Kiplingcotes Derby

Kiplingcotes Derby

Third Thursday in March

The Kiplingcotes Derby, which is run along the Wolds Way in Yorkshire, England, on the third Thursday in March, dates back more than 450 years, making it the longest-running "flat race" (as opposed to the steeplechase, which involves jumping over obstacles) in England. The route along which the horses run measures four miles in length and cuts through five different parishes, supposedly following an ancient Roman road. It begins near South Dalton and finishes near Kiplingcotes Farm in the parish of Middleton-on-the-Wolds.
The minimum weight that every rider must achieve is 10 stone (140 lbs.), and they are weighed beforehand to weed out cheaters who may have filled their pockets with heavy pieces of metal. The entrance fee paid by each competitor will be awarded to the second-place finisher while the winner takes home the interest on the shares of stock provided in 1618 by the district's landowners to finance the race in future years. It is never a large sum, however, and the prestige of winning is worth more than the actual prize money.
One year, when no riders had signed up for the race, officials took a cart-horse around the track rather than interrupt the centuries-old custom. In addition, in 2001 the race was cancelled due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease throughout England; however, one rider ceremoniously rode the course.

CONTACTS:
Yorkshire Tourist Board
312 Tadcaster Rd.
York, Yorkshire YO24 1GS United Kingdom
44-19-0470-7961; fax: 44-19-0470-1414
www.yorkshire.com

SOURCES:
YrFest-1972, p. 131

Celebration days: Mar 17, 2011; Mar 15, 2012; Mar 21, 2013; Mar 20, 2014; Mar 19, 2015