Superfecta

A superfecta is a horse racing bet where you pick the first four finishers in exact order. It is one of the hardest bets at the track, and it can produce huge payouts, especially when a long shot finishes in the top four.

How a Superfecta Works

A 2-8-5-1 superfecta wins only if horse 2 wins, horse 8 is second, horse 5 is third, and horse 1 is fourth. Any other order loses.

Boxing a Superfecta

Because picking four horses in order is so hard, most players box or key their superfectas. Boxing gets expensive fast, which is why many tracks offer a $0.10 minimum:

With a 10-cent bet you collect 10% of the posted $1 payout. If the $1 superfecta pays $800, your 10-cent ticket pays $80.

How Superfecta Payouts Work

Superfectas are pari-mutuel. All superfecta bets go into a pool, the track takes its cut, and the rest is split among the winners. Big fields and long shots can push payouts into the thousands, even on small bets.

Superfecta Tips

• Key your strongest horse on top and spread wider in third and fourth, where results are hardest to predict.
• Use the 10-cent option to cover more combinations without a big budget.
• Remember that boxing a favorite-heavy group often costs more than it pays back.

Examples

• A $0.10 superfecta box with 5 horses costs $12 and covers 120 orders.
• If the $1 superfecta pays $1,200 and you played 10 cents, you collect $120.

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions