Horse racing and friendly wagering go hand in hand. So, it’s no surprise that over the decades, game designers have tried to bottle that raceday atmosphere and bring it to the living room table.

Some of those attempts became British classics. Others are long out of print. And a few excellent options are sitting on shelves right now, just waiting for the right occasion.

Here’s a look at the best horse racing board games, old and new, if you’re looking to get together with your friends and family for a game’s night.

Escalado (No Longer Produced)

If you grew up in the UK at any point in the 20th century, there’s a good chance the horse racing game Escalado was somewhere in the family home.

Invented and patented in 1928 by Swiss inventor Arthur Gueydan, Escalado was first produced by the British toy company Chad Valley.

The premise is wonderfully simple. A long green fabric track is laid out on the table, with miniature metal racehorses lined up at one end.

One player turns a hand crank, which vibrates the entire track, causing the horses to advance in an entirely unpredictable fashion. Players bet on which horse they think will reach the finish line first.

Early versions came with five coloured horses made of lead, while later editions expanded to eight horses made of non-poisonous metals and, much more recently, plastic.

The game passed through several hands over the years, most notably Waddingtons, who produced editions in the 1980s, 1990s and as recently as 2004 under the Chad Valley brand, but it has not been in production for some time now.

That said, Escalado is far from gone. Second-hand copies in good condition are regularly available on eBay, typically priced between £15 and £35.

The Really Nasty Horse Racing Game (Available Now)

Originally designed by Simon Knock in 1987, the Really Nasty Horse Racing Game has been reprinted numerous times and remains very much available today, most recently under the Rascals brand.

The concept moves firmly away from pure chance and into proper gaming territory.

Each player manages a stable of horses across six races from the Lady’s Purse all the way up to the King’s Crown, and the winner isn’t necessarily the one whose horses finish first.

The goal is to make the most money through a combination of race performance, strategic betting on other players’ horses, and the liberal use of Nasty Cards.

These cards allow you to cause opponents’ horses to fall, force drug tests on race winners, or, with the right card, completely rearrange the finishing order via a stewards’ inquiry.

You can bet on yourself or others, with all betting kept secret, meaning no one knows whether their rivals are genuinely trying to win a race or throwing it to cash in on a wager.

It plays two to six players, recommended for ages 12 and up, and a full game takes around 90 minutes. New copies are currently available on Amazon for around £22.

Talking Tables Horse Racing Board Game (Available Now)

For something a bit more accessible and party-focused, British brand Talking Tables launched their Horse Racing Board Game in recent years, and it’s become a popular choice for groups looking for a games night centrepiece that doesn’t require too steep a learning curve.

Players pick a jockey playing piece, roll the dice and move clockwise around the board, competing across races and collecting cash.

To determine the winner, you simply total up the money won from races, bets, and fame cards. The highest total wins. There are huge amounts of prize money in horse racing, so following the money route puts this game alongside the sport nicely.

If you’re hosting a Cheltenham-themed gathering or simply want something fresh for a group games night, this is the most readily available option on the market right now.

Stocked at Amazon UK and directly through the Talking Tables website, with prices around £15–£20.

Ready Set Bet (Available Now)

If you’re willing to dig slightly deeper into the hobby board game world, Ready Set Bet is widely regarded as the best-designed horse racing game currently on the market.

Released in 2022 by Alderac Entertainment Group, it’s designed for two to nine players and takes around 45 to 60 minutes to complete over four rounds.

What makes it special is that it genuinely replicates the experience of a day at the races.

One player (or a companion app) acts as the race caller, rolling dice to advance horses along a straight track. At the same time, everyone else simultaneously places bets on the field in real time, picking their spots based on how the race is unfolding rather than guessing blind at the start.

You won’t need to know every betting strategy for horse racing, but regular punters are likely to have a small advantage here.

The odds shift dynamically, meaning an early bet on a horse that’s flying offers better returns than jumping on at the last minute. It’s clever, fast-moving, and works brilliantly with larger groups.

It’s available on Amazon UK, typically priced between £35 and £45. A little pricier than the others, but for keen racing fans who want a game that actually reflects the sport with some depth, it’s hard to beat.