Jockey

About this board game

Jockey is a card-driven horse race game for 2–6 players, with an estimated playing time of 45 minutes. Originally released in 1973, it combines secret betting with shared control of four racing horses.

Before the race, players secretly bet on one of three outcomes: a winning horse, a second-place horse, or a double consisting of the two. Because every horse can be moved by any player, each turn can affect both personal plans and the wider race.

The movement system is driven by cards. Some cards specify one particular horse and move it a set number of spaces. Other cards can move any horse, but only one that occupies a certain position in the race when the card is played.

• Secret bets on the winner, second-place finisher, or a double
• Four horses that can be moved by any player
• Cards with specific movement and position-based movement effects
• Support for 2–6 players and approximately 45 minutes of play

This shared-control structure keeps the race open to shifting tactics: the horse you advance may help your wager, while another player may have reasons to move it differently. Reading the race and choosing when to influence each position are central to the experience.

Jockey was originally published in the Ravensburger Casino Series. Reportedly, 1970s releases by Otto Maier Verlag use the same rules as the 2001 Berliner Spielkarten re-release, although components and graphics changed; some early Ravensburger editions included metal horses and/or felt “boards.” The game also appeared in the 1976 Bertelsmann Buchclub compilation Jockey & Grand Prix. An Italian version, Corsa Tris, was released in 1993 and is marketed for 3–6 players.