Game Components
- The game board
- Player markers or chips
- The Final Odds Calculator Table
- One live simulcast thoroughbred or harness horse race, or one race replay
Board Game Instructions
Derby Cast™ Horse Racing Game
Board Game Instructions
A quick, easy guide to setting up the board, choosing horses, scoring movement, and winning the game.
1
What You Need
Board Areas
- Starting Gate: Where each player begins.
- Odds Advancement Table: The numbered path used for movement.
- Official Finish: Reach it to win.
- Official Winner: The winning marker is placed in the Official Winner area.
Setup
- Choose one live simulcast thoroughbred or harness horse race, or one race replay, before play begins.
- Each player chooses a numbered marker and places it on the matching numbered Starting Gate position. Two to 20 players can participate.
- Two or more players can form teams, but each team must select the same horse, use the same marker, and follow the same game rules.
- Each player or team may select the same horse in any race throughout the game.
If a Game Has More Than 12 Players
Use additional markers for players 13-20. Place each marker in a trailing position behind the marker in the previous row, and move it along the same path during play. Players may select the same horse, but each player must use a different numbered marker.
2
How Gameplay Works
Play in Order
- Designate one player as the Official Score Keeper.
- Choose one live simulcast thoroughbred or harness horse race, or one race replay.
- Each player chooses one horse to Win, Place, or Show.
- Put each player's marker at the matching numbered Starting Gate position.
- Watch the race or replay until the result is official.
- Check the chosen horse's official finish and final odds.
- Use the Final Odds Calculator Table to find the correct movement.
- Advance each player's marker on the Odds Advancement Table.
Marker Numbers and Continuing Play
Each player is assigned a marker number from 1 to 20, based on the number of players. For example, in a 12-player game, markers 1 through 12 determine each player's board position. Players keep the same marker numbers and Starting Gate positions throughout the game, even if a later race has fewer horses. Continue selecting horses and advancing on the Odds Advancement Table until a winner is declared.
After One Race
- If no marker reaches the Official Finish, choose another race.
- Repeat the same scoring process after each new race.
Keep Playing
- Continue until one marker reaches the Official Finish.
- A marker reaches the Official Finish only after that player's points are greater than 20.
Example: In a 12-horse race with 10 players, two horses remain unselected if all players choose different horses; three remain unselected if two choose the same horse.
3
Scoring and Predicted Finishes
Core Scoring Rules
- 1/9 through 9/5: Advance 1 space for Win only.
- 2 or 5/2: Win 2, Place 1, Show 0.
- 3 or 7/2: Win 3, Place 1, Show 0.
- 4 or 9/2: Win 4, Place 2, Show 1.
- 5 through 20: Win equals the odds value; Place equals half of Win, rounded down; Show equals half of Place, rounded down.
Win, Place, or Show
- Win: The player predicts 1st place. If the horse wins, advance according to the winning horse's odds value.
- Place: The player predicts 2nd place. If the horse finishes 1st or 2nd, advance according to the 2nd Place value.
- Show: The player predicts 3rd place. If the horse finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, advance according to the 3rd Place value.
- No advancement is awarded if the horse finishes below the predicted level.
Odds Above 20 to 1
If the final odds are higher than those shown on the Final Odds Calculator Table, calculate scores manually:
- Win = full odds value
- Place = half of Win, rounded down
- Show = half of Place, rounded down
Example: If a horse wins at odds of 25 to 1, the accumulated point values are 25 for 1st place, 12 for 2nd place, and 6 for 3rd place.
4
Special Rules and Winning
Special Rules
- If your horse is scratched before the official start, choose another horse or sit out that race.
- Players may agree to play a set number of races and may choose races from various racetracks. If no player reaches the Official Finish after the set number of races, the player with the most accumulated points wins.
How to Win
- The first marker to reach the Official Finish wins.
- A marker reaches the Official Finish only when that player's points are greater than 20.
- Move the winning marker into the Official Winner area.
- If two or more markers reach the Official Finish in the same race, compare accumulated advancement. The player with more accumulated points wins.
Tie Rules
If two or more players reach the Official Finish in the same race, compare their accumulated advancement. The player with the greater accumulated advancement wins.
If players remain tied, choose one option before the game begins:
- Standard Tie Rule: Play one or more additional races until one player wins.
- Dead Heat Option: Players who remain tied after reaching the Official Finish may be declared co-winners.
5
Final Odds Calculator Table
Use the official final odds and finish position to determine how many spaces to move on the board.
| Final Odds | First Place Point Value |
Second Place Point Value |
Third Place Point Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/9, 1/5, 2/5, 1/2, 3/5, 4/5, 1, 6/5, 7/5, 3/2, 8/5, 9/5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 and 5/2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 and 7/2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 and 9/2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| 11 | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| 12 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| 13 | 13 | 6 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | 7 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| 17 | 17 | 8 | 4 |
| 18 | 18 | 9 | 4 |
| 19 | 19 | 9 | 4 |
| 20 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
Odds above 20 to 1: Win = full odds; Place = half of Win, rounded down; Show = half of Place, rounded down.