The Kiplingcotes Derby is believed to be the oldest horse race in England and to have taken place near Market Weighton, in East Yorkshire every March since 1519 AD. Although it has to be said that although the list of rules were constructed and dated 1519, the earliest written record of it taking place is in 1555 ....
..... but assuming the rules signified its first running, then it was with Henry VIII on the throne and celebrating 10 years as King of England. It has survived harsh winters and foot-and-mouth outbreaks to be one of the worlds oldest continuous sporting events.
But its basic rules state if the race is not run one year, it must never be run again, and this has led to brave efforts over the centuries to keep it running, including an organiser walking a horse round the course when very bad weather has prevented actual racing, in the harsh winter of 1947, and again when there was flooding in 2018, as well as single entrant races during the world wars.
But its biggest current threat is that health and safety rules and regulations have made the race increasingly expensive to organise, with the Kiplingcotes Derby committee having to spend over £200 on new signs for the main road and £227 for liability insurance in 2012, plus policing bills for 10 officers.
If your interested, and its still running, then the race starts on a grass verge in Etton, not far from the old Kiplingcotes railway station, and finishes approximately 12 minutes later at Londesborough Wold Farm. Many of the racers these days, are ladies from local horse clubs, but there are also competitive racers entered most years.
If its tradition your looking for, then this race surely is worth supporting .... the year it first ran, Ferdinand Magellan left Europe to sail the world, and Leonardo Da Vinci died.
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| Kiplincotes Derby ~ Rather Sedate Paced These Days For Many Participants |
..... but assuming the rules signified its first running, then it was with Henry VIII on the throne and celebrating 10 years as King of England. It has survived harsh winters and foot-and-mouth outbreaks to be one of the worlds oldest continuous sporting events.
But its basic rules state if the race is not run one year, it must never be run again, and this has led to brave efforts over the centuries to keep it running, including an organiser walking a horse round the course when very bad weather has prevented actual racing, in the harsh winter of 1947, and again when there was flooding in 2018, as well as single entrant races during the world wars.
 |
| Kiplingcotes Derby Is A Real Race |
But its biggest current threat is that health and safety rules and regulations have made the race increasingly expensive to organise, with the Kiplingcotes Derby committee having to spend over £200 on new signs for the main road and £227 for liability insurance in 2012, plus policing bills for 10 officers.
 |
| Kiplincotes Derby Route .... |
If your interested, and its still running, then the race starts on a grass verge in Etton, not far from the old Kiplingcotes railway station, and finishes approximately 12 minutes later at Londesborough Wold Farm. Many of the racers these days, are ladies from local horse clubs, but there are also competitive racers entered most years.
If its tradition your looking for, then this race surely is worth supporting .... the year it first ran, Ferdinand Magellan left Europe to sail the world, and Leonardo Da Vinci died.
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