Betting Strategies, The Triactor or Trifecta

The Triactor is also known as a Trifecta. This bet may take place in other countries but my experience with it is in North America. This is a bet where you try to predict which horse will finish first, which will finish second, and which will finish third. You must be exact, or your ticket is worthless.

There are many ways of playing a Triactor, which is really a $2 bet. In most cases people cut the bet in half, making a $1 bet with multiple horse combinations, thus allowing for more possibilities on their betting slip without risking a lot of money – of course if they win, the pay out is reduced by half.

Box

You can pick horses and “Box” them, giving you a winning ticket no matter which order the horses finish. For example if you want horses 1, 2, and 3 and wanted to ensure your ticket was good no matter what order they finished in (as long as they were the first three horses over the finish line) your $1 ticket would cost $6 because you have six combinations of the order the horses could finish. 123, 132, 213, 231, 312, and 321.

But what if something happens to one of those horses, and it does not come in first, second, or third? Your ticket is worthless. It is pretty likely this will happen so many people pick a 4th choice horse and play it just in case something happens to one of their favorites.

Throw in one more horse, and suddenly your box ticket costs $24 because as soon as you add another horse you have more possible outcomes and therefor more ticket combinations.

Key

As such some people try to save money by picking a “Key” horse and then “Part-Wheeling” the others.

Suppose you like horse 1 the best, and think it will win, so you Key it to horses 2,3, and 4. Your ticket will cost $6 because you have 6 combinations 123, 124, 132, 134, 142, and 143. You still have four horses on your ticket, but have saved money.

The problem is if something happens to your key horse your ticket is worthless.

image source

The Part Wheel

As such the part-wheel may be best because you can pick your four favorite horses and if something happens to one (it gets bumped or has a bad trip) the ticket still has a good shot.

Suppose you like horses 1, 2, 3, and 4, in that order. You would play a part wheel like this:

1 and 2, with 1 and 2 and 3, with 1 and 2 and 3 and 4. The ticket gives you 8 combinations, and a $1 ticket costs $8.

Your ticket wins if the finish is 123, 124, 132, 134, 213, 214, 231, 234. Of course if any other horse gets up for first, second, or third, you get nothing, but in the end I feel this is the best way of playing the Triactor, getting the most horses, for the least amount of money.

Note

Gamble responsibly, and remember horses are hurt, and killed, on the race track.  This link is not written to encourage you to go out and support this industry, but rather as an acknowledgement that people bet on horse races, and tips for those people.

Related Links

Is Horse Racing Cruel?

Tips on Buying a Horse or Pony

Gaited Horse Breeds

The Beauty of the Arabian Horse

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