Singapore Pools Betting: What is Superfecta Betting in Horse Racing?

As stated earlier, there are different options bettors can use in placing their superfecta bet, such as:

Straight Superfecta

This superfecta bet is the simplest superfecta option. It requires bettors to correctly guess the four horses to cross the finish line first, second, third, and fourth in order. For instance, the bettor wins his 6-7-3-4 straight superfecta bet only if the following takes place:

• Horse #6 finishes in first place 
• Horse #7 finishes in second place 
• Horse #3 finishes in third place
• Horse #4 finishes in fourth place

Boxed Superfecta

In boxing superfecta, bettors do not need to guess the correct finishing order of the top four horses. Bettors win as long as their chosen horses cross the finish line. For instance, the bettor wins his 4-5-6-7 boxed superfecta irrespective of the selected horses’ exact final sequence.

Boxing superfecta is also not limited to four horses, so bettors can add more horses they prefer to use. They must only pay the additional cost as there are more combinations to cover. Using the same example above, betting on a full-price four-horse superfecta box costs $48 as chosen horses can finish in the following 24 combinations:

• 4-5-6-7
• 4-5-7-6
• 4-6-5-7
• 4-6-7-5
• 4-7-5-6
• 4-7-6-5
• 5-4-6-7
• 5-4-7-6
• 5-6-4-7
• 5-6-7-4
• 5-7-4-6
• 5-7-6-4
• 6-4-5-7
• 6-4-7-5
• 6-5-4-7
• 6-5-7-4
• 6-7-4-5
• 6-7-5-4
• 7-4-5-6
• 7-4-6-5
• 7-5-4-6
• 7-5-6-4
• 7-6-4-5
• 7-6-5-4

Superfecta Key

In keying superfecta, bettors choose their “key” horse they predict will cross the finish line first. They must also pick three or more “non-key” horses to take second, third, and fourth in any order. Bettors win their superfecta key bet if their keyed horse takes first place and the non-key horses complete the top four. For instance, the bettor wins his keyed horse #8 with horses #3, #5, #4, and #2 as non-keys if these outcomes occur:

• 8-2-3-4
• 8-2-4-3
• 8-2-3-5
• 8-2-5-3
• 8-2-4-5
• 8-2-5-4
• 8-3-2-4
• 8-3-4-2
• 8-3-4-5
• 8-3-5-4
• 8-3-2-5
• 8-3-5-2
• 8-4-2-3
• 8-4-3-2
• 8-4-2-5
• 8-4-5-2
• 8-4-3-5
• 8-4-5-3
• 8-5-2-3
• 8-5-3-2
• 8-5-4-2
• 8-5-2-4
• 8-5-3-4
• 8-5-4-3

Instead of boxing, bettors can save more money while getting the same favourable odds of winning with keying. In the example above, a five-horse boxed superfecta costs $120 because it covers 120 potential combinations. With keying, the bettors must only pay $25 with a $1 superfecta key on horse #8 and pay $24 to cover horses #3, #5, #4, and #2. The keying option covers fewer combinations, so its price is significantly lower than boxed superfecta. Yet, it still favours the bettor, who picks the horses personally.

Superfecta Key

In keying superfecta, bettors choose their “key” horse they predict will cross the finish line first. They must also pick three or more “non-key” horses to take second, third, and fourth in any order. Bettors win their superfecta key bet if their keyed horse takes first place and the non-key horses complete the top four. For instance, the bettor wins his keyed horse #8 with horses #3, #5, #4, and #2 as non-keys if these outcomes occur:

• 8-2-3-4
• 8-2-4-3
• 8-2-3-5
• 8-2-5-3
• 8-2-4-5
• 8-2-5-4
• 8-3-2-4
• 8-3-4-2
• 8-3-4-5
• 8-3-5-4
• 8-3-2-5
• 8-3-5-2
• 8-4-2-3
• 8-4-3-2
• 8-4-2-5
• 8-4-5-2
• 8-4-3-5
• 8-4-5-3
• 8-5-2-3
• 8-5-3-2
• 8-5-4-2
• 8-5-2-4
• 8-5-3-4
• 8-5-4-3

Instead of boxing, bettors can save more money while getting the same favourable odds of winning with keying. In the example above, a five-horse boxed superfecta costs $120 because it covers 120 potential combinations. With keying, the bettors must only pay $25 with a $1 superfecta key on horse #8 and pay $24 to cover horses #3, #5, #4, and #2. The keying option covers fewer combinations, so its price is significantly lower than boxed superfecta. Yet, it still favours the bettor, who picks the horses personally.