Turf King

Turf King is an intriguing electro-mechanical pinball machine from Bally Manufacturing Corporation (model 523). The exact production year is not confirmed, though a January 1953 issue of Bally's own newsletter, Bally-Who, discussed the game, describing it as "the first 5-buttons jumbo-type pingame." Turf King is also known as the replay version of Bally's 1950 payout game 'Grandstand.'

Key features of Turf King include an impressive array of 31 trap holes and 4 passive bumpers, which would have provided players with challenging and engaging gameplay. The machine also offers a skill lane option for five-ball jurisdictions, letting operators adapt the one-ball horse-racing game for regions with different gambling regulations.

The game's theme is centered on horse racing, fitting for a one-ball horserace-style pingame. While specific details about the designer are unknown, Turf King remains an important piece in the historical puzzle of early Bally pinball development, notable for its early adoption of a five-button jumbo-style format.