Boxing Numbers in a Trifecta Bet
Boxing numbers in a trifecta bet means that all numbers chosen are put in every possible combination to provide a greater possibility of correctly selecting the first three finishers. If the numbers 1, 2, and 5 are boxed, the combinations of 1-2-5, 1-5-2, 2-1-5, 2-5-1, 5-1-2, and 5-2-1 are covered. As long as the first three finishers involve the numbers 1, 2, and 5, the boxed ticket is a winner. The more numbers used in a box, the greater the number of possibilities covered. However, the more numbers boxed, the greater the cost to cover the wager.
# of choices | # of combinations | $ amount of bet | Cost of bet |
3
|
6
|
$1 ($2)
|
$6 ($12)
|
4
|
24
|
$1 ($2)
|
$24 ($48)
|
5
|
60
|
$1 ($2)
|
$60 ($120)
|
6
|
120
|
$1 ($2)
|
$120 ($240)
|
7
|
210
|
$1 ($2)
|
$210 ($420)
|
8
|
336
|
$1 ($2)
|
$336 ($672)
|
9
|
504
|
$1 ($2)
|
$504 ($1008)
|
10
|
720
|
$1 ($2)
|
$720 ($1440)
|
11
|
990
|
$1 ($2)
|
$990 ($1980)
|
12
|
1320
|
$1 ($2)
|
$1320 ($2640)
|
13
|
1716
|
$1 ($2)
|
$1716 ($3432)
|
14
|
2184
|
$1 ($2)
|
$2184 ($4368)
|
A simple rule to remember to compute the cost of a boxed trifecta wager would be as follows: the number of horses to be boxed MULTIPLIED by the next lowest number MULTIPLIED by the next lowest number MULTIPLIED by the dollar amount of the wager. EXAMPLE: A five-horse trifecta box for $3 would be computed 5 (number of horses to be boxed) x 4 (next lowest number) x 3 (next lowest number) x 3(dollar amount of the wager) = $180.