Tricast Calculator
Calculate horse racing tricast (trifecta) bet payouts. Pick three horses to finish 1st-2nd-3rd in order, or use a combination tricast covering all six orderings.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose tricast type — straight (one specific order) or combination (all six orderings)
- Enter the odds for each of your three horses
- Enter your unit stake
- View 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 is a tricast bet?
A tricast (also called trifecta in the US) is a bet on which three horses will finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd. A straight tricast requires the exact order; a combination tricast covers all six possible orderings for six times the stake.
When should I use combination tricast?
Use combination if you’re confident on which three horses will fill the placings but unsure of order. The trade-off is paying 6× stake. If you have strong opinions on the order, a straight tricast pays the same on the winning order at one-sixth the cost.
How are tricast payouts calculated?
UK bookmakers usually use the Computer Tricast Forecast (CTF) formula based on starting prices and field size. The multiplicative model (Odds × Odds × Odds) is a rough approximation. Actual dividends can vary by 30%+ depending on field strength.
Is tricast a good value bet?
Tricasts have very high variance — the probability of winning is low but payouts are huge. They should be a small fraction of your bankroll. Sharper bettors tend to focus on shorter-priced markets where they can find structural edges; tricasts are mostly leisure bets.