Overview

Giro Galoppo is a tactical horse racing game for 2-5 players aged 6 and up. Players are jockeys racing their horses across a steeplechase course with obstacles. Each round, all players simultaneously choose one of their numbered racing cards (1-6) to determine movement. The player with the lowest number moves first. Players must navigate obstacles and can push opponents’ horses backward by landing on their space. The first horse to cross the finishing line wins.

Components

• 1 game board (race course with starting boxes, natural obstacle spaces, and finishing line)
• 30 racing cards (6 per player, numbered 1-6, in 5 colors)
• 5 riders
• 5 horses
• 5 obstacles
• Instructions

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Each player chooses a rider and a horse. Give your horse a name so all players know which horses are racing.
3. Each player receives a set of 6 racing cards (numbered 1-6) in their rider’s color. Keep cards hidden.
4. Place your rider in your horse’s saddle and place the horse in the starting box matching the symbol on your racing card.
5. Place 5 additional obstacles on the course:
   • The youngest player places the first obstacle. Then players place obstacles clockwise in turns.
   • Obstacles may only be placed on brown sand spaces.
   • There must be one free space between any two obstacles.
   • Only one obstacle per space.
   • At least two obstacles must stand between the last natural obstacle space and the finishing line.
   • The course already has 3 natural obstacles: two river spaces and one moor space.

Turn Structure

The game is played over a series of rounds. Each round:

1. Play Racing Cards

Each player secretly chooses one racing card from their hand and places it face down. All players reveal simultaneously.

2. Move Horses

Players move in order from lowest card number to highest. Ties: the player whose horse is further behind moves first. (At game start, if tied, the oldest player moves first.)

Each horse moves exactly the number of spaces shown on the card. Movement rules:

• Exact movement required: You must use the complete number; you may not leave points unused.
• One horse per space: Only one horse may stand on each space.
• Jumping: Occupied spaces (obstacle spaces and spaces with a horse) are jumped over but still counted.
• Pushing back: If a horse finishes movement on a space occupied by another horse, the horse already there is pushed back to the next unoccupied space (but never further back than the starting gate).
• Obstacles: If a horse finishes movement on an obstacle space (including stream and moor spaces), it remains where it started. The player misses their turn.
• Own turn only: You may only move your horse on your own turn.

3. Discard

After moving, discard your used card face down. The next round begins with players choosing from remaining cards.

After 6 rounds (all cards played), cards are returned to each player for the next set of rounds.

Actions

There are no separate actions beyond the card selection and movement described in the turn structure. The key tactical decisions are:

• Card selection: Choosing which numbered card to play, considering obstacles ahead, opponents’ positions, and cards remaining.
• Obstacle placement: During setup, strategically placing obstacles to hinder opponents.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

End of Game: The game ends when one or more horses cross the finishing line. All players still complete their moves for that round.

• If a card shows more points than needed to cross the finishing line, the horse is placed on the corresponding space beyond the finishing line. Normal movement rules (including pushing) still apply on these spaces.
• The player whose horse is furthest past the finishing line wins.
• Horses that did not cross the finishing line do not place.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

Game Variation

Modified movement rules: If two or more players reveal cards with the same number, only the player whose horse is further behind may move. The other tied players miss their turn.

Obstacle Interactions

• River spaces and moor spaces are natural obstacles printed on the board and function identically to placed obstacles.
• Landing on any obstacle (natural or placed) means the horse stays put and the player misses their turn.

Pushing Rules

• A pushed horse goes to the next unoccupied space behind it, but never further back than the starting gate.
• Pushing can chain: if the pushed horse lands on another occupied space, continue pushing back.

Player Reference

Round Structure:

1. All players secretly choose 1 racing card
2. Reveal simultaneously
3. Move horses (lowest number first)
4. Discard used cards

Movement Priority: Lowest number moves first. Ties: further behind goes first.

Key Rules: | Rule | Detail | |——|——–| | Cards per player | 6 (numbered 1-6) | | Card replenishment | After all 6 cards played | | Landing on obstacle | Stay in place, miss turn | | Landing on occupied space | Push opponent back | | Push limit | Never past starting gate | | Crossing finish line | Excess movement counted beyond line |