In horse racing, a trifecta bet is a wager that names the top three finishers in order. It's known as an 'exotic' bet in many circles since it requires the identification of more than one finisher. The most traditional ticket only wins if the three named horses finish in the exact order set out by the better. There are some variations, though; people can often put a bet on three or more horses generally, meaning that if the named animals finish in the top three at all, regardless of their specific order, there’s a payout. Most of these bets are placed with what’s known as a “box” or a “wheel.” These tend to have a greater likelihood of success than a straight ticket, but are usually also less lucrative. In most cases, people only place this sort of bet in any of its forms if they’re very confident about a race’s outcome.

The favorite figures to finish out-of-the-money and no long odds horse figures to finish in-the-money. This Trifecta, with a false favorite, will almost always be playable. Follow these simple steps to figure out how much to bet. Select a bet amount in the left column. Select a bet type in the right column. Select the horses to include in the wager.

Basics of the Bet

When you are betting a trifecta wheel you bet different combinations of horses to finish first, second and third in a race. The easiest way to understand is with an example. Let’s say that there is. In horse racing a trifecta is a bet that the first three finishers in a race are selected, and they are selected in the correct order Does a trifecta involve combinations or permutations? Explain Choose the correct answer below. O A Because the order of the first three finishers does make a difference, the trifecta.

Betting a trifecta requires the identification of the top three finishers before a given race begins. In horseracing the first finisher is usually said to “win”; the second finisher will “place”; and the third finisher will “show.” This terminology is important and is usually indicated on the betting ticket. A standard trifecta will name a single horse for each category, and only wins if the horses finish in exactly that order. Guessing a correct finishing order is usually challenging, and this sort of bet is hard to win. When it is won, though, the payouts can be quite large — though a lot of this depends on how many other people placed bets on the same combination.

Variations

Betting a straight ticket isn’t the only way to place this sort of wager. Many racetracks offer box and wheel betting systems, too, which typically offer a bit more flexibility. In these instances, betters can name the horses they think will win, place, and show but they don’t have to set out the precise order. This sort of ticket will win so long as the top three actually end up the top three, in any combination. Some wheels and boxes also allow for alternates or “wild card” slots that any horse can fill, but a lot of this depends both on how many horses are racing and the specific rules of the track.

Wagers and Payouts

Most tracks charge a flat fee for each trifecta placed. The least expensive ticket is usually the straight ticket. Prices can be inflated depending on the importance of the race or the rules of the track, but the cost is usually moderate; in the United States, for instance, it’s common for this sort of ticket to cost $2 USD. The price usually escalates the more possibilities there are. In a box bet that will cover any combination of three finishing horses, for instance, the cost is usually 6 times that of the original because, in essence, the person is placing bets on six separate trifectas. The odds of winning this sort of ticket are better, but the initial payment is more, too.

How much a winning ticket will be worth is hard to predict, and is usually a matter of how many other bets were placed and how many others also picked the same horses. Combinations that seem initially unlikely and thus don’t get many bets usually pay the best if they happen. On the other hand, races where the winners are more or less predictable from the outset tend to deliver less, since the pot is usually divided between many more winning tickets in these cases.

The number of horses racing can also change the payout. Large races with eight or more horses tend to be the most lucrative, since the more horses there are the harder it is to identify the top three. Most tracks won’t let people place these sorts of bets if there are six or fewer horses racing.

Common Strategies

Placing this sort of bet isn’t usually something people do as a game of chance or luck. More often, it’s the result of careful studying; betters look for inside information or look for an edge that will help them make a better guess when it comes to which horse or horses will turn out on top. People sometimes use software programs and computer algorithms to help identify likely winners and races where the payouts are likely to be the highest.

Trifecta horse racing betting is a highly popular form of horse race betting among handicappers and experienced sports bettors. At a glance, it might seem near impossible to win this kind of wager, but a Trifecta horse racing bet can be extremely lucrative; hence the favoritism amidst veteran horse racing bettors.

What is Trifecta Horse Racing Betting?

