The track is slightly inclined. A ball bearing behind each horse is fired along the track by an electric motor positioned at the start. The motor turns continually and as each ball bearing rolls back to the start, it is fired again. An essentially random process so that any horse can win.

In real life, horses may be handicapped by carrying weights in their saddles. The game uses U shaped weights that are placed behind the jockey if that horse wins too often, so evening the odds.