Calculate track takeout (vig) for horse racing bets. See how much the track keeps from each betting pool by jurisdiction and bet type.
Total amount in the betting pool
Override jurisdiction rate with custom percentage
Track Take
$170
17.00% of pool
Net Pool
$830
Amount paid to winners
Return Rate
83.0%
Pool returned to bettors
To break even with 17.0% takeout, you need to win at 1.20× the rate of an average bettor. If a fair-odds horse should win 20% of the time, you need to identify it 20% × 1.20 = 24.1% of the time to break even.
| Bet Type | Takeout | Return | On $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win/Place/Show | 17.0% | 83.0% | $170 |
| Exacta | 20.0% | 80.0% | $200 |
| Trifecta | 25.0% | 75.0% | $250 |
| Superfecta | 25.0% | 75.0% | $250 |
| Daily Double | 20.0% | 80.0% | $200 |
| Pick 3 | 25.0% | 75.0% | $250 |
| Pick 4 | 25.0% | 75.0% | $250 |
| Pick 5 | 25.0% | 75.0% | $250 |
| Pick 6 | 25.0% | 75.0% | $250 |
Quick-start with common scenarios
Track take (or takeout) is the percentage the track keeps from each betting pool before paying winners. If takeout is 17% on a $100 win pool, $17 goes to the track and $83 is paid to winners. Takeout varies by bet type: typically 15-17% on WPS, 20-25% on exotics.
Track take (takeout) is the house edge in pari-mutuel betting. It's the percentage deducted from each pool before payouts. On a $100,000 win pool with 17% takeout, $17,000 goes to the track and $83,000 is distributed to winners.
Takeout is the vig you must overcome to profit. With 17% takeout, you need to be 17% better than average to break even. On exotics with 25% takeout, you need even more edge. Lower takeout = easier to profit.
Exotic bets (exacta, trifecta, etc.) have higher takeouts because they're harder to hit and pools are often smaller. The track also argues the entertainment value is higher. Pick 6 often has the highest takeout at 20-25%.
Takeout is split between: track operating expenses (50-60%), purse money for horsemen (25-35%), and state taxes (10-20%). The exact split varies by jurisdiction.
Takeout rates are set by state racing commissions and published by tracks. Check the track's website or program. California, New York, and Kentucky are major racing states with published rates. Rates can change, so verify current rates.