How can I find out how much I would win for a place or show instead of a win bet at today's horse race?

Question

I placed a bet, but not sure how to figure out how much exactly I would win for a place (1st or 2nd) or a show (1st, 2nd, or 3rd). Also, where can I find out the odds on a trifecta?

Answer 1

If you make a place or a show bet you can never know for sure what the payoff will be.  That's because if you make a...

... place bet, the payoff will be determined by the horse that wins.

... a show bet, the payoff will be determined by the horses that win and place.

If you make a show bet, for example, your money goes into the "show" pool.  All money that was bet to win and to place on any horse also go into this pool.  If you win, you then split it with all of the other winners who also bet to win, place, or show.

This means that if you bet, to show (for example) what you really want is a LONG SHOT to come in first and second.  (Or first and third, with your horse coming in second.)  Most of the other people won't be betting on the long shots, so this way there is less people to share it with.

(Even if you make a "win" bet, the final odds won't be determined until the race starts.  If you bet the horse when it's 6 to 1, the odds might change to 5 to 1 before the race starts.)

Estimated trifecta odds are usually found posted on the betting boards at the track.

Good luck on whicher horse you bet on today.