A Trifecta is a complicated bet that requires the sports bettor to pick three animals in a single horse race, then pick the exact order in which they will Win, Place and Show (finish in first, second and third). The only way to win a Trifecta horse racing bet is to correctly predict the exact finishing order of all three horses.

If the horses each Win, Place and Show, but not in the order chosen, or if two of the horses finish in the order chosen but the third does not, the bettor will not collect anything on his or her wager. However, a winning Trifecta horse racing bet can have an extraordinary payout, and is where most horse racing bettors make their big bucks.

Above is an example of the “trifecta” menu at Bovada.lv where you can bet on any horse to either win, place or show. You will also get $250 free at Bovada for the Kentucky Derby.

Not convinced it’s worth it? Try this on for bankroll-size… At the 2005 Kentucky Derby, the finishing order was “1st Giacomo – 2nd Closing Argument – 3rd Afleet Alex. A simple $2 Trifecta bet on this combination paid an exorbitant $133,000! You can bet Trifectas at Bovada.lv online and test your luck.

Trifecta Horse Racing Bet

Types of Trifecta Horse Racing Betting

There are three ways to place a Trifecta bet in horse racing betting:

Straight Trifecta
Trifecta Box
Trifecta Wheel

The minimum bet size is $2, so we’ll use a $2 bet in each of the examples below.

Straight Trifecta Horse Racing Betting

The Straight Trifecta bet is the basic wager described above, where a bettor picks 3 horses to finish in exact win, Place and Show order. The bet slip would show something like this: $2 Trifecta (6-2-4). This means that it is a Straight Trifecta bet on the #6 horse to win (first), the #2 horse to place (second) and the #4 horse to show (third).

Trifecta Box Horse Racing Betting

The Trifecta Box bet is the same as the Straight Trifecta bet except that it includes all possible win, place and show combination among the three chosen horses. There are six possible ways for three horses to finish, therefore the total bet would be $12 instead of $2 ($2 x 6 bets = $12).

Let’s say the bettor chose a Trifecta Box horse racing bet on (6-2-4). The $12 bet would include all of the following finishing orders.

Trifecta Box (6-4-2): 6-2-4; 6-4-2; 4-2-6; 4-6-2; 2-4-6; 2-6-4

It is also possible to add a fourth horse into the mix, such as (6-2-4-1), which would make the possible number of winning combinations 24, and the total purchase price $42. Be careful not to pick too many horses in a Trifecta Box as the price continues to climb.

5 horses = $120
6 horses = $240
7 horses = $420
8 horses = $672

The only way it would pay off to bet as much money as is involved in a 8-way Trifecta Box is if the win, place and show horses were long-shots to win (as in the case of the 2005 Kentucky Derby). If the horses finish in the originally favored order, you will be losing a lot of money!

Trifecta Wheel Horse Racing Betting

The Trifecta Wheel is used when you have a pretty clear idea of which horse will finish first, but aren’t so sure about second and third. Let’s say you think #4 is a sure fire winner, and you’re fairly certain #7 and #1 are going to follow, but not sure in which order. The Trifecta Wheel bet would be placed on 4-7-1 and 4-1-7, for a total $4 bet on two combinations. (See our Horse Racing Wheel Betting Article)

Trifecta Box Betting

Maybe you think #4 might actually slip to second place, splitting #7 and #1 in first and third. You can extend the Trifecta wheel to cover 7-4-1 and 1-4-7 as well, totaling an $8 bet.

Trifecta Horse Racing Bets

Trifecta Horse Racing Betting Payouts

Horse Racing Bets Trifecta Box

Unfortunately, you cannot view the payouts for a Trifecta bet on the tote board at the track. There are simply too many possible combinations to bet on to display all of them. You have to gauge an expected payout range by observing which horses are expected to finish in the top three according to the odds and probably payouts on the tote board.

Horse Racing Betting Trifecta Wheel

Ready to test your luck with a Trifecta bet? Click here for $250 free at Bovada for the Kentucky Derby