Kiplingcotes Derby
Encyclopedia
Kiplingcotes Derby is widely accepted to be the oldest annual horse race in the English sporting calendar.
It reputedly began in 1519 and takes place on the third Thursday in March, often in exceptionally adverse weather conditions. The 490th race was held on 19 March 2009, the 2010 event took place on 18 March and the 2011 event on 17 March.
The Kiplingcotes (also spelled Kipling Cotes) race is the oldest in England having taken place every year since 1519. It is run every spring. One quirk of the ancient rules means the second place rider usually receives more in prize money than the winner.
It might not look much like a proper racecourse but the clerk is only paid 5 shillings a year for maintaining it.
is a small hamlet close to Market Weighton
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
. The Derby starts near to Kiplingcotes railway station (now closed) and finishes at Londesborough
Wold Farm.
During the harsh winter of 1947 no one was daring enough to take part and so one local farmer took it upon himself to lead a lone horse around the course, ensuring that the historic race would survive. During the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
the race was once again reduced to one horse and rider.
It reputedly began in 1519 and takes place on the third Thursday in March, often in exceptionally adverse weather conditions. The 490th race was held on 19 March 2009, the 2010 event took place on 18 March and the 2011 event on 17 March.
The Kiplingcotes (also spelled Kipling Cotes) race is the oldest in England having taken place every year since 1519. It is run every spring. One quirk of the ancient rules means the second place rider usually receives more in prize money than the winner.
It might not look much like a proper racecourse but the clerk is only paid 5 shillings a year for maintaining it.
Location
KiplingcotesKiplingcotes
Kiplingcotes is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north east of the market town of Market Weighton. to the east lies Etton.It is split between the civil parishes of Dalton Holme and Etton....
is a small hamlet close to Market Weighton
Market Weighton
Market Weighton is a small town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is one of the main market towns in the East Yorkshire Wolds and lies midway between Hull and York, about from either one...
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
. The Derby starts near to Kiplingcotes railway station (now closed) and finishes at Londesborough
Londesborough
Londesborough is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of the market town of Market Weighton.The civil parish is formed by the village of Londesborough and the hamlet of Middlethorpe....
Wold Farm.
Rules
- The course takes in four miles of arduous farm track and field.
- Riders must weigh in at ten stones, excluding saddle, and horses of any age can be ridden.
- All those wishing to enter must gather by the starting post by 11 a.m. on the morning of the Derby.
- The winner receives the sum of £50. (However, sometimes it may prove advantageous to come second, as this rider is the lucky recipient of the sum of the entry fees.)
- The rules also state that if the race is not run one year then it must never be run again.
During the harsh winter of 1947 no one was daring enough to take part and so one local farmer took it upon himself to lead a lone horse around the course, ensuring that the historic race would survive. During the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 caused a crisis in British agriculture and tourism. This epizootic saw 2,000 cases of the disease in farms in most of the British countryside. Over 10 million sheep and cattle were killed in an eventually successful attempt to...
the race was once again reduced to one horse and rider.