Death at the Derby

Death at the Derby is a murder mystery game for 20 to 32 guests and one or two hosts. It is set at the Olaf Downs racecourse during the famous Trek for the Tulips race, and characters include the racecourse team, owners, trainers, jockeys and horse-racing fans. Download the free introductory pdf file.

Death at the Derby is an exciting evening of horse racing and murder. Your guests will be in the middle of the action, and it will be up to them to wheel and deal to get what they want. Will they achieve their goals, keep their secrets hidden - and maybe even win the Trek for the Tulips?

"We loved it! The subplots were wonderfully complex and intertwined. So much fun and so many opportunities for the characters to develop and interact throughout. 10/10."
Serina Robinson

See stories and pictures from Death at the Derby

Read cast list and Race Day Gazette

Welcome to the Olaf Downs racecourse and the biggest of the famous Four Flower races: the annual “Trek for the Tulips” on our Manitou Mile track. Jockeys, celebrities, press, and starstruck fans rubbed elbows at a celebration banquet last night, catered by celebrity guest chef Ole Lutefisk.

Last year’s winner and favored jockey, Billy Cobbler, was alive and well at dinner last night but was found dead in his horse’s stall this morning. Police are treating Billy’s death as murder—was someone trying to rig the race?

But don’t let that worry you! Enjoy the fabulous Tulip Topper hat competition or our new signature drink, the Tulip Julep. And while you’re here, feel free to place a bet!

Death at the Derby lasts for about four hours and is suited to an evening. It is often played over a meal – a finger buffet if possible, to allow guests to circulate and talk in private.

 

Suitable for expert hosts.

No combat, no poison.

The free introductory pdf file contains an introduction to the game and a cast list of all the characters.

Cast of characters

Track Staff

• Kennedy Campbell: Race announcer
• Oak Dickerson: Racetrack manager
• Sawyer Ellingson: Exercise rider (and Edi Ellingson’s child)
• Finley Gibbs: Exercise rider
• Ole Lutefisk: Celebrity guest chef and Gertrude Hilleboe’s husband
• Marley Mitchell: Assistant manager
• Quinn Monroe: Bookmaker
• Doc Rolvaag: Veterinarian
• Luke Sutton: Assistant security officer
• Peyton West: Security officer

Owners

• Don Buntrock: Wealthy horse owner and married to Judy
• Judy Buntrock: Wealthy horse owner and married to Don
• Charlie Channing: The Channings own two horses and the Olaf Downs racecourse
• Edi Ellingson: Horse owner and jeweler (and Sawyer’s parent)
• Bobbie Oldhut: Horse owner and Ms. Gibson’s agent

Trainers

• Pat Fitzsimmons: Horse trainer
• Hopper Rails: Horse trainer
• Sven Skoglund: Horse trainer

Jockeys

• Toni Knight: Jockey
• Frankie Ramm: Jockey who shared a house with Billy Cobbler
• Red Wright: Jockey

Milliners

• Dolly Crownfeathers: Assistant milliner
• Gertrude Hilleboe: Milliner and Ole Lutefisk’s wife

Race Attendees

• Madison Abbott: Race enthusiast enjoying their first real-life race
• Ariel Gibson: Famous singer
• Harper Flannery: Race enthusiast
• Drew Johnson: Race enthusiast
• Derek Lunesdale: Star from the hit TV show “Tribal”
• Lee Maddox: Police detective
• S.T. Madigan: Roving reporter
• Kelly Patterson: Star from the hit TV show “Tribal”
• Taylor Sullivan: Race enthusiast

Death at the Derby is for 20 to 32 guests:

• 20 guests (4 male, 3 female, 13 any)
• 21-24 guests (4-5 male, 3-5 female, 13-14 any)
• 25-29 guests (5 male, 5-6 female, 14-18 any)
• 29-32 guests (5 male, 6 female, 19-21 any)

You also need one or two hosts, to organize the party and ensure everything runs smoothly. (We recommend two hosts for this game as it's more involved than our other games.)

How Freeform Games murder mystery games work

Death at the Derby is unlike other murder mystery games. Although the game starts with a murder, each character has several goals they must try to accomplish. While they may want to solve the murder, Death at the Derby contains plenty of other plots and secrets to keep everyone busy. Death at the Derby isn't scripted, and lets the players decide how to achieve their goals and thwart their enemies..

"Keep up the good work … no one makes scripts like yours."
Nicole Brownlee, USA

On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer, the Steward, and welcomed to the Olaf Downs racecourse.

They then receive their detailed backgrounds – including dark secrets, objectives and money. The fun then begins as they form alliances, blackmail each other, steal items and try to work out who will win the Trek for the Tulips! Along the way they may uncover some of the mysteries of Death at the Derby, such as who will win the Tulip Topper competition? And of course, how did Billy Cobbler die?

Finally everyone finds out how they did, and what secrets everyone else was concealing.

Recommended for ages 18+

We recommend Death at the Derby for those aged 18+, as it contains extra-marital affairs and references to drug smuggling.

Extra characters

Sometimes you have too many guests and need more characters. So most games have free extra characters (written by us or previous hosts) included in the download when you purchase the game.

• Pepper Brown – freelance reporter in search of a Big Story. (Any)
  (by Jeremy Gustafson and Pam Hoffmann)

Please note that we haven't always tested these – and they may not tie in exactly with our games.

"Thank you for a great site, fantastic games, good service and very quick reply. Keep up the good work." Ole Martin Brodwall, Norway

Cast Iron Guarantee

We offer a Cast Iron Guarantee on all our murder mystery games. If you're not completely satisfied with Death at the Derby then please let us know within 30 days and we will refund you. See our full terms and conditions, and our refund policy.

Trouble downloading? If you have trouble downloading the game files, please first check your spam folder. If you still can't find the download email, contact us with the name of the game and the email address you used to purchase it, and we'll resend it.