Trifecta Horse Racing Betting Rules and Payouts

Because of the increased risk in trying to predict the first three runners correctly, bettors get better American horse racing odds. Still, there are different types of trifectas, and the size of the pool determines the payouts.

I’ll get into explaining the types of trifectas soon, but they are extremely popular, and you can pick more than three horses. Correctly predicting the top three in a big field isn’t easy, but you can include as many runners as you want, so long as you don’t mind spending more or taking a lower percentage.

Trifecta betting is ideal for bettors who like a few horses in the race and don’t want to leave a runner out. Taking a trifecta also allows bettors to include the favorite in their selections if they fancy a longer odds chance, but aren’t confident enough to back it to win or place.

Types of Trifecta

There are many ways to take a trifecta, and although it can seem confusing at first, it’s a simple bet type once you get the hang of it.

The most popular trifecta horse racing bet is a boxed trifecta. A boxed trifecta allows bettors to include as many runners as they want, and you can either take a half unit, full unit, or percentage bet. For example, if you select three horses, it costs $6 for a full unit, which means you’ll get the entire trifecta dividend.

However, you can also spend $3 for a half unit, which means you’ll get half the trifecta payout. Bettors can also take a percentage trifecta, so you can spend as much as you want. A boxed trifecta is the most popular trifecta bet, as it’s the easiest to cash.

A straight trifecta is much harder, but the returns can be healthy. A straight trifecta is correctly picking the exact order of the trifecta, but $1 is a full unit. Straight trifectas are often taken in small fields to make it worthwhile, or if you’re chasing a massive collect.

Trifecta Payouts

It pays to know that trifecta payouts all depend on the size of the betting pool. If there isn’t much money in the pool, which is determined by how much betting money has been invested in the race, then trifecta payouts won’t be significant.

However, if the pool is sizable, trifectas often pay thousands, and it all depends on how much percentage you have. You can have more than 100% of the trifecta payout, so if the trifecta pays $500 and you have 150%, you’ll get a nice return of $750.

Betting on large races results in better trifecta betting payouts. There is more money in the pool, so a higher chance of it paying more. Small fields often have small trifecta payouts unless a big roughie wins the race.

If the favorites finish first, second, and third, bettors should expect a smaller trifecta payout compared to when a roughie wins or finishes in the money. For example, if a 33/1 runner wins and the placings include 4/1 and 7/1 runners, bettors should expect a four-figure trifecta bet payout.

Trifecta Rules

There aren’t too many horse racing betting rules when it comes to trifectas, but it pays to know one. If you have three horses in your trifecta and there is a dead heat for third, you won’t get as much in return. Dead-heat rules apply to all bets.

Bettors can also take a banker trifecta, but be careful not to get caught out. A banker trifecta means you anchor a runner to finish either first, second, or third, and they must finish in that exact position. It’s a way to cut costs and increase potential payouts, but they can be confusing when placing a bet.

More Horse Racing FAQ’s