How to bet a horse racing Trifecta

The trifecta, sometimes referred to as the “triple,” takes exacta wagering one step further by asking bettors to correctly predict the top three finishers of a race in order. We’ll delve into the finer points of trifecta wagering below, from straight bets to boxed, as well as keys and wheels. 

The basics of trifecta betting

Much like the exacta, the range of payoffs for trifectas can vary wildly depending on the circumstances of the race in question. The bigger the field size, the greater the likelihood of a three or four-figure payout, even if the favorite wins.

If a bettor uses trifectas wisely, he or she can make even more money than they would playing simple exactas, let alone win, place and show.

How to bet a trifecta box

A trifecta box takes the guesswork out of predicting which horse will come first out of the bettor’s top three selections, while multiplying the cost of the wager.

A three-horse trifecta box would cost $6 for every $1 wagered, because the wager covers six possible outcomes (1 over 2 over 3, 2 over 1 over 3, and so on). A four-horse trifecta box costs $24 for every $1 wagered, as 24 combinations are covered (Four possible winners, multiplied by three possible place horses, multiplied by two possible show horses).

More horses can be thrown into a box, but at significantly increased cost.

How to key a horse in a trifecta wager

Keying a horse in a trifecta wager means you’re essentially “locking in” one or more horses to finish first, second or third, and using two or more horses in the corresponding spots in the wager. An example of an trifecta key looks like this:

$2 trifecta key 1/2,3,4/2,3,4

This means you’re “keying” the 1 horse to finish first, and either the 2, 3, or 4 can finish second and third to complete your winning bet. The total cost of the above wager would be $12. This bet is sometimes described as a “part wheel.” You can “wheel” an trifecta like so:

$2 trifecta all/all/1

This means any horse other than the 1 can win and place in the race, and as long as the 1 finishes in third, your bet is a winner. The cost of the wager depends on the size of the field. In an seven-horse field, the above wager would cost $60. A more common trifecta wheel looks like this:

$2 trifecta 1/2/all ($10 in a seven-horse field)

“Key box” trifectas are also an option, and can look like this:

$2 trifecta key box 1/2,3,4

This means you have any combination with the 1 in the top three and either the 2, 3 or 4 completing the other spots.

The total cost for such a bet would be $36.