How To Bet Trifecta In Horse Racing
To place a Trifecta bet you must choose three horses that you believe will finish first, second and third. To win the bet, those three horses must finish in that order.
Trifecta Box Bet
A common way to play a Trifecta is to box three horses. A $1 box using #1,#2, and #3 would cost $6. The three horses you selected must finish in the top three spots for you to win. A four-horse $1 box would cost $24.
- To understand how the trifecta box bet works, imagine an eight-horse race. The bettor decides horses 4, 5, and 6 look the best, but can’t quite tell which will win, place, or show. In this case, the trifecta box bet offers an answer.
- A better way to play the Trifecta is through wheeling, that is using a different number of horses in each position. Using our example above, suppose we think only horses A and B have a chance to win, the best horse C can do is finish second, and the best horses D and E can do is finish third.
- What Is a Horse Racing Trifecta? A horse racing trifecta is an exotic wager on which horses will finish in the first three positions in a race. To win a trifecta, you have to pick the right three horses and also their exact finishing positions.
- Horse Racing TRIFECTA Bets In the classic Trifecta bet you nominate the three horses to come first, second and third with their specific ranks. Because it includes three horses and their precise order in the first three, this is a complicated bet even for the experienced punter. Just one horse out of place ends your chances of winning on the race.
This bet is very similar to a trifecta key, except that the key horse can finish either first, second or third — as long as at least two of the other horses on the ticket finish in the top three. For example a trifecta key box of 1 with 2, 3 would pay off on the following combinations: 1-2-3, 1-3-2, 2-1-3, 3-1-2, 2-3-1 and 3-2-1.
Often a better way to play is called a Trifecta key. In this wager, you use one or more “key” horses. For instance if you liked the #1 to win, you could play a $1 Trifecta key of #1 over #2,#3,#4,#5 over #2,#3,#4,#5. This would be a $12 ticket. You need the #1 to win the race and any of your other four contenders to finish second and third.
A Trifecta can be tough to hit because often it seems just about any runner in a race can plod home and land third. It is usually best if you can find one or two “key” horses and use those on top, then spreading your ticket out for the second and third spot.
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Trifecta Box Cost
Trifecta Box Betting
Finding a longshot to land in your Trifecta could be the difference from making a small profit and making a big score.
Just boxing contenders can get pricey:
$1 box using 3 horses = $6
$1 box using 4 horses = $24
$1 box using 5 horses = $60
$1 box using 6 horses = $120
Using a boxing method also means you are weighing all of the contenders with an equal chance of winning. It’s better to try to find one or two key horses to use on top that you think have a great chance of winning the race.
If you are looking for a really good Trifecta Calculator, head on over to America’s Best Racing and try it for yourself.
The Best Trifecta Strategy
Here are a few ways to get good coverage with modest invests:
#1,#2 with #1,#2,#3 with #1,#2,#3,#4,#5,#6 = $16
#1,#2 with #1,#2,#3,#4 with #1,#2,#3,#4,$5,#6 = $24
#1,#2,#3 with #1,#2,#3,#4 with #1,#2,#3,#4,#5,#6 = $36
Many tracks now have .50 cent trifectas!
How To Bet A Trifecta Wheel In Horse Racing
Since it’s generally easier to pick a winner than pick a horse that is going to finish third, it’s a good idea to spread out the options for the third spot. Ideally, when playing Trifecta keys you have a solid opinion on one or two runners in the race and spread enough in the third position in hopes of landing a horse that could be a generous price and increase the payoff.
In general, Trifectas don’t offer much value in fields with less than seven runners. Horse races with large fields usually generate the largest payoffs.
Best Trifecta Bet
Horse Racing Betting Explained