A Trifecta is a type of bet in horse racing where the bettor must select the first, second and third place finishers in a race in the correct order. It is a more difficult bet to win than a win, place or show bet, but the rewards are much greater.
How Does the Pricing Work?
The cost of a trifecta bet depends on the number of horses you select, the amounts wagered and the type of wager. The cost of a $1 trifecta with four horses is $6. This is because each combination of horses must be wagered separately, so a four horse trifecta requires six individual wagers.
Types of Trifecta Wagers
There are several different types of trifecta wagers, including:
- Box Trifecta: A box trifecta wager allows you to select multiple horses to finish in any order. The cost of the wager will depend on the number of horses selected.
- Key Trifecta: A key trifecta wager requires the bettor to select one horse to win and then two other horses to finish in any order. The cost of the wager will depend on the odds of the horses selected.
- Wheel Trifecta: A wheel trifecta wager requires the bettor to select one horse to win and then three additional horses to finish in any order. The cost of the wager will again depend on the odds of the horses selected.
Calculating the Cost of a Trifecta Wager
The cost of a trifecta bet can be calculated using the following formula:
- Number of Horses Selected x (Number of Horses Selected – 1) x (Number of Horses Selected – 2) x Base Wager = Total Cost
For example, if you were to make a $1 trifecta wager with four horses, the cost would be calculated as follows:
- 4 x (4 – 1) x (4 – 2) x $1 = $6
Payouts for Trifecta Bets
The payouts for a trifecta bet can vary greatly depending on the odds of the horses selected and the type of wager placed. Generally, the payouts for a box trifecta will be lower than the payouts for a key or wheel trifecta.
For example, if you were to make a $1 trifecta bet with four horses and the odds of the horses were 7/2, 3/1, 10/1 and 8/1, the payout for the trifecta would be calculated as follows:
- 7/2 x 3/1 x 10/1 x 8/1 x $1 = $420
Calculating the Cost of a Trifecta with Boxed Horses
If you are making a trifecta bet with boxed horses, the cost of the wager will be the same as any other trifecta bet. The only difference is that you will be making multiple wagers instead of one.
For example, if you were to make a $1 trifecta bet with four horses, the cost of the wager would be calculated as follows:
- 4 x (4 – 1) x (4 – 2) x $1 = $6
However, since you are making four separate wagers, the total cost of the bet would be $24.
Calculating the Cost of a Trifecta with Keyed or Wheeled Horses
If you are making a trifecta bet with keyed or wheeled horses, the cost of the wager will be slightly different than a regular trifecta bet. This is because the bettor is only making one wager, but the cost of the wager is multiplied by the number of horses in the bet.
For example, if you were to make a $1 trifecta bet with four horses, the cost of the wager would be calculated as follows:
- 4 x $1 = $4
Payouts for Keyed or Wheeled Trifecta Bets
The payouts for a keyed or wheeled trifecta bet will depend on the odds of the horses selected and the type of wager placed. Generally, the payouts for a key or wheel trifecta will be higher than the payouts for a box trifecta.
For example, if you were to make a $1 trifecta bet with four horses and the odds of the horses were 7/2, 3/1, 10/1 and 8/1, the payout for the trifecta would be calculated as follows:
- 7/2 x 3/1 x 10/1 x 8/1 x 4 x $1 = $1,680
Summary
The cost of a trifecta bet depends on the number of horses selected, the amounts wagered and the type of wager. The cost of a $1 trifecta with four horses is $6. There are several different types of trifecta wagers, including: box trifecta, key trifecta and wheel trifecta. The payouts for a trifecta bet can vary greatly depending on the odds of the horses selected and the type of wager placed. The cost of a trifecta bet with keyed or wheeled horses is slightly different than a regular trifecta bet. The payouts for a key or wheel trifecta will be higher than the payouts for a box trifecta.