The Ancient Kipling Cotes Derby

The Kipling Cotes Derby

The oldest annual horse race in England

Doing so much research on the Kipling Cotes Cross (ex Molescroft Cross? See Face book entries or look at https://candp9.wixsite.com/website) we were very close to the track of the Kipling Cotes Derby course so we decided to take time off to explore this.

Kipling Cotes Derby is said to be the oldest annual horse race in England dating from 1519. It's run in Spring over a 4 mile course on the 3rd Thursday in March. The course is of mixed footing (farm track, road or road verge) and being in March the weather can be very inclement. A rider must be a certain minimum weight excluding their saddle. Because of the rules of prize money the second in the race can receive more than the winner. If no rider enters the race will never be run again. In the very bad winter of 1947 a local farmer led a horse round to ensure the event had taken place and so prevent it's closure. This happened again in 2001 when because of the foot and mouth crisis a lone rider took part.

You can drive part of the course but at this time of year parts are impassable in a car. Tractor possibly but car --no. To walk the whole thing might be interesting.