Kiplingcotes Derby

Where: Market Weighton - finishing post is on a minor road 400 yards off the A614, signposted Warter
When: 3rd Thursday in March
Time: Race at 12, weigh-in 10- 11. Finish 2pm at the latest.

 

Kiplingcotes Derby is reputedly the oldest flat-race in the UK, with records dating back to 1519. Entrants turn up on the day ; it’s open to horses “of all ages”  and jockeys weighing under 10 stone must carry weights according to the rules. The course covers four miles, steep in places and often muddy. The winner has to be in it for the glory – the way the prize money is allocated means that the runner-up, whose prize is made up of the entry fees on the day, often gets a bigger cash prize than the winner who receives a fixed sum of £50. The day begins with a brief reading of the rules and a weigh-in at the finishing post; riders make their way slowly to the start of the race from this point and race back.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 it should be on Thursday 20th March.

Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Kiplingcotes-Derby-285624058951582/posts/

Thanks to John Slusar, you can view information on the history of the race and its winners via the following link: http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Kiplingcotes%20Derby%20homepage.html

In cases of extreme weather the race may be cancelled but this is rare – it happened in 2018 but a rider still completed the course at a sedate pace to keep the tradition alive, though the race itself couldn’t be held as the ground conditions were dangerous.

There were new rules for spectators from 2013 – please note the following was taken from the organisers webpage before it became unavailable.”The local authority have ruled that the winning post road can no longer be accessed or used for parking by spectators and will close nearby laybys to prevent pedestrians walking on the busy A614.There will still be some parking at Londesborough Wold farm but muddy conditions could create a problem”.

The journey to and from the course is around ten minutes each way and the horses assemble near the winning post by 12 o’clock before cantering out to the start at Kiplingcotes. The race itself must be run before 2pm.

The organisers advised on the event website that it isn’t possible for spectators to see both start and finish of the race because of the terrain and course length; they recommend watching from the finishing post near Londesborough Wold Farm from around 10am to be in plenty of time for the preamble. Don’t expect grandstands or other facilities ; do be prepared for inclement weather! 2012 was the first year that a bookie was present and the race took place in fog (at one point it was rumoured that it would have to be cancelled owing to poor visibility but fortunately it all went ahead).

For a more detailed account read” The Kiplingcotes Derby – England’s Oldest Horse Race” by Alison Ellerington.

The event’s own website is sadly no longer maintained owing to the death of the writer but I’ve kept a note from it of the contact number for Susan Hillaby, Clerk of the Course, +44(0) 1487 265 1207 (please drop me a line if this is now out of date and I shall remove it).




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