The party that holds all three positions of power is said to have a trifecta.
A trifecta bet is rare to come by in the US system of betting but this parimutuel bet as well as a boxed trifecta can have high returns at a place like the Kentucky Derby.Ī trifecta can also be used in specific circumstances to refer to the complete legislative and executive control of state government by one party of the federal government in the presidency and both houses of Congress, also known as the positions of power of the governorship, the upper house, and the lower house of state legislatures. Such bets have long odds and difficult attainment rates, but trifectas are important achievements. In horse races, this type of bet is then the bettor ranks the horses in first place, second place, and third place correctly. Trifecta is three syllables – tri-fec-ta, and the pronunciation of trifecta is traɪˈfɛktə. This can refer to any achievement that involves three successful outcomes, and specifically refers to a form of betting in which the punter selects the first three place-winners in a horse race in the correct order. According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, a trifecta is a noun.