Escalado red box |
1960s |
Chad Valley |
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First produced |
1920s |
Players |
Age(s) |
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1 x linen racetrack incorporating
a wooden vibrator box, metal clips and a plastic tension strap
2 x screw clamps
5 x 3D painted lead metal alloy
horses and riders
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A horse racing game designed for
parties and participants of all ages.
It is a highly visual game; metal horses race along a linen track, their movement activated through vibration of the linen cloth which is stretched over a table top. The tension of the cloth combined with the mechanical winding of a special vibrator box causes the horses to move at random and varying speeds towards the finish line. Participants agree a betting process, minimum and maximum stakes, odds etc. at the beginning of the game and can use real money, tokens or matchsticks for placing bets. Five horses are positioned by the bookie to start at the far end
of the track, positioned side by side so their hind legs are just touching
the line at the end opposite the vibrator box. A nominated player
then turns the vibrator box handle in the direction of the indicator arrow as quickly as possible but it helps to decide a close
finish if the action is slowed down just as the leading horse's front legs
near the finishing line. There may be only a fraction of an inch between
first and second. If a horse falls over at one of the obstacles or fences,
players should agree prior to the game whether to leave it on the track
possibly to interfere with other horses or stop the race, remove the fallen
horse and then recommence. The winner is the person with
most money or wins at the end of the allocated number of races.
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The effectiveness of the vibrating track was much better with the heavier
metal alloy horses and linen tracks. However each
horse weighs just 50g compared to 80g or more in earlier editions. During the 1960s plastic started to replace older materials used in the game.
In this edition the linen tension strap was changed to plastic.
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