DOGS,
Tris are generally a high-takeout wager to begin with. On average a track's takeout scale will go something like this: Win, Place, Show (15%), Two Horse Combinations (20%), Multiple Horse Combinations (25%). This may seem fair, but when you take a look at the odds of actually hitting a tri, compared to an exacta, it is a considerably higher takeout over the long haul. I know you must know that to be astute enough to play them cold (boxing three or more horses over the long haul is murder), but there are more factors involved than just averages.....
For instance, tracks have been lowering FLAT bet (win/place/show) and exacta takeouts, which will have implications on how they slice and dice multiple-horse takeouts. Remember Hialeah? Their takeout, before they closed the doors was something like 23% on FLAT bets....and it was something dreadful on trifectas, I can't recall how high, but I do remember the doofus running the operation saying something like, "no one notices." Um, yeah - horseplayers notice.
On the flip side, a lot of tracks, due to the technology age (simulcasting is on my computer right now as I am typing this) are trying to attract in-home or OTB horseplayers to wager on their track. Pimlico offered a very low takeout when they unleashed a new "Pick-Four" wager this past year (was like 14%, which is an attractive percentage, indeed), and the NYRA tracks lowered takeout on FLAT bets to 14%, and exactas to 17%. However, these tracks have kept their trifecta takeout intact at 25%, and some have even raised it......this is overshadowed by the fact that they are lowering the more popular bet.....
Trifectas have long been experiencing the subtle rise in takeout percentage, but now they are needing to absorb a "ripple-effect" from marketing campaigns by a lot of tracks. I don't know if this is the sole reason you are noticing a drop in your overall ROI, but the combination of a high takeout wager, and the new changes, can't be helping.
DRF comes out with an annual list of worst wagers, in relation to takeouts/odds, and daily doubles rated the worst wager (I believe that's the second straight year), and supers and tris followed. The best wagers: Flats (of course), exactas, pick 3s.
If I find a list of tracks with lowest takeouts on tris I will be sure and pass it along (that may be a start, as you could limit yourself to those tracks, if it makes a big difference). But you won't see any broad-sweeping reforms on these wagers, due to less interest in that particular takeout.....
SLEW
