Horseplay

Visitors follow a horse racing track through the exhibition, pausing at interactive stations to solve clues and have a go at playing games. Ideal for families and adults alike, discover all the thrills and spills of being at the races, without actually stepping on the turf.

The games are on loan from a private collection and 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 the antique and contemporary games, and have a go with 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. What’s more, you don’t need a power supply to shake a dice or move a counter.

Tickets for the National Horseracing Museum (www.nhrm.co.uk) which includes access to Horseplay cost £15, children under 16 are free of charge. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am to 5pm. The Museum is easily accessed by car, train and bus.