Key points
- A Super High Five bet requires you to pick the first five finishers in exact order.
- Tracks may call this wager a Super Hi-5, Hi-5, Pentafecta, or Jackpot Hi-5.
- The wager is difficult because one incorrect position makes the ticket lose.
- A box covers every finishing order among your selected horses, but ticket cost rises fast.
- Each track sets its own minimum wager, pool rules, carryover terms, and payout conditions.
- Handicappers should review pace, form, track conditions, and jockey and trainer stats before building a ticket.
A Super High Five bet is an exotic horse racing wager where you select the first five horses to finish in a race in the exact order. If the official finish is 4-7-2-9-1, your ticket must show 4 first, 7 second, 2 third, 9 fourth, and 1 fifth.
Tracks may call this wager a Super Hi-5, Hi-5, Pentafecta, or Super High 5. The name changes, but the basic challenge stays the same: correctly predict five finishers in order.
Because the Super High Five has a high degree of difficulty, it often produces large pari-mutuel pools and payouts. It also demands careful ticket construction and a clear understanding of the rules at the track where you are betting.
How does a Super High Five bet work?
A Super High Five focuses on one race. You choose five horses and assign each one to a finishing position:
- First place
- Second place
- Third place
- Fourth place
- Fifth place
The track grades your ticket against the official order of finish. You win only when your selections match all five positions under that track’s rules.
For example, imagine an eight-horse race ends with this order:
- Horse 6
- Horse 3
- Horse 1
- Horse 8
- Horse 5
A straight Super High Five ticket would read:
6 / 3 / 1 / 8 / 5
That ticket wins if the result stays official. A ticket with Horse 3 and Horse 1 reversed loses, even though it includes the same five horses.
This exact-order requirement separates the Super High Five from simpler wagers. A place bet in horse racing, for example, only needs your horse to finish first or second.
Why is the Super High Five bet difficult?
You must get five separate outcomes right in one race. Every position creates another chance for a ticket to miss.
A horse can run well and still ruin a ticket by finishing fourth instead of third. A late-running longshot can grab fifth place and change the entire result. Scratches, pace pressure, a changing track, and traffic trouble can also affect the order.
Field size matters too. A five-horse field offers only one possible order for all five runners. A 10-horse field creates thousands of possible five-horse finishing sequences.
That difficulty often attracts bettors who want a chance at a large return from a small base wager. It also means bettors should treat the Super High Five as a high-variance exotic bet, not a simple way to create consistent returns.
What is a Super High Five box?
A Super High Five box covers every possible finishing order among the horses you select.
For example, a five-horse box uses exactly five horses. Because those five horses can finish in any order, the ticket covers all 120 possible arrangements.
A six-horse box covers 720 possible outcomes. A seven-horse box covers 2,520 possible outcomes.
Here is the formula:
Number of combinations = selected horses × one fewer horse × one fewer horse again, until five positions are filled
For a six-horse box:
6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 = 720 combinations
If the minimum wager is 10 cents, that six-horse box costs $72. If the minimum is 20 cents, it costs $144.
Always check the minimum denomination before placing the ticket. A ticket calculator can help, but you can also count combinations yourself before you submit the wager. A box gives you more coverage, but it can become expensive very quickly.
Traditional Super High Five vs. Jackpot Hi-5
Tracks can offer different versions of this wager.
A traditional Super High Five usually pays the entire pool to bettors who hold the winning ticket for that race. If no ticket correctly selects all five finishers, the track may carry the pool forward under its published rules.
A jackpot-style wager, often called a Jackpot Hi-5, can work differently. Some tracks require one bettor to hold the only winning ticket to collect the jackpot. If multiple winning tickets exist, the track may pay a portion of the pool and carry the jackpot portion into a future race.
The rules can change by track and wager type. Before betting, confirm:
- Whether the wager is a standard or jackpot-style Super High Five
- The minimum bet amount
- How the track handles a carryover
- Whether a mandatory payout date applies
- How the track handles scratches, dead heats, and consolations
Do not assume one track’s rules apply everywhere. Read the wager rules shown by the track or wagering platform for that race.
What is a Super High Five carryover?
A Super High Five carryover happens when the pool rolls into a later race or race day instead of paying out in full.
A carryover can occur when no bettor has the correct five-horse sequence. It may also happen in jackpot-style formats when no one holds the sole winning ticket required to claim the jackpot.
Carryovers draw attention because they increase the amount available in the next pool. They do not make the wager easier. The same exact-order challenge remains, and larger pools can attract more tickets.
A mandatory payout changes the setup. On a mandatory payout day, the track may distribute the full carryover pool to all winning tickets rather than requiring a single winning ticket. The track announces those conditions, so check the current race-day rules before you bet.
How to build a Super High Five ticket
Start with your view of the race, then decide how much coverage your bankroll allows.
First, identify the horse you believe has the strongest chance to win. Handicappers often use that horse as a key in the first position.
Next, consider which horses fit the remaining spots. A front-runner may win, while a closer with a favorable pace setup may be more likely to finish second through fifth. A horse with a poor win chance can still be a useful fifth-place inclusion.
Review race-specific factors such as:
- Recent past performances
- Expected pace and running style
- Track surface and conditions
- Class and distance
- Jockey and trainer statistics
- Post position
- Current odds and potential value
Odds matter because a Super High Five ticket should reflect both likelihood and price. A horse can be a strong contender but still offer limited value when the public overbets it. Understanding a value bet in horse racing can help you separate a likely contender from an underpriced one.
Many bettors use a part-wheel rather than a full box. A part-wheel lets you place certain horses in certain positions. For instance, you might key one horse to win and use four or five others underneath.
A simple structure could look like this:
6 / 1,3,5 / 1,3,5,7 / 1,3,5,7,8 / 1,3,5,7,8
This ticket says Horse 6 must win. The remaining horses can fill the other positions in the combinations allowed by the ticket.
Related horse racing betting terms
A Super High Five belongs to the family of exotic wagers. These bets require bettors to predict multiple outcomes or finish positions.
- Exacta: Pick the first two finishers in exact order.
- Trifecta: Pick the first three finishers in exact order.
- Superfecta: Pick the first four finishers in exact order.
- Pick 5: Pick the winners of five consecutive races. A Pick 5 wager tests a different skill because you handicap several races instead of one deep field.
- Pick 6: Pick the winners of six consecutive races. A Pick 6 bet can also include carryover and jackpot rules that vary by track.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Super High Five bet on a horse?
A Super High Five bet asks you to select the first five horses to finish in a race in exact order. You are betting on the race result, not on one horse alone.
Is a Super High Five the same as a Pentafecta?
Usually, yes. Pentafecta and Super Hi-5 are alternate names for a wager that requires the first five finishers in exact order. Check the race program because tracks can use different names and rules.
How much does a Super High Five bet cost?
The cost depends on the track’s minimum bet amount and the number of ticket combinations you play. A straight ticket can cost very little, while a box or large part-wheel can cost much more.
What happens if nobody wins the Super High Five?
The track may carry the pool into a future race or racing day. The outcome depends on that track’s published wager rules and whether it offers a standard or jackpot-style format.
Can you box a Super High Five?
Yes. A Super High Five box covers every possible finishing order among your chosen horses. It also creates many combinations, so calculate the total cost before placing the bet.
How do you improve a Super High Five ticket?
Start with race-specific handicapping. Use past performances, pace, track conditions, class, and jockey and trainer data to decide which horses fit each finishing position. Then limit your ticket to combinations that match your view of the race and your bankroll.