Superfecta Bet in Horse Racing – Understanding the Basics
6 minutes
Last Updated: May 6, 2023
If you are looking for bigger challenges in horse betting than the to win or to place bets, then the superfecta might be the right choice for you.
For all of those wondering what is superfecta in horse racing, we will break it down below, so keep reading.
The superfecta bet allows punters to place a bet on a horse race predicting which four horses will go through the finish line first.
What Is a Superfecta Bet in Horse Racing?
In horse racing, the superfecta bet allows bettors to predict which four horses will finish the race first and in which order.
To win, you need to predict which four horses will finish the race in the top four spots and the exact position of each horse.
For example, to place a superfecta bet, you will be asked to choose four horses and their finishing positions:
So, let’s say you choose horses 3, 5, 7, and 9 and you place a superfecta bet displayed as 3-5-7-9. To win, the horses must go through the finish line in the following order:
- 1st place horse number 3
- 2nd place horse number 5
- 3rd place horse number 7
- 4th place horse number 9
As you can see from this example, making a correct superfecta prediction is extremely difficult. However, there are some other variations of this bet that are easier to predict.
What Is a Superfecta Key Bet in Horse Racing?
The superfecta key bet is one of the most popular variations of the superfecta bet. It allows you to place a wager on one horse to win the race and add three more horses to finish in the top four positions.
With this said, the main difference between the superfecta key bet and ordinary superfecta is that with the key bet, you only need to predict the correct position of one of the horses. The other three horses just need to finish in the top four spots no matter the order.
For example, if you select horses 3, 5, 7, and 9 for your superfecta key bet, with horse 3 being the key, your bet will win in the case of the following outcomes:
- 1st place horse 3, 2nd place horse 5, 3rd place horse 7, 4th place horse 9
- 1st place horse 3, 2nd place horse 7, 3rd place horse 9, 4th place horse 5
- 1st place horse 3, 2nd place horse 9, 3rd place horse 5, 4th place horse 7
What Is a Superfecta Full Wheel Bet In Horse Racing?
Another popular variation is the superfecta full wheel bet. It allows you to wager on one horse that you think will win the race and also cover all the other superfecta combinations that involve the horse you believe will win the race.
The difference between this bet and superfecta is that you are only choosing the winner of the bet and then covering all other horses to fill the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place.
The main thing to note with the superfecta full wheel bet is that the cost of the bet will depend on the number of runners. If the race has a lot of runners, this bet can become quite expensive to place.
What Is a Superfecta Part Wheel Bet?
The third popular variation is the superfecta part wheel bet, which bet allows you to select one horse that you think will win the race as well as several horses that you think will finish in the top four spots in any order.
The main difference between the superfecta part wheel bet and the superfecta wheel bet is that with the former, you don’t cover all other horses participating in the race. Instead, you are only covering a few selected horses.
For example, if you think that horse 7 will win the race and that horses 1, 2, 3, and 4 will also finish in the top four spots, you can use the superfecta part wheel bet to bet on horse 7 to finish in the 1st place as well as cover the combinations that include the four horses you selected to finish in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place.
In this situation, based on the number of horses you selected, you would be covering 24 possible combinations.
What Is a Superfecta Box Bet in Horse Racing?
Lastly, the easiest variation of the superfecta bet to predict is the superfecta box bet. This bet allows you to wager on four horses that will finish in the top four spots without having to predict the correct order of the horses.
The difference between the superfecta box bet and regular superfecta is that you only need to correctly predict which four horses will finish in the top four spots.
For example, if you place a superfecta box bet with horses 2, 4, 6, and 8, there are 24 possible combinations in which these four horses can finish in the top four spots, and if any of them happens, your bet will be a winning one.
What Is the Minimum Stake for the Superfecta Bet in Horse Racing?
Superfecta bets can have some pretty high payouts, and for this reason, a lot of bookmakers will accept this type of bet for as little as $0.10.
However, there are also those betting operators that still have a $1 minimum stake for the superfecta bet.
In this regard, online betting sites do not differ a lot from the bookmakers you can find at the tracks.
What Is the Minimum Win for The Superfecta Bet in Horse Racing?
The winnings for the superfecta bet are based on the odds for your picks and your stake, and this isn’t something that we can conclusively say.
Apart from these two factors, the winnings will also depend on the type of betting system you use. If you use a traditional online betting site, your max winnings may be limited by the site’s terms and conditions.
On the other hand, if you are using a pari-mutuel system, your winnings will depend on the betting pool as well as on the number of winning tickets, since the money collected is distributed to players with winning tickets.
How to Place a Superfecta Bet in Horse Racing
Depending on which betting platform you are using, placing a superfecta should be pretty straightforward. To help you learn how to place this bet type, here is a step-by-step guide:
- Visit your online betting platform and log into your betting account
- In the menu select “Horse Racing”
- Open the race that you want to bet on
- In the bet slip select the option “Superfecta”
- Select four horses
- Select the “Place bet” option
When placing any kind of bet online, make sure that you double-check your selections, betting odds, and your stake to avoid any mistakes that can cost you money.
Final Thoughts on the Superfecta Bet in Horse Racing
The superfecta bet can offer some pretty huge payouts, and because of this, it is one of the favorite bets for amateur bettors. However, at the same time, this is one of the hardest bets to predict.
Because of this, we advise punters who don’t have big enough bankrolls to survive the variance of the superfecta bet to avoid placing these bets at the beginning of their betting career.
On the other hand, if you have a big bankroll, there is probably no better way to hit a big score than with this bet type.
Whatever you choose to do, remember never to gamble with the money you can’t afford to lose. Good luck!
