Average superfecta payout

**Art Vandeleigh** · 10-17-09, 04:15 AM

Hmmm...let's see.

There are 9x8x7x6= 3024 unique superfecta combinations for 9 runners

So the average payout, in theory, should be (3024 combinations) x (10 cents/combo) * 75% ( % payout returned after track take) = $226

Sound right to you?

**Nick81aku** · 10-18-09, 09:45 PM

Makes sense to me. Is that 75% return payout typical? In otherwords, is 75% the average or is that the standard. Im obviously new to this!

**Art Vandeleigh** · 10-19-09, 06:41 AM

I think it's a reasonable average among North American tracks, win place show wagering is usually less, around 16-18% takeout.

If you're really new you should also consider breakage.

For example if you're making a show wager you may see a payoff of $2.80 for a $2 bet. This would equate to odds of 1.40-1.

However, the actual show calculation made in the betting pools may have been anywhere from 1.40-1 to 1.49-1. The amount paid off is then REDUCED to the lowest 1/10 (and of course the track keeps this extra amount). So in the case where the true mutuel pool odds were 1.47-1, and you should be getting a show payoff of $2.94 for a $2 bet, instead you get $2.80.

Percentage-wise this is a huge loss, in addition to the 16-18% takeout. You are fighting track takeout AND breakage when you bet show (and win & place as well) and a big reason why it is so difficult to profit with these types of bets.

**floridagolfer** · 10-19-09, 07:14 AM

The easiest way to answer the original question is to go to drf.com, find a track and look at the superfecta payouts over the course of a month or so. This can be done in less than an hour.