Royal Races

Royal Races is an early example of pinball history, produced by Pacific Amusement Manufacturing Company (PAMCO) in March 1937. It was a one-ball payout machine with a horse-racing theme, part of the wave of coin-operated payout and novelty games common before flippers and more elaborate playfield mechanics became standard.

The gameplay of Royal Races centered on its ten spring bumpers, with players paying five cents for a single ball. As a payout machine, the outcome depended on where the ball landed rather than on skillful play, reflecting the simpler, chance-driven mechanics typical of pre-war pinball and payout tables.

Royal Races' Sports - Horse Racing theme reflects the sport's popularity at the time of its release. It was also made available in Ticket and Novelty models, alongside a related PAMCO release, Royal Aces. As a product from PAMCO's relatively brief run (1932-1937), it offers a glimpse into the early days of the American payout-game industry.