Tricast Betting Tool
Calculate a horse racing tricast (trifecta) payout for three horses in finishing order.
How to Use This Calculator
- Pick the tricast type, either straight (one specific order) or combination (all six orderings)
- Enter the odds for each of your three horses
- Enter your unit stake
- Read off the total stake, combined odds, return and profit
Formula
Combined Odds = Odds₁ × Odds₂ × Odds₃
Straight Tricast: 1 bet at unit stake.
Combination Tricast: 6 bets at unit stake (3! orderings) — total stake = 6 × unit stake. Only the correct ordering pays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a tricast bet involve?
A tricast (known as a trifecta in the US) is a wager on which three horses will finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd. A straight tricast demands the precise order, whereas a combination tricast covers all six possible orderings for six times the stake.
When is a combination tricast the right choice?
Opt for combination when you feel sure which three horses will take the placings but are uncertain of their order. The trade-off is paying 6× the stake. If you hold firm views on the order, a straight tricast pays the same on the winning order at one-sixth of the cost.
How are tricast payouts worked out?
UK bookmakers generally apply the Computer Tricast Forecast (CTF) formula, which is based on starting prices and field size. The multiplicative model (Odds × Odds × Odds) serves only as a rough approximation; actual dividends can deviate by 30%+ depending on the strength of the field.
Does a tricast represent good value?
Tricasts carry very high variance: the chance of winning is slim but the payouts are enormous. They ought to make up only a small slice of your bankroll. Sharper bettors usually concentrate on shorter-priced markets where structural edges exist, leaving tricasts largely as leisure bets.