Exhibition in Newmarket showcases over 50 horseracing-themed board games

An exhibition showcasing over 50 rare and antique board games is to take place in Newmarket.

“Horseplay” begins on April 4 and runs until the end of the year at the National Horseracing Museum displaying board games that bring the racecourse to the tabletop in an intriguing and creative way.

The games are on loan to the museum from a private collection and the exhibition is thought to be the largest display of horseracing-themed board games ever opened to the public.

Visitors will find all the thrills and spills of being at the races, without actually stepping on the turf.

The games on display range from a wooden box with a hand crank dating from 1880, to a madcap drinking game where nobody can visit the loo before a “pee break” card is drawn.

Others include antique playing cards, a board game endorsed by a Hollywood legend and another invented by a famous composer.

Visitors follow a Grand National-themed racetrack through the exhibition, rolling a giant dice to proceed, and pausing at interactive stations named after the jumps at Aintree.

Along the way, people can view antique and contemporary games, and have a go at playing on replicas.

“Horseplay” recreates the larks, japes and capers that can be had with everything from simple dice and playing cards to more complex games, demonstrating how games are an antidote to screen time, can create happy experiences where family and friends come together, and are inclusive of everyone, whatever their age or ability.

Tickets (www.nhrm.co.uk) cost £15, children under 16 are free of charge. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.