GB2192553A - Racing game - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game has a board (1) with spaces (2-8) defining a race track. Each player has a playing piece which can be advanced round the race track to simulate a race. The game includes a first pack of cards, at least some of the cards carrying numbers of points, a first random number generator to determine how far a playing piece can be moved, and a second random number generator to determine which of a predetermined number of options is to be effective. The game includes means defining those options in the form of a look-up table. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a game THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a game and more particularly relates to a board game in which the players simulate a race such as a horse race.

According to this invention there is provided a board game, said board game comprising a board comprising a plurality of spaces defining a race track, a plurality of playing pieces advanceable round the race track to simulate a race, a first pack of cards, at least some of said cards carrying numbers of points, a first random number generator to determine how far a playing piece can be moved, and a second random generator distinguishable from the first random number generator, to determine which of a predetermined number of options is to be effective, the game including means identifying those options.

The random number generator may comprise two dice of differing size or differing colour, or may comprise an electronic random number generator to generate two numbers.

There is preferably a look-up table to convert the number generated into one of said options.

Conveniently the game further comprises two further packs of cards, one pack of cards carrying indications of the results of an enquiry conducted at the termination of the race, and the other pack of cards carrying indications of the results of an appeal conducted subsequent to such an enquiry.

Advantageously the board game is adapted to simulate a horse race, the cards in said first pack of cards comprising a first series of cards relating to jockeys, each card carrying a different -number of points, a second series of cards relating to trainers, each card carrying a different number of points, the third series of cards relating to horses, each card carrying a different number of points and a fourth series of cards relating to horse owners, each and carrying a different number of points.

Preferably the first pack of cards additionally comprises cards identified as enquiry and appeal cards.

Conveniently a plurality of spaces on the race track are identified with an indication that when a playing piece lands on that space players may place bets.

Preferably one of these spaces in the race track is identified so that when players have passed the identified playing space they may play their cards at each turn.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of the board for use on which the game may be played; Figure 2 is a view of cards selected from a first pack of playing cards forming part of the game; Figure 3 is an illustration of a card selected from a pack of steward enquiry cards forming part of the game; Figure 4 is a view of a card selected from a pack of appeal cards forming part of the game; and Figure 5 is an illustration of two dice and a typical playing piece a rule book and money forming part of the game.

Referring to the accompanying drawings one embodiment of a game in accordance with the invention will now be described. The game, when played, is intended to simulate a horse race, and whilst the invention will be described with reference to this embodiment, it is to be appreciated that other embodiments of the game may simulate races of a different type.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings the board 1 on which the game is played has a portion defining a race track 2 divided into fifty eight separate spaces 3. One space 4 is marked as the "start" and another space 5 is marked as the "finish".

Various other spaces on the race track 2, such as the spaces 6, 7 and 8 are marked with the word "bet", and in all ten spaces are marked in this way.

Additionally the board defines in built-up portions 7, 10 formed at the corners of the board spaces adapted to receive various packs of cards. Thus a space 11 is adapted to receive a pack of stewards enquiry cards, and space 12 is adpated to rececive a pack of appeal cards. The board also defines a space 13 adapted to receive a pool of prize money, a space 14 containing instructions as to what is to happen in certain event arising during the game, and a space 15 that serves to act as- an auction ring.

In addition to the board a first pack of cards is supplied. The first pack of cards consists of fiftyfive cards. Twelve of the cards are cards relating to jockeys. A typical jockey card is shown as card 16 in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. it can be seen that the card carries the word "jockey" at the top, and then carries the name of a jockey, and finally the card carries an indication of the number of points that the card is worth. It will be understood that the twelve jockey cards each carry a different number of points and thus there is one jockey card carrying one point, another jockey card carrying two points, and so on up to the illustrated jockey card which carries twelve points.

A further twelve of the cards present in the pack are cards relating to horse trainers. A typical card is shown as card 17 in Figure 2.

It can be seen that at the top the card carries the word "trainer", and the name of a trainer and an indication of the number points carried by the card. Again it-will be understood -that the twelve trainer cards, each carry a different number of points. Thus one trainer card will carry one point, another trainer card will carry two points, and so on up to the illustrated trainer card which carries twelve points.

