What is a First Four?.

A first four is a racing exotic where you pick the first four horses in a race in the correct finishing order. It is one of the harder bets to land, but that difficulty is exactly why it can pay so well, especially in a big, open field where the result is tough to read.

How a first four works

To win a straight first four you must select the horses that finish first, second, third and fourth, in that exact order. Get the right four horses but in the wrong order and the bet loses. Like other exotics, a first four is a tote bet, so winning tickets share the pool and the dividend is declared after the race.

Boxing a first four

Because picking four horses in exact order is so hard, most punters box a first four. A boxed first four wins if your selected horses fill the first four placings in any order. The cost rises quickly with each extra runner, so this is where flexi betting matters most.

Combinations in a boxed first four:

4 horses = 24 combinations

5 horses = 120 combinations

6 horses = 360 combinations

Flexi betting keeps it affordable

A six-horse box of 360 combinations would cost $360 at a full $1 unit, which is out of reach for most. Flexi betting solves this by letting you choose your total spend and take a percentage of the full bet. Spend $36 on that 360-combination box and you are betting at 10 percent, so a declared first four dividend of $5,000 would pay you $500.

How to bet a first four on Bet Right

1. Open the race and choose the first four option.
2. Select your horses for each of the first four placings, or choose box to cover every order.
3. Set your stake, or use flexi to take a percentage of the full bet.
4. Check the number of combinations and the total cost on the bet slip.
5. Confirm. The bet settles to the declared tote dividend if your horses fill the first four.

First four strategy

A common approach is to anchor a horse you are confident in for first, then spread several runners across the remaining placings. This costs far less than boxing every runner equally and still gives you good cover if your anchor wins. Big fields, such as the Melbourne Cup, are where first fours are most popular.

First four FAQs

How many horses do I need to pick?

At least four. You are predicting the first four placings, so you cannot take fewer than four runners.

What does boxing a first four mean?

Your bet wins if your chosen horses fill the first four placings in any order, not one exact order.

Is a first four harder than a trifecta?

Yes. A trifecta needs three horses in order; a first four needs four, which is why it usually pays more.