| The purpose of this article is to show that you can | | | | The best way I have found to play a trifecta bet is |
| win money at the horse races betting trifectas for | | | | to find a race that I can isolate two horses in that I |
| profit if you are willing to take a chance. The trifecta | | | | feel really are likely to hit the tri. That does require |
| is still one of the most popular exotic bets in horse | | | | the skill of knowing the basics of handicapping, |
| races and if played correctly can show a profit. The | | | | including spotting insider play. The goal is to find two |
| biggest obstacle to winning trifectas is the cost to | | | | horses that you think will finish in the money and |
| play all the horses that can slip into the trifecta. | | | | then play them with the other horses in a two horse |
| Many people are good at seeing who the top two or | | | | tri wheel. If you wheel one horse on top in a 8 |
| three contenders are in the race. The problem is, | | | | horse field it is a $42 bet. But putting two horses |
| the top three contenders are rarely the three horses | | | | on top and in second place reduces the bet to just |
| who complete the trifecta. | | | | $12! It means that either of your horses has to be |
| If the top three contenders were the tri it wouldn't | | | | first and second. I wheel both horses like this... |
| pay much anyway. The fact that some rather long | | | | 12/12/all and then 12/all/12 for a cost of $12 for |
| priced horses always seem to get into the tri is what | | | | each combination or $24 to make the total bet. |
| makes it appealing. So what is the answer? | | | | Taking it one step farther, you could also wheel your |
| Should you wheel a contender on top and hope that | | | | two key horses for second and third like this...all/12/12 |
| two longs shots come in second and third? | | | | for another $12 and a long shot could win the race |
| Sometimes that is a valid play, but can be risky and | | | | and make an even better trifecta payoff and profit |
| expensive. | | | | for you. |
| For instance, if you wheel one horse on top in an | | | | That means that one of my picks has to win and the |
| eight horse race, the cost for a $1 tri wheel is $42. | | | | other, either one, can be second or third and I still hit |
| You are gambling that the other two horses that | | | | the tri. Of course the best case scenario is if a |
| make the trifecta will be long priced to justify the | | | | longshot gets in there for second and my two |
| expense of $42. If two other short priced horses | | | | horses complete the tri. If you are good enough to |
| come in, you may not even recoup your bet back, | | | | consistently pick two horses that will finish in the |
| never mind even trying to show a profit from your | | | | money, then you should be able to make a profit on |
| trifecta wheel. If you eliminate a few horses you | | | | trifectas. Limiting the amount of your bets and only |
| reduce the cost of your bet significantly, but those | | | | playing races where you can spot horses that really |
| two unlikely looking horses are the very ones that | | | | do have a good chance of winning is the way to |
| will make a good pay off if they do manage to get | | | | make money on trifectas. |
| into the tri. That is the dilemma you face. | | | | |