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Trifecta meaning, exacta, win place show: horse racing bets
Pick finish positions in the diagram below to see which horse racing bets win. Then check what each bet needs and where pari-mutuel payouts come from.
Horses in the race
Your horses, in order – tap up to four
- 15
- 23
- 37
- 41
- 52
- 66
- 78
- 84
| Bet | Your ticket | Result | Blind chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| WinSelect a horse to finish first. | 3 | Loses | 1 in 8 |
| PlaceSelect a horse to finish first or second. | 3 | Wins | 1 in 4 |
| ShowSelect a horse to finish first, second or third. | 3 | Wins | 1 in 2.7 |
| Exacta (exactor)Select, in the correct order, the first two horses. | 3–5 | Loses | 1 in 56 |
| QuinellaSelect, in any order, the first two horses. | 3, 5 | Wins | 1 in 28 |
| Trifecta (triactor)Select, in the correct order, the first three horses. | 3–5–1 | Loses | 1 in 336 |
| SuperfectaSelect, in the correct order, the first four horses. | 3–5–1–7 | Loses | 1 in 1,680 |
The race here is random with every horse equal: it only shows how each bet is settled. “Blind chance” is the chance of the ticket with no idea who is faster.
Where the definitions come from
Win, place, show, exactor, quinella and triactor are defined in the federal Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations (SOR/91-365, current to 2026-09-30). Tracks call the exactor an exacta and the triactor a trifecta. A superfecta asks for the first four in order.
A box covers every order of your horses: it wins if they fill the places in any order, and costs one ticket per order.
Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca (checked Oct 27, 2026).
Trifecta meaning and other horse bets
| Bet | Name in CPMA rules | What must happen | Example: A first, B second, C third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win | win | Your horse finishes first | A wins |
| Place | place | Your horse finishes first or second | Your horse is A or B (first or second) |
| Show | show | Your horse finishes first, second or third | Your horse is A, B or C (first to third) |
| Exacta | exactor | First two horses in the correct order | Only A then B wins |
| Quinella | quinella | First two horses in any order | A–B or B–A wins |
| Trifecta | triactor | First three horses in the correct order | Only A, B, C wins |
| Daily double | daily double | The winner of each of two races | Your pick wins the first race and the second race |
All bets settle on the official result. Stakes race example: The King's Plate explained. Live bets, futures and props in sports: Types of bets.
Straight exacta vs exacta box
Straight bet
- You pick first and second in one fixed order
- One combination, so one stake, for example $1
- Pays only if both horses finish in exactly that order
- A straight trifecta works the same way with three horses
Box bet
- Covers every order of the horses you choose
- Exacta box of three: 6 combinations = $6.00 at $1 each
- Exacta box of four: 12 combinations = $12.00
- Trifecta box of four: 24 combinations = $24.00
- Trifecta box of five: 60 combinations = $60.00
- Count any box in the box calculator
How the win payout is set
Win payout per dollar = net pool ÷ win bets on the winner (net pool = pool − legal percentages)
Example: If the calculated price is under $1.05, the association must still pay $1.05 per dollar bet, at its own expense.
Woodbine takeout by bet type
| Bet type | Association percentage |
|---|---|
| Win | 11.65% |
| Place and show | 13.65% |
| Exacta | 17.20% |
| Trifecta | 19.70% |
| Pick 4 and Pick 5 | 21.70% |
| Daily double, Hi5 and related pools | Own percentage – see Woodbine's rules page |
| Woodbine's 'all other' category | 23.00% |
| Federal maximum, any pool (CPMA) | 35% |
Deducted at Woodbine's own licensed sites; check its rules page for which bets fall in each category. Horsepeople, Ontario and federal deductions are listed separately.
Pari-mutuel terms
- Pool
- All money bet on a race for one bet type.
- Legal percentages
- The association's percentage, the deduction allowed by the province and the payment to the Receiver General, all taken from the pool.
- Net pool
- What is left of the pool after legal percentages. Winning tickets share it.
- Takeout
- Everyday name for the money deducted from the pool before payouts.
- Official result
- The confirmed finish order that settles every bet.
- Box
- One ticket that covers every order of the horses you pick. It costs one stake per combination.
Sources
- laws-lois.justice.gc.ca /eng/acts/c-46/section-204.html · checked Oct 27, 2026
- laws-lois.justice.gc.ca /eng/regulations/SOR-91-365/FullText.html · checked Oct 27, 2026
- woodbine.com /rules-regulations · checked Oct 27, 2026
Questions
What does trifecta mean in horse racing?
A trifecta means picking the first three horses in the exact order of the official result. Federal regulations call it a triactor. A trifecta box covers every order of your horses and costs more.
What is the difference between win, place and show?
Win pays if your horse finishes first. Place pays if it finishes first or second. Show pays if it finishes first, second or third.
What does exacta mean?
An exacta (exactor in the regulations) means picking the first two horses in the correct order. A quinella picks the same two horses in any order.
Is horse racing betting legal in Canada?
The answer depends on the laws of your province; this page is not legal advice. Federally, Criminal Code s.204 requires pari-mutuel systems to be approved and supervised by an officer appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
How much does the track keep from each bet?
Federal regulations cap the association's percentage at 35% of a pool. The percentages Woodbine lists for its own sites range from 11.65% (win) to 23.00% (its 'all other' category); horsepeople, Ontario and federal deductions are listed separately.