Horse Race

About the Game

Horse Race is a card game where the four suits compete to reach the finish line. Players choose a suit they think will win, then watch as cards determine which suit advances.

The game is easy to set up and works well for groups, especially when everyone makes a prediction before the race.

Setup

1. Remove the four Aces from a standard deck. These are the four racing horses.
2. Place the Aces side by side at the starting line.
3. Lay out a row of face-down cards perpendicular to the horses' path. These form the track's checkpoints.
4. Shuffle the remaining deck and place it face down.
5. Have each player choose a suit to support before the race begins.

How to Play

1. Flip the top card from the deck.
2. Advance the horse matching the revealed card's suit one space.
3. Continue revealing cards and moving the corresponding horses.
4. Whenever a horse reaches a checkpoint, reveal the next track card. Move the horse matching that card's suit backward one space, if your group uses this variation.
5. The first horse to cross the finish line wins the race.
6. Players who chose the winning suit win the prediction round.

Bets & Predictions

Before the race, each player picks one of the four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades.

Your group can use points, bragging rights, or another harmless wager to keep track of who picked correctly. Decide on any rewards or penalties before the race starts.

Rules & Variations

• Every player must choose a suit before the first card is revealed.
• Once the race begins, players cannot change their selections.
• Decide whether checkpoint cards move horses backward before starting.
• Use a consistent finish line for all four suits.
• Players can compete without alcohol; drinking should never be required to participate.

Quick Summary

Goal: Predict which suit will win the race.

Movement: Each revealed card advances the horse matching its suit.

Winning: The first horse across the finish line wins.