Superfecta
A superfecta is a type of parimutuel wager in horse racing where the bettor must select the first four finishers of a race in their exact order of finish to win the bet.[1] This exotic bet, which builds on simpler wagers like the exacta (top two) and trifecta (top three), was first introduced in 1971 at harness racing tracks in New York State as a way to boost wagering interest with higher-stakes multiple-horse predictions.[2] It gained wider popularity in thoroughbred racing, with major events like the Kentucky Derby adding superfecta betting to their menus in 1996.[3] Superfecta bets come in several formats to accommodate different risk levels and budgets, including the straight superfecta, which requires picking all four horses precisely; the superfecta box, which covers all possible orders of a selected group of horses; and wheel or key variations that fix certain positions while allowing permutations in others.[4] The minimum wager is typically $1 or $2, though some tracks offer 10-cent units to make it more accessible for covering combinations.[5] Payouts are determined by the betting pool after the track's takeout, and due to the bet's complexity—with odds often exceeding 1 in 100,000 for large fields—successful superfectas frequently yield massive returns, such as the $321,500 payout for a $1 bet in the 2022 Kentucky Derby.[6] While superfectas are most common in the United States and Canada, they are also available at select international tracks, appealing to handicappers who analyze form, pace, and track conditions to identify potential top-four contenders.[7]Definition and Basics
What is a Superfecta?
A superfecta is a type of exotic wager in horse racing that requires the bettor to select the first four horses to finish a race in the exact order of their finishing positions—first, second, third, and fourth.[7][8]Superfectas operate within the parimutuel betting system, where all wagers on this bet type are pooled together at a racetrack; after deducting the track's takeout (typically 20-30% for operating costs and taxes), the remaining pool is distributed proportionally among the winning bettors based on their wager amounts.[8][4][9][10]
The minimum wager amount for a straight superfecta is commonly $1, although many racetracks now allow $0.10 bets to encourage broader participation and smaller-stake exotic wagering.[7][1]
Given the need to predict the precise sequence among a field's entrants, superfectas are among the most challenging bets, with low odds of success; in a typical 10-horse field, for instance, there are 5,040 possible combinations for the top four positions.[11]
This inherent difficulty contributes to the bet's high payout potential, as winning superfectas frequently return $1,000 or more on a $2 wager due to the limited number of successful tickets sharing the pool.[1]
In contrast to the simpler trifecta bet, which only requires selecting the top three finishers in order, the superfecta demands accuracy through the fourth place, amplifying both risk and reward.[7]