What is a Superfecta bet?
A Superfecta bet is a wager where the first four finishers in a race must be predicted in the exact order. All four selections must finish in the precise sequence specified, or the bet loses completely.
Superfectas are primarily used in horse racing and greyhound racing.
Superfecta payouts are not fixed at the time of placing the bet. The wager uses a parimutuel pool system where all bets are pooled together, the track deducts a percentage (typically 15-25%), and the remainder is divided among winning tickets.
This means payouts vary dramatically depending on the number of winners and the odds of the horses finishing.
How Superfecta betting works
Players select four horses and specify which finishes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Only that exact sequence wins. Minimum bets typically range from $0.10 to $2.00 depending on the track.
All superfecta wagers on a race are pooled together. The track deducts its takeout percentage, and the remaining pool is divided equally among all winning tickets.
More winners means smaller individual payouts, even if the combination includes longshots.
Example:
In the 2019 Kentucky Derby, a $1 superfecta paid $51,400.10 after a disqualification and two longshots produced an unlikely finishing order, with only 18 winning tickets sold.
By contrast, the 2022 Belmont Stakes superfecta returned just $732.50 because favorites dominated, leading to hundreds of winning tickets and a much smaller split of the pool.
Types of Superfecta bets
Here is a summary table:
Bet Type | How It Works | Number of Combinations | Example Cost ($1 base) |
|---|---|---|---|
Straight | 4 horses, exact order | 1 | $1 |
Box | 4 horses, any order | 24 | $24 |
Wheel | Key 1 horse, box 3 others | Varies | $6 - $120+ |
Part Wheel | Key multiple positions | Custom | $12 - $300+ |
Straight Superfecta
A straight Superfecta covers one specific finishing order. The selected runners must finish first, second, third and fourth exactly as arranged. Any variation in the result settles the bet as a loss.
Boxed Superfecta
Covers all 24 possible finishing orders of four horses. If you box horses 3, 7, 11, and 14, you're covered whether they finish 3-7-11-14, 7-3-14-11, 14-11-3-7, or any other combination. A $1 base bet costs $24 total.
Superfecta Wheel
Superfecta wheel keys one horse in a specific position while boxing others around it. For example, key Horse #5 to win and wheel horses 2, 8, and 12 for positions 2-3-4. This creates six combinations (3 × 2 × 1) for $6 total on a $1 base bet.
Part Wheel
This mixes keyed and boxed positions. You might specify horses 2 or 6 to win, Horse 3 must finish second, and box horses 8, 10, 14 for third and fourth. This creates custom combination counts and represents an advanced strategy for experienced handicappers balancing cost with coverage.
How Superfecta stakes are calculated
The cost of a Superfecta depends on how many finishing-order permutations a bet covers. A straight Superfecta has one stake because it predicts a single exact order, while a boxed or combination Superfecta includes multiple orders, each counted as a separate bet.
For example, four runners in a box create 24 permutations, so a £1 unit stake costs £24.
In summary: total cost = permutations × unit stake.
Here's how costs scale when boxing multiple horses (assuming $1 base bet):
Horses Boxed | Combinations | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
4 horses | 24 | $24 |
5 horses | 120 | $120 |
6 horses | 360 | $360 |
7 horses | 840 | $840 |
Boxing more horses improves coverage, but costs escalate exponentially.
When placing Superfecta bets make sense
The following situations often align with how Superfecta bets are used in racing markets:
- Large fields: Superfectas are commonly placed in races with many runners, where a wide range of finishing orders creates higher potential dividends.
- Clear race shape: When race data indicates a likely group of strong performers, predicting a structured top four can be more manageable.
- Strong market signals: Races where the market shows distinct clusters of favorites and outsiders can highlight potential finishing patterns.
- High-payout opportunities: Superfectas are often selected when a bettor aims for payouts that exceed those available in simpler exact-order bets.
Races with form depth: Events where multiple runners have consistent form can create clearer expectations about which horses may fill the leading positions.
Conclusion
A Superfecta bet involves predicting the first four finishers in exact order, making it one of the more demanding bet types in racing markets. It is settled through a computer-generated dividend that reflects the Starting Prices of the top four runners, leading to varied payout levels.
While complex, the Superfecta offers a structured way to engage with races where predicting the top four places is part of the wagering appeal.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What happens to a superfecta bet if there is a non runner?
If a selected horse is a non-runner, most bookmakers will void a straight or boxed Superfecta and refund the stake. For some fixed-odds bets, it may be settled as a Trifecta with one non-runner or a Forecast with two, depending on the bookmaker's rules.
How is a multi combination superfecta cost calculated?
The stake depends on the number of ordered combinations created in the bet. Each possible finishing order counts as one separate line, and the total cost equals the number of lines multiplied by the unit stake.
Can I box 8 or more horses in a Superfecta?
Yes, but boxing 8 horses creates 1,680 combinations ($1,680 for $1 base), while 10 horses generate 5,040 combinations ($5,040). Most sportsbooks allow boxes up to 10-12 horses, though few bettors exceed 6-7 due to exponential costs unless guaranteed pools create positive expected value.
Do online sportsbooks offer Superfecta betting?
Yes, major platforms like TVG, TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, and BetMGM Racing offer superfecta wagering with bet calculators and lower minimums ($0.10 vs. $1.00 at physical tracks).
Are Superfecta bets available on sports other than horse racing?
Some international sportsbooks offer them on motor racing (Formula 1, NASCAR) with fixed odds rather than parimutuel pools, but availability is limited.