What are the Horse Race Tests? Viral video lore explained

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Over the last few weeks, you might’ve noticed a trending topic called “Horse Race Videos” on Twitter and various social media sites. But, you may be wondering, just what exactly are these Horse Race Tests? Let me clarify their origin for you. These videos seem to have sprung up from an unknown source.

Initially, a sequence of videos that appeared uncomplicated began when an independent developer shared a “work-in-progress” of a fresh game idea. Intriguingly, the videos displayed horses with unusual shapes competing over a straightforward course filled with hurdles, all aiming to reach a carrot at the finish line.

new prototype

— Horse Race Tests (@snakesandrews) April 1, 2025

Man, I started off just watching a quick clip, but it snowballed into a full-blown series! It’s got its own storylines, memorable characters, intricate fan art that spins its own tales, and an ending that had us all clamoring for more!

Here’s everything you need to know about the Horse Race Tests.

What are the Horse Race Tests?

For approximately one month, from April 1 to April 25, the Horse Race Tests (HRT) are a collection of videos featuring what appear to be unusual horse-like figures with distinct visual styles. In these videos, these figures seem to navigate through a labyrinth, colliding and interacting loosely with each other in a seemingly random manner.

In the show, spectators were placing wagers on which horse might emerge victorious, much like a real-life equestrian competition. The horses moved unpredictably until finally reaching their goal – the carrot.

Initially, the races were quite straightforward. Each race would last approximately two minutes, roughly equivalent to the duration of a single video, and the winning horse would effortlessly reach the finish line for every contest.

test race 3

— Horse Race Tests (@snakesandrews) April 3, 2025

Instead, the map designer intentionally distorted certain areas to confine horses together, thereby increasing the chances of their interaction and causing more frequent collisions within the virtual world. This design choice added a dramatic element to the simulation.

The developer mentioned, while brainstorming, “I’ve been testing ways to make it simpler for the horses to get cornered in that area, and it appears that this design might work slightly better.

Over time, supporters grew weary as their beloved horses consistently came up short in races. Notably, Cyan had a strong initial fanbase due to its persistent frown and frequent struggles navigating the initial stages of the labyrinth. Conversely, White was infamous for its habitual tossing and failed to secure an early victory.

The situation escalated when Brown, Cyan, and White were combined in the same map (e1m2t1), and surprisingly, Brown emerged victorious even though Cyan and White had a good chance. However, as time passed, these characters received their individual names, and the narrative started to develop. Strange events then began to unfold.

e1m6t1

— Horse Race Tests (@snakesandrews) April 20, 2025

In the heat of e1m3t4’s main competition, I found myself stranded, all alone on a map, having reached the carrots. It seemed like the creator had tossed me a bone, giving me a chance to finally claim victory in a race that had previously eluded me. However, the following race took an unexpected turn.

Every contestant was replaced with “Nightmare” horses.

e1m7t1

— Horse Race Tests (@snakesandrews) April 22, 2025

In the narrative, there would often be a rotation of several races intermingled with the Nightmare plotline and regular races, until an unusual scenario unfolded – White (Symbolizing Superstition and Reality) encountered an Enigmatic Character in the initial merging of two realms. Essentially, what transpired was White facing its own reflection.

Ultimately, it boiled down to White and Orange encountering three terrifying steeds that strongly resembled Cyan – or rather, the Trash Can – named Garbage Bin.

In the end, it was White and Orange who found themselves up against three fearsome horses, one of which had a striking similarity to Cyan, more specifically known as Garbage Bin.

With this possible winner, Cyán’s horse, the races were finished. Instead of a usual victory display, the credits rolled immediately afterwards.

This version maintains the original structure and intent while making it more readable and natural for English speakers.

This material is incredibly funny, featuring the chilling cyan subplot, but then quickly returns to the main storyline, where the horse’s jovial demeanor continues to outshine all others, making it an exceptional character.

— Boodendorf (@YearsOfMidna) April 23, 2025

The tale has many layers beyond what’s initially presented, as there seems to be a hint of a romantic undertone between Jovial Merryment and Yellow. However, it’s essential to note that much of this narrative evolves from the community rather than the original content creator, and is often speculative in nature.

Complete list of Horse Race Test characters

The full roster of characters in the HRT and their colors are as follows:

Regular Horses

  • Bullet’n Board – Blue
  • Comely Material Morning – Pink
  • Cyan
  • Door Knob – Brown
  • Downtown Skybox – Grey
  • Jovial Merryment – Orange
  • Resolute Mind Afternoon – Red
  • Superstitional Realism – White
  • Yellow

Nightmare Horses

  • A Mysterious Figure
  • Garbage Bin – 006
  • Nighttime Knifemare – 003
  • 005
  • 006
  • 008
  • 009
  • 00B
  • 00E
  • 2B5

Are the Horse Race Tests ever coming back?

Currently, it seems unlikely that we’ll see a return of the Horse Race Test, as its inventor is currently engrossed in other game development projects. While there were elements of a narrative woven into the races, a significant portion of the broader storyline is shaped by the community’s interactions and contributions.

While the final scene left many questions unanswered, the majority of the storyline can be interpreted in various ways. It’s likely that the Horse Race Tests won’t resurface again.

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2025-04-26 23:19