How to bet a horse racing Superfecta

The superfecta is one of the more complicated “exotic” wagers available to bettors, as it requires the top four finishers of a race to be identified, in order. We’ll delve into the finer points of superfecta wagering below, from straight bets to boxed [link to horse boxing guide], as well as keys and wheels. 

The basics of superfecta betting

As with any exotic wager, the range of payoffs for superfectas can vary wildly depending on the circumstances of the race in question. The bigger the field size, the greater the likelihood of a four or even five-figure payout.

Superfectas can be costly, but they offer the potential for far greater payouts than almost any wager available on a race-by-race basis.

How to bet a superfecta box

A superfecta box takes the guesswork out of predicting which horse will come first out of the bettor’s top four selections, while multiplying the cost of the wager.

A four-horse superfecta box would cost $24 for every $1 wagered, as 24 combinations are covered (Four possible winners, multiplied by three possible place horses, multiplied by two possible show horses, with one horse leftover).

A five-horse superfecta box would cost a daunting $120 for $1. Fortunately for bettors, many tracks offer 10 cent superfectas, which can significantly lessen wager cost while still offering a chance at a sizable payday.

How to key a horse in a superfecta wager

Keying a horse in a superfecta wager means you’re essentially “locking in” one or more horses to finish first, second, third or fourth, and using three or more horses in the corresponding spots in the wager. An example of an superfecta key looks like this:

1 superfecta key 1/2,3,4/2,3,4/2,3,4

This means you’re “keying” the 1 horse to finish first, with the 2, 3, and 4 eligible to round out a winning bet. The total cost of the above wager would be $6. This bet is sometimes described as a “part wheel.” You can “wheel” an superfecta like so:

$1 superfecta all/all/all/1

This means any horse other than the 1 can win, place, and show in the race, and as long as the 1 finishes in fourth, your bet is a winner. The cost of the wager depends on the size of the field. In an seven-horse field, the above wager would cost $105. A more common superfecta wheel looks like this:

$1 superfecta 1/2/3/all ($4 in a seven-horse field)

“Key box” superfectas are also an option, and can look like this:

$1 superfecta key box 1/2,3,4

This means you have any combination with the 1 in the top four and either the 2, 3 or 4 completing the other spots.

The total cost for such a bet would be $24.