Course

Course is a 1998 Mac shareware horse-racing wagering game by Renaud Pinoit, preserved on Macintosh Garden under the Racing/Sports category. The game pits the player against the Macintosh or a friend in a series of wagers on French-style horse races, with each match running up to twelve races.

French betting formats

Course models the betting markets of French hippodromes, offering Quinte+, Quarte, Tierce, 2/4, Gagnant, and Place wager types. Each format requires the player to predict a different combination of finishing positions, ranging from the simple win bet to multi-horse exacta-style picks.

Match structure

Players choose a wager type, lay down a stake, and watch the race resolve. Up to twelve races are run in a single session, with the goal of accumulating more winnings than the computer or a second human player.

Strategy

Reading the field and matching horses to bet types is central. Conservative Place bets pay smaller returns, while Quinte+ payouts can swing a session - rewarding players who can spot value in the race card.

Author and era

Course is the work of French Mac developer Renaud Pinoit and dates from the late System 7 / Mac OS 8 era. It is a window onto a niche of localized Mac shareware aimed at fans of European racing culture.