Pony Race - One-Tap Horse Race Game
Pony Race is about as simple as a game can be: press Start, watch the ponies run, and see who makes the podium. Each race is decided at random, with every pony getting its own pace and late surges, so the lead can change right up to the finish line.
It works as a little screen-saver show, a way to settle who goes first in a board game, a random picker for teams or chores, or something to put on a big screen at a get-together while everyone cheers for their colour. There are no rules to learn and nothing to set up.
You can rename and recolour each pony, choose how many run (from 2 to 6), pick a course, and look back at the history of past races to see which pony wins most often. Results can be downloaded as a picture or a short animated GIF.
The app runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is saved only on this device.
How to use Pony Race
- Choose how many ponies run. Use the minus and plus buttons next to the headcount at the bottom to race between 2 and 6 ponies.
- Pick a course. Tap the course button to choose a background. Indoor, Night and Racetrack are available on the web; Ranch, Space, Desert and Snow come with the app's course pack.
- Press Start. After a 3-2-1 countdown the ponies run. Tap Skip in the top-right corner if you only want the result.
- See the podium. The result screen shows 1st, 2nd and 3rd on a podium with the full finishing order underneath. Tap Again for another race.
- Customise your ponies. Tap the palette icon to change each pony's name and colour — for example one per person playing.
- Check history and share. The chart icon shows recent races and each pony's wins and win rate. On the result screen, Share downloads a PNG of the podium and Share GIF downloads a short animated clip.
Features
- One-tap races with 2 to 6 ponies
- Random race engine with individual pace and late surges
- Podium for 1st, 2nd and 3rd plus the full finishing order
- Custom pony names and colours
- Three courses on the web: Indoor, Night and Racetrack
- History of the last 100 races with wins and win rate per pony
- Download the result as a PNG image or animated GIF
- Skip button for instant results
Fair random picks: using a race to decide
Is every pony equally likely to win?
Each race gives every pony a randomly chosen overall time within the same range, plus random variations in rhythm and a random late surge. Because every pony draws from the same ranges, none is favoured; over many races each pony should win roughly the same share. With six ponies, that is about one race in six, or roughly 17%.
Why streaks happen anyway
People often expect random results to alternate neatly, but real randomness produces streaks. If one pony wins three races in a row, it is not "due" to lose and the others are not "due" to win — each race is independent. This belief that past results change future odds is called the gambler's fallacy. The win rates in the history screen only even out over dozens of races; over five or ten races, uneven numbers are completely normal. If you want to check fairness yourself, run fifty races and compare the win counts.
Good ways to use a random race
Deciding turn order: give each player a pony and colour, run one race and use the finishing order as the playing order — the full order list makes this easy.
Picking a volunteer or a winner: rename ponies after people or options ("pizza", "curry", "tacos") and let the race choose.
Making teams: with an even number of ponies, the first half of the finishing order forms one team and the rest the other.
Classroom or party fun: put the page on a large screen and let everyone cheer for a colour. Watching a short, unpredictable race is more fun than drawing names from a hat.
Keep it light
Pony Race is entertainment. It does not simulate real horse racing or real horses' abilities, and its results should not be used for betting or anything involving money.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pony Race free in the browser?
Yes. Racing, customising, history and image downloads all work without an account.
Are the races really random?
Yes. Every race uses new random values for each pony from the same ranges, so no pony has an advantage.
Where are my names and history stored?
Only in this browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded. Clearing site data for this website or using a private window resets your ponies and history.
How do I save the result?
On the result screen, Share downloads a PNG picture of the podium and Share GIF downloads a short animation. Creating the GIF can take a little while — keep the page open until the download starts.
Can I play in landscape?
Yes. The game adapts to the window; on a phone, landscape gives the track more room. Use Open full screen on the article page for the biggest view.
How is the web version different from the phone app?
The game is the same. The app's optional course pack adds the Ranch, Space, Desert and Snow courses and removes ads; purchases are not available on the web.
Limitations of the web version
- Ranch, Space, Desert and Snow courses are only in the app's course pack
- Images are downloaded instead of opening a share sheet
- History is stored only in this browser
- In-app purchases are not offered on the web
Phone app
Pony Race is also available as an app for phones and tablets: