"KEY" HORSES AND KEYING HORSES

Let's first discuss what is meant by a "KEY" horse.  This is a term you hear quite often but what does it really mean.  Many people believe that a "KEY" horse is simply the horse in a given race that has the lowest odds.  This is just not the case.   A "KEY" horse is actually a subjective term that is associated with the handicapping process.  Simply put, this is the horse in a given race that YOU believe will finish 1st - not necessarily the horse with the lowest odds.

In addition to the above, a "KEY" horse can also be a horse that YOUR handicapping tells you will finish somewhere "on the board" (either 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th) but you are not sure just where.  This will usually be a horse going off at high odds (10/1 or more).  This is a type of "KEY" horse most people will not be familiar with.
 

"Keying" horses has to do with where you put your "KEY" horse in your 10-cent superfecta betting combination.  A "KEY" horse can be "keyed" (inserted alone) in any of the top four finishing positions.  The following examples will illustrate:
 

Example #1: The "KEY" horse A has been "keyed" (inserted alone) in the 1st position in Ticket #1 below.  This is the most common way a "KEY" horse is used.

Example #2: In this example the "KEY" horse A has been "keyed" (inserted alone) into each of the four positions which required the creation of four separate tickets.
 

Just remember that a "KEY" horse is a handicapping term and "keying" is a betting/ticket structure term.  Both are useful in playing the 10-cent superfecta.  

If you want to learn more about playing the 10-cent superfecta, be sure and get my booklet,
The 10-Cent Superfecta Betting Guide.

Paul Lambrakis

December 31, 2006