Win, Place & Show

Win, Place & Show, also known as TurfMaster, is a 1966 classic that puts up to six players in charge of their own racehorses across three separate heats. Each race uses a personal deck of 32 movement cards; ten are drawn at random for the race while the remaining two sit aside as a reserve that can be played at any time. The board depicts an oval track with six lanes, straight on the straights and gently graded on the bends, and horses advance by adding the value of the chosen card to a common dice roll. In each turn, all players simultaneously select a card and move their horse the indicated number, respecting the starting order. Afterwards, a pair of dice is rolled by the current player, who then decides whether all horses move the value of one die or both, depending on each horse’s position. Marked squares on the track let a horse overtake the one directly ahead in the same lane, but only two such overtakes are allowed per turn (just one if the jockey is an apprentice). Each horse follows a unique speed pattern—some are fast starters, others are stayers—represented by numbers that change each lap, creating wide variation in races ranging from 5 furlongs to 1¼ miles. Odds are preset and reflect these patterns, opening room for strategic betting and bluffing. After each race the first four finishers earn points; the total of the three races determines the champion. The game blends luck (dice, cards) with plenty of tactical decision‑making, perfect for fans of sports, horse racing, and a dash of casino flair. With simple rules, a two‑hour playtime and a light weight (2/5), it welcomes newcomers while still offering enough depth for seasoned players who enjoy pattern analysis and probability manipulation.