A further twelve of the cards are horse cards, and a typical horse card is illustrated as card 18 in Figure 2. It will be seen that the structure of the card is very similar to the structure of the jockey and trainer cards, with the horse card carrying an indication that it is a horse card, a name of a horse, and an indication of the number of points carried by the card. Again each of the horse cards will carry a different number of points.

A further-twelve of the cards are owner cards and a typical owner card is illustrated as card 19 in Figure 2 of the drawings. This card again- is a very similar design to the previously described cards, carrying an indication that is an owner card, the name of an owner and an indication of the number of points carried by he card. Again the owner cards will each carry a different number of points.

In addition to the described forty-eight cards, in their "suits" of jockeys, trainers, horses and owners, the pack of fifty-five cards consists of five cards which carry a simple legend "stewards enquiry plus appeal".

(A card of this type is shown as card 20 in Figure 2 of the drawings) and two joker cards (shown as card 21 of the drawings) The game includes a second pack of cards known as "stewards enquiry" cards. There are sixteen stewards enquiry cards and a typical steward enquiry card is shown as card 22 in Figure 3. The stewards enquiry cards carry an indication of the outcome of a stewards enquiry conducted at the end-of a race. In a typical embodiment of the invention the sixteen stewards enquiry cards may carry the following legends: 1. WINNER: Your horse veered across horse in second place soils disqualified and jockey fined 1,000.

2. The horses in first and second place have both taken the wrong course, both are disqualified. Horse in third pla-ce awarded race.

3. The winning horse's jockey has forgotten to weigh-in. Horse disqualified. Jockey fined 5,000.

4. Winning horse fails drug test. Horse in second place wins race. Owner of winning horse fined 5,000.

5. Horse in second place has caused inter-ference to the winner. Jockey fined 1,000 6. Winning jockey weights in at wrong weight.

Horse disqualified Jockey fined 5,000.

7. Jockey in fourth place forgets to weigh in.

Jockey fined 5,000 8. Winner and horse in second place have caused obstruction to horse in third place.

Both disqualified. Horse in third place awarded race.

9. Horse in fifth place bumps winner.

Jockey fined 1,000.

10. Winning trainer has not notified officials that horse has been blinkered. Horse keeps race but owner fined 5,000.

11. Horse in third place weighed in 51bs light.

Jockey fined 5,000 12. Official steward makes mistake in photofinish. Horse in second place is now placed first.

13. Winning horse found to have been replaced with an identical but older horse. Horse disqualified and owner fined 50,000.

14. Jockey in second place has been found guilty of excessive use of whip. Jockey fined the 5,000.

15. Winning horse badly interfered with horses in second and third place. Horse in second place awarded race. Jockey fined 5,000.

16. First four horses home taken wrong course.

All disqualified. Horse in fifth place awarded race.

The game further comprises a further pack of cards known as "Appeal Cards". A typical appeal card is shown as the card 23 in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. In a typical embodiment of the game there are sixteen cards in the appeal card pack, and each card carries a legend indicating the outcome of an appeal subsequent to a stewards enquiry. In a typical embodiment of the game the legends on the cards may read as follows: 1. Unidentified substance found in urine sample.

Diagnosed as harmless. Horse in first place keeps race.

2. Trainer of the horse in second place has had his appeal against winner rejected.

Trainer fined 5,000.

3. Horse in first place found to have been switched with older, more experienced horse.

Owner fined 50,000 and player forfeits first 2 throws in next game.

4. Jockey found not guilty of excessive use of whip. 1,000 compensation awarded from Bank.

5. Race officials, after studying photographs, declare horse in first place did not interfere with horse in second place. Therefore horse in first place keeps race.

6. Officials find winning jockey guilty of snatching whip from fellow jockey during race.

Jockey fined 5,000. Horse in second place awarded - race.

7. Horses in third and fourth place both found guilty of interference. Both owners fined 5,000 each.

8. Jockey of horse in second place found to have taken bribes. Jockey fined 10,000 and disqualified.

9. Unexplainable illegal substance found in urine test. - Trainer fined 20,000. Horse disqualified from race.

10. Winning trainer found guilty of not notifying stewards that blinkers would be worn. Later identified as official blunder.

