A boxed trifecta works by allowing you to take multiple trifecta combinations using three or more selections. Instead of picking horses to finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in a specific order, you get a payout if your selections fill the placings in ANY order.
For example, a $6 boxed trifecta on horses 5, 6, and 7 would actually cover 6 different combos – 5-6-7, 5-7-6, 6-5-7, 6-7-5, 7-5-6 and 7-6-5. As long as your horses run 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, you win.
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| Combination Number | Combination |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5-6-7 |
| 2 | 5-7-6 |
| 3 | 6-5-7 |
| 4 | 6-7-5 |
| 5 | 7-5-6 |
| 6 | 7-6-5 |
How Much Does A Boxed Trifecta Cost?
When boxing horses, you must outlay $1 for every possible trifecta permutation. A box with 3 horses has 6 combinations, so it costs $6. Four horses have 24 combos costing $24.
The best Australian Bookmakers and betting sites have easy boxed trifecta tickets where you can nominate your selections, and they’ll automatically calculate the number of combinations.
We’ve put together the handy guide below on how much a boxed trifecta would cost based on a $1 bet:
| Number of Horses | Cost of Boxed Trifecta Bet (Number of Combinations) |
|---|---|
| 3 horse box trifecta cost | $6 (6 combinations) |
| 4 horse box trifecta cost | $24 (24 combinations) |
| 5 horse box trifecta cost | $60 (60 combinations) |
| 6 horse box trifecta cost | $120 (120 combinations) |
| 7 horse box trifecta cost | $210 (210 combinations) |
| 8 horse box trifecta cost | $336 (336 combinations) |
| 9 horse box trifecta cost | $504 (504 combinations) |
| 10 horse box trifecta cost | $720 (720 combinations) |
Advantages of a Boxed Trifecta
The main benefit is dramatically increasing your chances of hitting a trifecta payout.
Even if you don’t predict the exact finishing order, your boxed horses can still earn dividends, making it perfect when you have a few standout picks but are unsure of the final finishing positions.
A boxed trifecta gives you coverage flexibility.
Boxed Trifecta Downside
The downside is that a boxed trifecta can quickly become an expensive outlay as you add more selections.
You can limit costs by only boxing 3-4 horses with genuine winning hopes.
Or take a “flexi” trifecta where you buy a percentage of the full permutation.
Boxed Trifecta Payouts
The payout for a boxed trifecta is calculated by taking the total amount bet on the winning combination and dividing it by the total number of $1 boxed trifecta bets.
The less likely the winning trifecta combination, the higher the payout will typically be.
In other words, more popular horses mean more bets placed on the winning combo, lowering the payout.
Longshot horses placing in the top 3 spots usually result in bigger boxed trifecta payouts. Lesser-backed horses mean fewer winning bets to split the pool.
A minimum $1 boxed trifecta bet in Australia usually pays out several hundred dollars if successful. More exotic combinations can pay thousands or even tens of thousands on longer odds.
For example, a $1 boxed trifecta on 3 horses that are 10-1, 15-1, and 30-1 may pay $3,000 or more if they fill the placings.
The size of the betting pool also impacts payouts—bigger pools allow for larger dividends, and major races attract huge trifecta pools.
It’s impossible to predict the exact payout until the race is run and the pool size and number of winning bets are known. But the less likely the combo, the higher it tends to pay.
A boxed trifecta is just one type of betting option for picking the first 3 horses in a race. Read our complete guide to trifectas here or view other types of bets you can place on horse racing in Australia.
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