Interactive Frankie Dettori Race Night (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Don't lose at the Bookies ( Real Money )
Disadvantages:	Once played it's useless

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I was recently given this DVD game as part of my birthday. Being an avid racing fan my wife new that I would enjoy every aspect of the game. It is endorse by one of the most famous jockey's of our time Frankie Dettori who has been champion jockey on many occassions and is highly respected in the racing fraternity.

The DVD comes in a normal sized DVD box with the exception that it is almost twice as thick, and this is for a very good reason. So as too hold all the contents inside. These include two betting slip pads to enable all participants to place a bet. A bookies board for the player being Bookie to write up the odds for each race. A good quality dry marker for afore mentioned purpose. And finally the actual DVD.

For anyone not familiar with horse racing the horse with the shortest odds is the Favourite ( fav ), the one most expected to win by the bookies. The next most fancied horses rise in price according to their form and the money being placed on them to win. For instance if a horse is 11/10 fav this means that for every 10 pounds you wager on it you will receive 11 back should it win. On top of your 11 pound win you will also receive your initial stake back. All of this is explained in some detail on the DVD. So if you choose a horse which is 10/1 it is not fancied by the bookies to win, however stranger things have happened.

A few years ago I was in the bookies and had lost a few quid, so I was about to head home. The runners for the next race came on screen and one was named Quatara well my dog was called tara so I thought I'd have a little flutter on it. After looking at the odds for the race i discovered it was a large price so having only £5.55 in my pocket I decided to keep the fiver and just put the 55p on for sentimentality. Towards the end of the race the fav looked to have the race well won until my horse Quatara made rapid headway up the outside and won the race. I was astounded since I usually checked form jockey and trainer and all the other stuff before betting. I was even more astounded when the result was announced and the price/odds for my horse were 100-1 I picked up £55 for my 55p. I have never done anything remotely similar since and I doubt I ever shall but it just goes to show you there is no such thing as a certainty.

The DVD is easy to play it is all done with a menu based system. There are 10 racecourses to choose from with three races at each course. Once a race is run it is obviously no good to run again since you now know the outcome. So after you have played the game 30 times and run every race the only use for the DVD is to watch the racing coverage of the Historic Frankies Magnificent Seven. This covers a race day at Ascot when the charming Mr Dettori rode the winner of every race.A feat never before accomplished by any other jockey, and probably never going to be repeated.

Every race lasts about 2-3 mins in running and the object is that everyone has a bet and the wionner is the one who wins the most money. Pretend money of course. It's great fun and something different if you do not normally watch horse racing or participate in betting.

There are various menus to take you through the basics of Form Jockeys, Trainers and Betting, and all about the Horses themselves.Frankie Dettori guides you through all aspects of the game and there is comentary on every race you you know exactly where your chosen selection is at any point in the race. If you find you horse well down the field do not be overly concerned many horses like to run the race like this and make a bid to win nearer the end of the race. It's all quite exiting and a good laugh, since no real money changes hands unless of course you wish to play for real money.

For an outlay of £15 you can have a very different night in and have a little insight into the world of The Sport of Kings. I think it's good value for money and have most certainly enjoyed playing it with my wife, son and his girlfriend only one of whom actually likes horse racing.......I'll leave to to guess which one that was LOL