Across the board: win, place and show on one horse
An across the board bet is three bets on one horse: win, place and show, each for the same amount. A $2 across the board ticket costs $6 and pays more the higher your horse finishes.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Three equal bets on one horse.
- 02A $2 ticket costs $6.
- 03Pays three, two or one ways.
Key numbers
Across the board at a glance
In short
Key takeaways
- Win pays all three parts.
- Second pays place and show.
- Third pays show only.
- Fourth or worse loses all three.
Progress
How an across the board bet pays
- 1
Finish 1st
Win + place + show
- 2
Finish 2nd
Place + show
- 3
Finish 3rd
Show only
- 4
Out of top 3
All lost
- 5
Payouts
From parimutuel pools
Each part is paid from its own pool.
Example $2 across the board
| Finish | Win | Place | Show | Total back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $8.40 | $4.20 | $3.00 | $15.60 |
| 2nd | — | $4.20 | $3.00 | $7.20 |
| 3rd | — | — | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| 4th or worse | — | — | — | $0 |
Made-up payouts on a $6 ticket; real prices depend on the pools.
How the payouts work
Win, place and show each have their own parimutuel pool. The track takes its cut, then splits each pool among the winning tickets, so prices are not fixed when you bet.
Place and show pools are shared by more horses. The place pool is split between the first two finishers and the show pool between the first three, which keeps those prices low.
That is why a third-place finish often returns less than the $6 cost. On a favorite, a show payout of $2.40 means you get back $2.40 on a $6 ticket.
Profit or loss by finish
| Horse odds | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favorite, 2-1 | +$4.60 | -$2.40 | -$3.40 |
| Mid-price, 5-1 | +$15.00 | +$2.80 | -$2.20 |
| Longshot, 15-1 | +$43.00 | +$11.00 | +$1.00 |
Our own rough examples on a $6 ticket.
When it makes sense
Across the board suits mid-priced and longer horses. Their place and show prices are high enough that second or third can still cover the cost.
On short-priced favorites it rarely adds value. The place and show parts pay so little that you mostly pay $4 extra to soften a loss.
Some bettors prefer win and place only, or a bigger win bet alone, to avoid the low-paying show part.
Sequence
Placing an across the board bet
Step 01
Pick the race
Track and race number.
Step 02
Name the amount
Per part, e.g. $2.
Step 03
Say the bet
“Across the board.”
Step 04
Give the horse
Program number.
Step 05
Check the ticket
Total should be 3 times.
Rules and settlement
If your horse is scratched, all three parts are refunded. If there is a dead heat, the part of the pool for that position is split between the tied horses.
Results are official once the stewards confirm the order. A disqualification can move your horse up or down, and payouts follow the official order.
Minimum stakes vary. Many tracks take $2 per part, while some online wagering apps accept $1 per part, making a $3 across the board ticket.
Floor rules
Racing terms
Know before you sit
- Across the board
- Win, place and show combined.
- Pool
- All money bet on one bet type.
- Takeout
- Track’s cut of each pool.
- Dead heat
- Tie at the finish.
A quick comparison
Say you have $6 to bet on a 6-1 horse. You can bet $6 to win, or $2 across the board. The win bet alone would pay about $42 if he wins, and nothing otherwise.
The across the board ticket pays about $14 plus $7 plus $4.60, or $25.60, if he wins. If he runs second it pays about $11.60, and third about $4.60.
The win bet pays more on a win, while across the board pays something on three outcomes. Neither changes the track takeout, which is built into every pool.
Common mistakes
- Using it on heavy favorites
- Show pays little.
- Forgetting the total cost
- It is three bets.
- Expecting fixed odds
- Pools set prices.
- Ignoring scratches
- Check before post.
Keep reading
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01Basics
What does across the board mean?
It is three bets on one horse, to win, place and show, each for the same amount, sold on one ticket.
How much does a $2 across the board cost?
$6 in total, because it is three separate $2 bets on win, place and show for the same horse.
What if my horse wins?
You collect all three parts: the win payout, the place payout and the show payout.
02Rules
What if my horse is scratched?
All three parts are refunded, so you get your full stake back, under the rules at most US tracks.
What happens in a dead heat?
The pool for that finishing position is split between the tied horses, so the payout for that part is lower.
Can I bet $1 across the board?
Some tracks and online wagering sites allow $1 per part, but many tracks use a $2 minimum.
03Strategy
Is across the board good on favorites?
Usually not. Place and show prices on favorites are so low that third place often returns less than the cost.
What about longshots?
Longshots suit it better, because second or third can pay enough to cover the whole ticket.
Where can I get help?
If gambling stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, private help any time of day.
Sources
- Equibase Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Official US racing results and charts
- NTRA — Horseplayer resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Wagering guides for US racing
- Wizard of Odds — Sports betting Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Sports betting math
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER