Best Retro Horse Racing Games

If you are a true horse racing enthusiast and you love video games, you probably already know that there hasn’t been many horse racing games released over the years. 

Even though there are millions of horse racing fans all over the world, for whatever reason game developers decide not to cover much of this sport. If you have signed up on TwinSpires and you love to follow and bet on horse racing, you probably be disappointed that video game choices are slim.

With that said, some amazing games sneaked through in the ’90s and now are true classics.

These horse racing games managed to capture the true spirit of the sport while boosting your adrenaline and giving you an idea of what is like to become a horse owner.

So, without further ado, let’s highlight the best retro horse racing games that came out decades ago.

SimHorse – 1992

What can you do if you want to experience some horse racing but can’t do that in real life? – That’s right, simulation games!

SimHorse was one of the earliest horse racing simulation games that allowed players to breed, train, and race their own horses. 

The game was praised for its attention to detail, allowing players to customize their horse’s training regimen and jockey tactics. It was a hit among horse racing enthusiasts and it’s still played by a dedicated fanbase today.

Champion Jockey: G1 Jockey & Gallop Racer 1995-99

Now we move to a game that pioneered the horse racing gaming world. We are talking about the legendary Champion Jockey G1 game series which is still being developed today.

Champion Jockey was a revolutionary game back in the day, just because it was one of the first games that offered both arcade-style gameplay and simulation elements.

The game was quite popular among the players due to its intuitive controls that actually allowed players to feel what is like to become a horse jockey.

It also had many different career modes, allowing players to climb up the ranks and become a household name in the horse racing world.

Winning Post – 1993

Here we have another game that is still popular today and is responsible for building an entire community around horse racing games.

The first game was released in 1993 and its sophisticated breeding and racing system had players hooked. 

You could breed your own horses, train them, and watch them gallop their way to victory. With a plethora of tracks and races to choose from, Winning Post became a cult classic among horse racing aficionados.

Horse Racing Tycoon – 1999

In 1999, Horse Racing Tycoon came cantering into the gaming world, giving players the chance to run their very own horse racing empire. 

With a stable full of unique horses, each with their own quirks and abilities (which is difficult to achieve even for today’s standards), players had to manage their charges, train them to be the best, and send them off to the races. 

The game’s fun and addictive gameplay made it a winner among horse racing enthusiasts and simulation game addicts alike. Horse Racing Tycoon showed us that running a stable isn’t all about the glitz and glamour – it takes hard work, strategy, and a little bit of luck to come out on top.

Final Words

The ’90s were a great time for horse racing video games, with some fun titles to choose from. 

Whether you were a fan of simulation games, management games, or just wanted to find top casinos online and experience the thrill of racing, there was a game for you.

At that time, the horse racing gaming space felt like it is going to become the next big thing. Unfortunately, game developers lost their passion for horse racing games throughout the years.

Although these games may seem primitive compared to today’s high-tech offerings, they hold a special place in the hearts of many gamers. 

So, if you’re feeling nostalgic, why not dust off your old computer and give one of these classic horse racing games a try?