Although Kiplingcotes is not a racecourse today in the conventional sense, it does host a unique event each year on a picturesque course in the Yorkshire Wolds. The Kiplingcotes Derby claims to be the oldest continuously run race in the English racing calendar. It may well have been contested as early as 1519, and the list of rules shown at the bottom of this page was constructed and dated 1519, but the earliest record of it taking place was in 1555. A certain Thomas Carter of Helperthorpe, a lowly herdsman, was giving evidence in court and claimed to have witnessed the race run at Kiplingcotes Ashe on Shrovetide 1555. Given that Easter for that year was on Sunday 14th April, and that the race has traditionally taken place on a Thursday, Shrove Thursday would have been on 28th February 1555. In the early part of the 16th century hunting gentlemen from the parish donated £355 for a Plate and a cash prize, free from an Act of Parliament, to be given to the winner of the Kiplingcotes Plate. The list of subscribers are shown below. Although the race was open to all horses, invariably the race was won by a thoroughbred. In later years this became a problem because any horse or rider taking part in the event was disqualified from entering any future race run under Jockey Club rules. Fortunately in 1985 the Jockey Club relented and made the Kiplingcotes Derby a unique exception to this rule. The actual racecourse at Kiplingcotes held its final meeting on 19th March 1789, but the Derby is still contested each year over a 4 mile course, starting near to the former Kiplingcotes railway station and finishing at Londesborough Wold Farm.
If you have photos, postcards, newspaper cuttings or book references about the race, or can provide a photo of a previous winner, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com
497th running:-Thursday 19th March 2015
1. Prince (aka Killary Boy) 3/1 ridden by Tracey Corrigan
2. Bob (aka Calapocus) 3/1 ridden by Richard Mumford
3. Mr P (aka Mad Professor) 8/1 ridden by Sam Osborne
4. Captain Comanche ridden by Katie Croft
5. Clowance House ridden by Patrick Chesters
6. Joe ridden by Margaret Curran
7. Prima Donna ridden by Angela Chomse
8. Amadeus ridden by Sue Taylor
9. Hot Fuss ridden by Meg Chapman
10. Dee ridden by Heather Buck
11. Matilda ridden by Jane Walden
12. Blue ridden by Emma Parkinson
13. Bounty ridden by Clare Tyler
14. Beanie ridden by Josephine Shepherd
15. Joker ridden by Fiona Davis
16. Isla ridden by Sarah Hampshire
17. Laila ridden by Lisa Elliott
18. Toby ridden by Stuart Ellis
19. Acaisse ridden by John Hudson
DNF Kai ridden by Jason Carver
DNF Carndonagh ridden by Charlotte Kemp
DNF Alice ridden by Alice Chivers
22 Ran Unofficial distance 10 lengths and a distance
The results are shown courtesy of Chris Pitt. Click here for his full race report
498th running:-Thursday 17th March 2016
1. Mad Professor Mr P (aka Mad Professor) 6/1 ridden by Sam Osborne
2. Willie (aka Willywont He) 3/1 co fav ridden by Richard Mumford
3. Trumpstoo 5/1 ridden by Emma Sanderson
4. Vinnie (aka Clowance House) ridden by Patrick Chesters
5. Kayfrou ridden by Sophie Cavanagh
6. Quilver Tatou ridden by Lindsay Harrison
7. Mill Lane ridden by Katie Croft
8. Jasper ridden by Jan Celella
9. Stella ridden by Katie Mountifield
10. Pudding ridden by Becky Oxley
DNF Prince (aka Killary Boy) ridden by Tracey Corrigan
DNF Home Before Dark ridden by Rob Douro
12 Ran Unofficial Distances 9 lengths and a distance
The results are shown courtesy of Chris Pitt. Click here for his full race report
499th running:-Thursday 16th March 2017
1. Bob (aka Calapocus) 2/1 fav, ridden by Tracey Corrigan from Sawdon, near Scarborough
2. Trumpstoo (5/2) ridden by Emma Sanderson
3. Charlie (5/1) ridden by Nicky Burrows
4. Sterling ridden by Cassy Room
5. Summer ridden by Graham Cockerill
6. Pinewood Egyptian Prince ridden by Liz Shires
7. Storm ridden by Dave Cockerill
8. Supreme ridden by Helen Cockerill
9. Pudding ridden by Becky Oxley
10. Bella ridden by Zoe Winter
11. Jack ridden by Lisa Soanes
12. Tetley ridden by Dawn Syes
13. Oz ridden by Victoria Lill
DNF Two Pancakes ridden by Bryan Rawstron
14 Ran Unofficial distances 20 lengths and a distance
The results are shown courtesy of Chris Pitt. Click here for his full race report
500th running:-Thursday 15th March 2018
The race was in grave danger of being cancelled due to severe flooding and, according to the long laid down rules of the race, if it is cancelled one year then it should never be held again. In order to get round this Steve Crawford agreed to weigh in and walk his horse down the course, so ensuring that the race can continue its unbroken run and be contested in future years.
