Octafecta?
The Octafecta is an exotic horse racing wager where you pick the first eight finishers in a single race, in the exact order they cross the line. Pick them all correctly and you win a share of the accumulated prize pool — which, thanks to the carryover structure, can grow into serious money.
It's available for races with at least 10 runners, with a minimum bet of just $1. That's one dollar for a shot at a payout that builds every single race day until someone cracks it.
The feature that makes the Octafecta special: the rolling carryover
Here's what separates the Octafecta from every other exotic bet in racing: the prize pool never resets.
When there's no winner on a given race day, the entire pool carries forward to the next. And when one racing meet ends, the carryover doesn't disappear — it transfers to the next participating track and keeps growing. Right now, that rotation runs through three of the most celebrated venues in American racing:
Turfway Park — where the Octafecta launched in March 2026
Churchill Downs — home of the Kentucky Derby, picking up the pool for its prestigious Spring meet
Ellis Park — continuing the carryover after Churchill Downs wraps
Think about what that means. A jackpot that starts at Turfway could be sitting at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby week, still waiting for a winner. The Octafecta doesn't just give you one shot — it gives you a shot at a prize pool that's been building for weeks.
Lottery-style wins. Racing-style thrills.
The pari-mutuel structure of the Octafecta means the more bettors in the pool, the bigger the prize. And because there's no mandatory payout forcing the jackpot to reset, the pool compounds in a way that feels a lot like a lottery rollover — except you're watching real horses thunder down the stretch in real time.
When the winning ticket does land, the payout comes from the full accumulated pool. If multiple tickets win on the same day, 25% of that day's pool is shared among winners — with the remaining 75% rolling forward. On days with no winner, everything carries over. Every race day without a winner is another day the jackpot grows.
How to play — the quick version
Getting into the Octafecta couldn't be simpler:
Online: login to your MyWinners account, head to horse racing, find the Octafecta race and pick your eight horses in order
In venue: walk up to the horse racing counter at any of our nine Connecticut locations and tell the teller you want the Octafecta — they'll handle the rest
Want to cover more combinations? Ask about boxing your selections or keying a horse on top. A little strategy goes a long way when the pool is this big.
For the full Help Center Guide to Octafecta, go here ⇒
Why now is a great time to get involved
The Octafecta launched at Turfway Park in March 2026 — which means the pool is young, the carryover is building, and Churchill Downs is right around the corner. Spring racing season is when American horse racing hits its peak, with some of the most competitive fields and biggest betting handles of the year.
Getting in now means you're riding the carryover through the most exciting stretch of the racing calendar. Kentucky Derby prep races. Churchill Downs in full swing. A prize pool that has every reason to keep growing.
Find the Octafecta at MyWinners
The Octafecta is available online through your MyWinners account and in person at all nine Winners venues across Connecticut — East Haven, Stamford, Hartford, New Britain, Norwalk, Manchester, Milford, Waterbury, and Windsor Locks.
For full details on how the bet works, payout structure, and tips for building your ticket, check out the Octafecta guide in the MyWinners Help Center.
Place bets at app.mywinners.com, download the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS here or Android here, or find your nearest Winners venue in CT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum bet on the Octafecta at MyWinners?
Just $1. That's all it takes to get a ticket in the pool and a shot at the jackpot.
Where is the Octafecta available?
Online through your MyWinners account, and in person at all nine Winners venues in Connecticut. The bet is offered at Turfway Park, Churchill Downs, and Ellis Park, with the carryover rolling between them throughout each meet.
Does the jackpot ever reset to zero?
No. There is no mandatory payout — the carryover keeps rolling between race days and between tracks until a winning ticket is confirmed. The pool only pays out when someone correctly picks all eight finishers in order.
Can I bet the Octafecta online at MyWinners?
Yes. Login to your MyWinners account, go to horse racing, and select the Octafecta from the bet type options on the designated race.
What happens when a race meet ends?
The full carryover transfers to the next participating track — no reset, no mandatory payout. The pool picks up right where it left off and keeps building through the new meet.