5,000 compensation awarded.

11. Reappeal due to awaiting further evidence.

Take next card.

12. Appeal dropped.

13. Jockey in third place found guilty of "pulling up" horse before crossing line.

Jockey fined 10,000 14. Jockey of horse in first place found not guilty of careless riding. Horse reinstated as winner. Trainer awarded 10sO00 compensation.

15. Horse in first place found guilty of very serious interference therefore disqualified and placed last. Owner fined an extra 10,000 16. After photofinish horse in second place found to be a neck in front. Therefore placings reversed and horse in second place awarded race.

The game also includes playing pieces 24 to be moved by the players round the board, and in this particular embodiment the playing pieces are each in the form of representations of a jockey own a horse. Finally the game includes a rule book 25 and game money 26.

The game money may be made up from notes having a denomination of 100 200 500 1,000 2,000 5,000 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 500,000 and there may also be- three made up cheques each worth 1,000,000.

The board is provided with an electronic random number generator arrangemnt 27 including a press pad and a display which, when the press pad is touched, displays two random numbers between one and six. In an atlernative arrangement two dice may be used.

The object of the game is for players to accumulate as much money as possible by betting on the horses as horse races are simulated in the game, and also by players winning money by way of winning the horse races.

At the commencement of the first game the players each place their playing piece 38 on the space 4 at the start of the race track. One player is appointed the official steward. From the game money he pays each player an initial starting sum of money which may comprise of: 3 x 500 000 3 x 200,000 3 X 100,000 3 x 50,000 3 x 20,000 and 3 X 10,000 The official steward shuffles the pack of fiftyfive cards and then deals, face down, to each player seven cards. He then locates the remaining cards of the pack of fifty-five cards in the space provided on the playing board and turns the top card face up.If the top card is a stewards enquiry plus appeal card, that is then located at the bottom of the pack and the next card is turned over until the card that is exposed is either a jockey card a trainer card a horse card or an owner card. The card thus exposed defines which cards, during the game, are to be "trump cards". The official steward also shuffles the other two packs of cards and locates the shuffled packs, face down, on the board on the appropriate spaces. Players can now examine their cards and see which cards they have, and can also see which of the cards they have are trump cards. Players can also see if they have, in their hand, one or more stewards enquiry plus appeal cards.

The rules may be such that the player are also to place a bet on the another horse in the race, that is to say, the horse of another player, if there are more than two players. It is the responsibility of the official steward to maintain record of bets placed.

All players operate the random number generator 27, and the player with the highest number goes first.

As each player then has his turn he will operate the random number generated to generate two numbers. One number indicates the number of spaced that a player may advance his playing piece round the race track 2. The other number is read in conjunction with the special indicator board 28, 29 to indicate what will happen. For example, in one embodiment of the game, if a one is the score achieved there will be an auction. If a five is thrown this means that the players horse is being boxed, and the player must miss a turn.

If a 4 is scored the players horse will move up four additional spaces, and if a two or a three is scored it means the players may play a card.

If an auction is to be held the player who threw the dice will take the card from the top of the pack of fifty-five cards and place it, face down in the auction ring. All players will then make bids for it, by pperating the random number generator, the person with the highest score obtaining the card, at a fixed price. All the money from the auction will be collected by the official steward who acts as banker and placed in the prize money pool and thus the money generated during auctions will effectively be the prize money that is paid eventually to the winner of the race. The rules may however specify that at the beginning of each race a certain sum is to be transferred from the bank to the prize money pool, so that there is always prize money in the prize pool at the end of a race.

It will be recalled that if a two or three is scored the player will have a choice as to whether he wishes to use his cards or not.

Similarly, there may be a pre-determined space on the board and once a player has passed that space, the player may also use his cards on each throw of the dice, even if he does not score a one or a six. When a player chooses to use his cards he may deal the selected card, face up, so that all other players can see it. The remaining players then have a opportunity to beat the card that has been dealt. This can be achieved by another player dealing another card of the same suit which carry the higher number of points, or it can be achieved by a player dealing a card which is a trump card. A trump card, regardless of the number of points it carries, will always beat a nontrump card. However, a trump card can be beaten by another trump card carrying a greater number of points.The players can continue dealing cards, with each card either being of the same suit as and carrying a higher number of points as the previous card, or being a trump card, or being a trump card carrying a higher number of points than a previously laid trump card. A player may play a joker, which enables him to declare a new suit as trumps. When no player is willing to deal a further card, the player who dealt the last card can move his horse forward by a number of spaces equal to the number of points shown on the last laid card.

