From Pat Hobby, Putative Father by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
He searched the orange pages frantically. Below the form sheets, the
past performances, the endless oracles for endless racetracks, his eye
was caught by a one-inch item:LONDON. SEPTEMBER 3RD. ON THIS MORNING'S DECLARATION BY CHAMBERLAIN,
DOUGIE CABLES 'ENGLAND TO WIN. FRANCE TO PLACE. RUSSIA TO SHOW'.
Clearly this is a shorthand for something, but what?
Best Answer
It's a betting term. Win — first place. Place — second or first place. Show — third, second or first place.
Source: oddsshark.com (among others).
Suggesting England would "win," France would finish second and Russia third. That is, someone was setting odds on the outcome of the war.