noun
place bet; show bet
A bet in horse racing (and similar sports) where the bettor wins if the selected horse finishes in the top 2 or top 3, depending on the number of runners. The exact number of places is determined by the race conditions.
複勝式は、選んだ馬が3着以内に入れば的中です。
In a place bet, you win if your chosen horse finishes in the top 3.
彼は複
He makes steady profits with place bets.
馬連 requires predicting the first two finishers in any order, whereas 複勝式 only requires one horse to place.
複 (multiple) + 勝 (win) + 式 (style/system). The term refers to a betting system where multiple finishing positions count as a win.