When any members playing piece falls on one of the square spaces identified with the word "bet" such as the spaces 6, 7 and 8, or any of the remaining spaces identified in this manner, any player may be abie to increase the bet or bets that he has made in connection with the race. Players may between themselves decide upon the maximum bet that can be placed during any race.

It will be understood that the horses advance around the race track 2, and it is envisaged that in a normal game players will decide to defer dealing their cards until towards the end of the game, when their playing pieces are approaching the space 5 identified as the finish of the race track. Eventually one horse will move forwardly so that its move ends on the space 5 identified as the finish, or so his playing piece moves through that space. In any event the playing piece will move as far as the space 5 identified as the finish and will stop there. All the other playing pieces will-remain in their respective positions.

It is at this stage in the game that players, if they have a stewards enquiry plus appeal card, may actually use that card. If the player whose playing piece is in second place has q stewards enquiry plus appeal card, he may then -place the card on the board. The official steward will then take the top card from the pack of sixteen enquiry cards, and the instructions present on that card will, in the ordinary course of events, be followed. However, if the person who was the initial winner of the race also has a stewards enquiry plus appeal card, he may then, if he wishes, lay that card down. The steward will then take the top card from the pack of appeal cards and the instructions present on the appeal card will be followed.

The outcome of the race is then finally settled and the steward returns to the winner his stake money also pays an equivalent sum of money from the bank. The stake money lost by the remaining players is returned to the bank.

The winner of the game is given the favourite's advantage at the commencement of the next game since, when the next game is played, instead of the trump card being identified by turning over the top card on the main playing pack, the person who won the previous race is entitiled to choose which type of card will be the trump card in the next game.

The three packs of cards are returned to the official steward who shuffles the cards and prepares the board for the next game.

The rules of the game may enable the bank to place a predetermined sum of prize money and the prize money pool at the commencement of each race, and the rules may enable the bank to pay each player a fixed sum of money at the commencement of each race.

Also the rules may enable players to bet greater or lesser sums of money than shown in the betting grid.

The Bank will also pay out compensation awarded by virtue of the "Stewards Enquiry Cards" and "Appeal Cards".

Claims (11)

1. A board game, said board game comprising a board comprising a plurality of spaces defining a race track, a plurality of playing pieces advanceable round the race track to simulate a race, a first pack of cards, at least some of said cards carrying numbers of points, a first random number generator to determine how far a playing piece can be moved, and a second random number generator distinguishable from the first random generator, to determine which of a predetermined number of options is to be effective, the game including means identifying those options.

2. A game according to claim 1, wherein the random generator comprises two dice of differing size or differing colour.

3. A game according to claim 1 wherein the random generated comprises an electronic random number generator to generate two numbers.

4. A game according to claim 2 or 3 incorporating a look-up table to convert the number generated to one of said options.

5. A board game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the game further comprises two further packs of cards, one pack of cards carrying indications of the results of an enquiry conducted at the termination of other race, and the other pack of cards carrying indications of the results of an appeal conducted subsequent to such an enquiry.

6. A board game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the board game is adapted to simulate a horse race, the cards in said first pack of cards comprising a first series of cards relating to jockeys, each card carrying a different number of points, a second series of cards relating to trainers, each card carrying a different number of points, the third series of cards relating to horses, each card carrying a different number of points and a fourth series of cards relating to horse owners each carrying a different number of points.

7. A board game according to claim 6 wherein the first pack of cards additioanlly comprises cards identified as enquiry and appeal cards.

8. A board game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of spaces on the rack are identified with an indication that when a playing piece lands on that space players may place bets.

9. A board game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of these spaces in the race track is identified so that when players have passed the identified playing space they may play their cards at each turn.

10. A board game substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.