One of the best things about being a fan of horse racing is that events happen pretty much all year round. No matter what time it is where you are, there’s a good chance that horse races are happening somewhere. On those rare occasions when nothing is going on, a lot of horse racing enthusiasts like to enjoy other pastimes that involve their favourite hobby. In a lot of cases, this means playing games.
As luck would have it, horse lovers have access to a huge selection of games that are related to horses and horse racing. They can play horse racing-themed board games, video games, and online casino games. Some of these games even incorporate horse racing betting to add an exciting element to the game.
Let’s go over a few games that horse racing buffs of all stripes can enjoy.
Rival Stars Horse Racing
If you want full control over your horse racing adventure, then you should try Rival Stars Horse Racing. Raise, train, breed, and race your horses by downloading the Rival Stars Horse Racing app at Google Play or the App Store. You can play a variety of roles in this game and you can even compete against other players. This game offers the full horse racing experience.
Phar Lap Racing Challenge
Phar Lap Racing Challenge was recently released and it has become quite popular partly because it is very realistic. Like the aforementioned Rival Stars Horse Racing, Phar Lap Racing Challenge gives you full control over your stable and the ability to race against friends. However, this game adds another layer of excitement by allowing players to bet on their horses.
Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven
If you like betting on horse races, then there is a good chance that you would enjoy playing horse racing-themed slots. In particular, you would enjoy Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven slot which was created by Playtech. This slot game features two different jackpots, 25 paylines, and an RTP of 95.99%. If you aren’t into playing for real money, you can play Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven for free in demo mode for play money. It’s a lot of fun no matter which way you go.
Starters Orders 7
The latest release from the Starters Orders franchise gives players the opportunity to play an entire career as a jockey. While some aspects of the game like breeding and pedigrees are a little more complicated than they are in other similar games, it is still quite easy once you get the hang of it. This exciting game is available for Mac, PC, Android, and iOS.
Long Shot
Long Shot is a board game that features a heavy betting element. Each player rolls two dice which determines which horse advances and by how many spaces. It’s really quite simple. There are also cards that you can draw that tap into each horse’s special abilities. Even though the game involves betting, there isn’t a lot of strategy involved which makes this game ideal for families.
Win, Place & Show
This is one of the very first horse racing board games ever created. Win, Place & Show was released by 3M way back in 1966. Players start by betting on a horse and each horse has a unique ability. While the game is a lot like a typical dice game, there are a few strategies that players can employ such as lane changes and blocks.
Red Dead Redemption II
OK. Red Dead Redemption II isn’t exactly a horse racing game. In fact, it is an open-world game much like the Grand Theft Auto franchise. However, it is set between 1899 and 1911 and players ride horses instead of driving in cars. You can choose from a wide range of horses and each one has certain traits. The more you pamper your horse and the more time you spend on your horse, the faster you bond with it which gives you a few more horse moves like rearing and skidding.
Aside from being an incredibly immersive game, the reason RDR2 makes the list is that there are times when NPCs will challenge you to horse races. If you win those races, the horse’s speed attribute increases. It’s also on the list because few if any horse video games offer as much detail and realism.
Virtual Horse Racing
Top online casinos offer a variety of virtual horse racing games. Virtual Horses, Premier Racing, and Virtual Racebook 3D are just a few of the more popular real-money horse racing games. It’s just like the real thing except it’s animated and races run 24/7/365. You can choose from the full spectrum of horse racing bets including exactas, trifectas, and quinellas.
If you want to try virtual horse racing, but don’t want to risk money, then you can try these games for free in demo mode. You can always start placing real bets once you’re comfortable doing so.