Minoru ‘Double Event’ Racing Game, circa 1920
Minoru...The New Race Game...Double Event, Table Game, circa 1920
in a simulated green shagreen box of oblong shape, with a hinged lid, rolled green ‘double-sided’ cloth, two packs of playing cards (tied with red ribbon) celluloid counters in red, yellow, green, blue and turquoise, and eight painted lead race-horses (red, yellow, violet, brown, blue, dark blue, dark brown and green) (stamped J. Hill & Co.), Joint publishers: John Jaques and Son Ltd, London and The Chad Valley Co. Ltd, Harbourne [with a John Jaques & Son Ltd Minoru instruction pamphlet, and a further Jaques Minoru advertisement slip]
Box: 44.5cm wide, 16.6cm deep, 6cm high
Racehorses: 9cm wide.
Stock Reference: AS 1956
Condition
A Note From Luke
The game was invented by E. St Clair and marketed by Jaques & Son Ltd as 'Minoru' in December, 1909- named after King Edward VII's horse which famously won the Epsom Derby in that year. This game is a further development of Jaques's "Ascot" (1891), but the horses are moved by the turn of a card, rather than cords.
It’s likely that Jaques teamed up with Chad Valley, following the success of Escalado in the 1920s. This 'snakeskin' version is possibly a 'wartime' edition from the First World War period, or the years immediately following. The ‘Double Event’ refers to the rolled board, which can be turned over and played on either side.
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