How to Bet Trifectas And Trifecta Box
What is a Trifecta and Trifecta Box?
Capable of producing large payouts, the trifecta is one of the most popular exotic bets in horse racing. The wager requires the bettor to pick the top three finishers of a race and can be tailored to fit smaller bankrolls, while still capturing the interest of big bettors.
Betting a simple box
A player putting together a trifecta wager has many different options, but the three-horse box is one of the simplest and most common ways to place the bet. Many major racetracks allow a trifecta to be placed for a minimum base bet of 50 cents, while some require a $1 minimum. In either instance, the bet is quite affordable with a three-horse box totalling $6 or $12. As with all "boxed" wagers, this type of bet allows a player to have all possible combinations on a single ticket. For example, if the bettor were to box the 6,8 and 10 horse in a trifecta wager, those runners could finish in any order in the top three for a winning bet. However, if any of the runners fail to finish at least third, the bet loses. The probability of connecting on such a bet with just three horses is low, but many players justify the risk based on the low cost of the bet compared with potential payouts. When boxing three horses in a trifecta, some players may choose a favorite, a middle odds horse and a longshot, or simply select the three most likely winners.
Betting multiple-horse boxes and wheels
Given the difficulty of selcting three horses in exact order, the trifecta is a wager that lends itself to deeper pockets and using multiple combinations. Boxing four horses quadruples the cost of the bet from $6 to $24 on a $1 base bet, and adding a fifith horse costs $60. Given the expense of spreading too deep with a boxed wager, many experienced players rely on a trifecta "wheel" - or using partial combinations within the three tiers of the wager. One simple strategy is for players to simply select a single horse to use in the top slot while using multiple runners in the second and third positions of the bet. By "keying" a runner to win, a player could then use five horses in the second spot and five in the third, for example, for a total bet cost of just $20. Such a bet might look like this: 1/2,4,5,6,8/2,4,5,6,8. In this hypothetical bet, the #1 horse must win the race, but taking this risk would allow the player many different combinations of runners in the second and third slots. If any of the five could run second or third, the player would hold a winning trifecta. This type of wheel can take many forms, with players mixing and matching their preferred numbers within the three positions of the bet to save money.
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* REMINDER! - you must be of legal age in your state or province to legally wager on thoroughbred or harness horse racing. Please bet responsibly!
