What is a Trifecta Bet in Horseracing?

A Trifecta is the most popular bet amongst horseracing enthusiasts, and when you look at the profit potential, it isn’t difficult to see why! But where do you start, what does all the fancy jargon mean and how do I take one? 

The purpose of the bet is to effectively choose the first three horses past the post. 

How to Place a Trifecta Bet?

Okay, so you want to take a Trifecta bet. You’ve decided on the race, looked at the field of horses and found your fancies – brilliant! 

The next step is to decide which sort of Trifecta works for you. There are four types of Trifecta’s that you could take with your preferred Sportsbook, they are:

Straight Line:

For those among us with unbridled confidence, the straight line Trifecta might be for you. Here you can only select one horse for each finishing position. So, say you pick horses 7, 2, and 3, they must finish in that exact order.

Boxed Trifecta:

The boxed Trifecta offers you a bit more security, but just as much thrill. You select three or more horses, and they can finish in any order. So, if you opt for horses 7, 2, 3, and 8, any three of these must finish in the first three places.

Partial Wheel Trifecta 

This option requires you to rely on one horse to win and any of your other selections to still finish second and third. If you pick horse number 5 for first place with 7,2,3 and 8 for second and third, it would mean you rely on horse number 5 to win the race, followed by any of the others selected to finish second and third. You are also able to rely on an individual horse to finish either second or third, this will just mean you would need to pick horses to finish in the other positions. 

Floating/Roving Banker Trifecta 

Floating/Roving bankers are called as such because while they have to finish in the top three spots, they don’t necessarily have to win. For instance, if horse 5 is your roving banker with 7, 2, 3, and 8, horse 5 must place in the top three with your other selections completing the Trifecta. 

Note: You may have one or two floating bankers! 

Trifecta Strategies 

Consider the following tips before placing your bet:

Study the Form

Research the horses’ past performances, analyse the jockey’s experience and the trainer’s track record, and consider factors such as the horse’s age and weight. 

Look at the Track conditions 

Understand how different track conditions can affect a horse’s performance.

Consider the Starting Prices 

Analyse the starting  betting prices, Consider the odds-on favourites and whether they are value bets or not and the long-shot possibilities and their potential to finish in the placings.