Dinosaur races

The dinosaur races of Port Nyanzaru in Chult were one of that city's most famous attractions as of the late 15 century DR.
==Description==
The races featured brightly painted dinosaurs ridden through the streets of Port Nyanzaru for the delight and gambling of onlookers. Racing dinosaurs were usually juveniles (as they were easier to train and manage) and usually had blunted claws and horns in addition to strong muzzles. In some cases, riders of smaller species were preferred to make smaller dinosaur runners competitive. Minor usage of magic or of magic items was generally permitted during races.
Races were held once each tenday, and a day of races could last well into the evening. When night fell or if fog rolled in during the races, torches were set up to mark the route. Each race day usually included three events: a four-legged race (dominated by ankylosaurus, triceratops, and dimetrodon racers), a two-legged race (dominated by deinonychus and hadrosaurus racers), and an "unchained" race with no entry restrictions (dominated by allosaurus and tyrannosaurus racers). "Unchained" races also differed from the other events in that the dinosaurs were permitted to attack each other and did not need to be muzzled nor have their claws and horns trimmed, making these events much more dangerous for the dinosaurs and their riders. However, spectators were seldom injured. 
Special events could also include chariots or races through the Harbor (astride plesiosaurs) or through the air (on pteranodons). On occasion, small races were held within the Grand Coliseum as part of larger events: these usually featured smaller allosauruses and riders who were encouraged to taunt, trip, and attack each other as they navigated around obstacles like blockades, mud pits, and nets.
==Location==
A usual racecourse started either at the Harbor or at the Tiryki Gate in the Market Ward. It wound through the streets of Port Nyanzaru passed the Harbor and around all four of the city's main hills (Mount Sibasa, Yklwazi Hill, Temple Hill, and Throne Hill).
The area of the Market Ward just inside the Tiryki Gate was a gathering place for bookies and gamblers.
==Activities==
Racing was managed by teams, who were known to recruit from among daring adventurers as the races could be quite dangerous. Such teams were usually named by a convention of combining a color with a native Chultan animal, e.g., the Green Vipers. Other teams were sponsored by important individuals, such as Pock-Marked Po's team, the Bladefangs.
Betting was managed by bookies, who accepted wagers of as little as a single copper piece and as large as 500 gold pieces. Gamblers could bet on a given dinosaur winning, placing, showing, or doing something specific during the race, such as attacking another racer or losing its rider. This meant that bookies would accept many different bets on a single race, and winnings were paid out based on the odds. Losing bettors were expected to pay their gambling debts promptly or else be visited by a "legbreaker".
==History==
As of the time of the death curse, crowd favorites at the races included Banana Candy, Big Honker, Bonecruncher, and Ubtao's Favorite. Less popular racers included Grung Stomper, Jungle Princess, Mountain Thunder, Nasty Boy, and Scarback.
During this time, the Merchant Princes of the city arranged for a massive competition called Na N'buso's Haka, which featured land, air, and sea events all in one race. In the lead up to this festival, there was a suspicious uptick in longshot wins, mostly due to a number of dinosaur racers dying mysteriously.
==Appendix==
===See Also===
* Running of the Saurs
===Notes===
===Appearances===
===References===
Category:Sports
Category:Recurring events
Category:Events in Port Nyanzaru
Category:Events in Chult
Category:Events on the Chultan Peninsula
Category:Events in Southwest Faerûn
Category:Events in Faerûn
Category:Events on Toril
Category:Year of Metropolises