What Is A Tricast Bet In Horse Racing? | Racing TV
Login
Join

What Is A Tricast Bet In Horse Racing?

A tricast bet is one of the most unique and fascinating betting options available for bettors when placing horse racing bets or free bets. In a tricast, bettors must predict the first three horses to finish a race in the correct order. Due to the difficulty of the bet, the odds can be quite high, and it is often considered to be a bet that requires plenty of experience and knowledge of horse racing. Here, we are going to look at how a tricast bet works, the other types of available tricast bets, and why they are so popular throughout horse racing.

How Does A Tricast Bet Work?

For a tricast to be successful, bettors must predict which horse will finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in a specific horse race. All three horses must finish in the exact order you have predicted, and even if one horse finishes in a different place, the bet will be lost. Tricast bets are typically available on races with at least 8 runners, but this can vary by bookmaker or betting exchange.
How does a Tricast bet work?

Types of Tricast Bets

Tricast bets come in a variety of different forms, with each one including slightly different features when it comes to how the bet works.

Straight Tricast

A straight tricast requires you to name the first three finishers in exact order. If we use the example above and choose the first selection, then we would need “Born In The West” to finish 1st, “Farmer Jimmy” to finish 2nd, and “Bollin Neil” to finish 3rd for a return to be made. This is known to be the cheapest option, and also one of the hardest to be successful with.

Combination Tricast

A combination tricast works similarly to a straight tricast; however, this allows you to cover all possible finishing positions and orders for your selected horses. For example, choosing 3 horses in a combination tricast creates 6 different betting lines to account for all possible combinations. In these three horses, they can finish anywhere in the top 3, and the bet will be successful. However, if one of the horses does not finish in the top 3, the bet will not return.
In a combination tricast, the stake can also be increased, as there are multiple options to cover, so using a lower stake is recommended when placing these bets.

Why Are Tricast Bets So Popular?

Tricast bets are so popular among horse racing enthusiasts because they require plenty of research and knowledge to place. If the bettor is new to the sport and does not watch horse racing often, it is recommended to start with simpler betting markets, such as single bets. Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why tricast betting is popular in horse racing:
Higher odds than other selections
Ideal for competitive handicap races
Perfect for when multiple horses look strong
Requires plenty of horse racing knowledge
A tricast bet might be worth placing if you believe there are a couple of strong horses in the race, and if you are looking for value, as the odds are typically high for tricast bets. If the race has a short-priced favourite and unpredictable pace, then a tricast bet would not be suggested as the most valuable selection when choosing your bets.
Here are some key things to remember if you are looking to place a tricast:
Order matters in a tricast
Combination tricasts require a large stake, but offer more coverage
Not available at all races
If you are looking to learn more about betting and horse racing, then Racing TV is the place to be. Not only do we discuss betting tips, but we also have livestreams of events, horse racing racecards, and tips available. 
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
My Account
Home
Watch
Live
Replays
On Demand
Catch Up
Tv Schedule
RTV Play Schedule
Racecards
Racecards
Today's Runners
Non-Runners
Tommorow's Runners
Racing Calendar
Results
Tips
Racing TV Tipsters
Nap Of The Day
News
All
Latest
Highlights
Columnists
Most Viewed
Free Bets
Members
Benefits
Join
RtvExtra
Club Days
Syndicate
Magazine
Rewards4Racing
Tracker
More
Racecourses
Profiles
Podcasts
Packages
Competitions
Racecourse Offers
Racing TV Syndicate
Casino Offers & Free Spins
RaceiQ
Safer Gambling
TV Authentication
Betting Guides
Cheltenham Free Bets
Best Betting Sites UK
Patch Time
DeviceID
Version
production-
Races
Tips
Watch
Results
Menu