Five Hundredth Anniversary 501st running:-Thursday 21st March 2019
1. Frog (2/1 favourite) ridden by Tracey Corrigan
2. Start Me Up (5/1) ridden by Jason Carver
3. Lily Fontana (5/1) ridden by Jodie Lee
4. Harry (aka Heavens Gates) ridden by John Thirsk
5. Matty ridden by Paul Heywood
6. Ferrovierie ridden by Stephen Crawford
7. Kinsey Krispin ridden by Emma Kinsella
8. Red Panther ridden by Emma Sanderson
9. Dougal ridden by Kirsty Adams
10. Billy ridden by Louise Rusby
11. The Duchess ridden by Caroline Palmer
12. Duster ridden by David Ford
13. Potomac ridden by Rebecca Whiteley
14. Whinnie ridden by Richard Rusby
15. Geezer ridden by Diane Feaster
16. Asia ridden by Eleanor Aster-Law
17. Alto Soltador ridden by Stephanie Bargate
18. George ridden by Chrissy White
19. Midsummer ridden by Barry Hunter
20. Murphy ridden by Heather Sparkes
21. Penman Point ridden by Katie Ready
22. Angel GG ridden by Gaynor Nicholson
23. Freedom Valley ridden by Felicity Warden
24. Gallant Hero ridden by Mary Hallam
25. Island Chocobox ridden by Janet Milestone-Baugh
26. Boston (aka Tobruk Diamond) ridden by Brian Hyland
27. Bruce ridden by Charlotte Dring
28. Hollie Rae ridden by Rosie Inchbold
29. Evie ridden by Sarah Watson
30. Maverick Joe ridden by Joanne Thompson
31. Storm In A Teacup ridden by Kirsty Mills
32. Patrick ridden by Peter Bowser
33. Iceford Two Tone ridden by Sharon O'Rourke
34. Storming Norman ridden by Gill Greenwood
35. Pudding ridden by Becky Oxley
36. World's Worst Racehorse ridden by Hazel Burkhill
36 ran
Unofficial distances 25 lengths and a distance
The winner received the customary £50 first prize, but due to the record entry the second received £144 made up of £4 from every £5 entry fee.
The results are shown courtesy of Chris Pitt. Click here for his full race report
Corrigan triumphs in Kiplingcotes 500
The Yorkshire point-to-point venues of Askham Bryan College and Dunscombe Park would not ordinarily be regarded as places to find a Derby winner. But then, the Kiplingcotes Derby is no ordinary race. Nor was this an ordinary year, for it marked the 500th anniversary of England’s (probably Britain’s, maybe the world’s?) oldest horse race. A horse named Zandino contested races at both Askham Bryan College and Dunscombe Park this year. After finishing fifth at Dunscombe, he was pulled up at the twelfth in the Askham Bryan Intermediate on 24 February. Those races would have put him spot on for the Kiplingcotes Derby. In Tracey Corrigan, Zandino, racing under the alias of Frog, could not have had a better qualified partner. Corrigan, from Sawdon, near Scarborough, had won three of the last four renewals –she failed to finish on the other occasion –aboard Willie (better known as former racehorse and point-to-pointer Willywont He) in 2014;Prince (a.k.a. Killary Bay, a Limerick bumper and Catterick hunter chase winner) in 2015;and Bob (a point-to-point winner under the name of Calapocus) in 2017.Tragically, Corrigan had lost her intended mount just a week before the race when Calapocus broke a leg. Frog was her replacement. She reckoned her chances of a fourth victory were slim as he wouldn’t stay the trip, but Frog (a.k.a. Zandino) would not let her down.
Among the ancient rules for the race is a stipulation that should it not take place one year, it would cease forever. Faced with a waterlogged course last year, the organisers arranged for local farmer Stephen Crawford to saddle up his horse and walkover for the prize to perpetuate the race’s long tradition. He’d done so on a previous occasion, when the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001 threatened the event’s existence. Foot and mouth may have done for Cheltenham that year but it was never going to derail Kiplingcotes. First run in 1519 and originally called the Kiplingcotes Plate, the Kiplingcotes Derby is a 4-mile race held in the East Yorkshire Wolds, about 10 miles from Beverley. Always run on the third Thursday in March, it’s a true test of horse and rider. The runners have to negotiate grass verge, ploughed field, rutted tracks, a disused railway bridge and a main road crossing.
The race’s 500th anniversary had generated widespread national publicity. Local newspapers in distant regions of the country, such as South Wales and Shropshire, previewed an event that would normally have been of purely parochial interest. Not surprisingly, it resulted in a record field of 36, all keen to be a part of the race’s history. More than two-thirds of the riders were Kiplingcotes ‘virgins’, having their first experience of the Derby course. Tracey Corrigan was among the most experienced, along with four-time winner John Thirsk, taking part for the first time since riding Arctic Cove to victory in 2012. He’d previously won it three years running on Maisie, better known as Minster Fair, a former winner over hurdles for trainer Alistair Whillans. Thirsk’s mount this time was 15-year-old Heaven’s Gates, running under the nom de plume of Harry. He’d won a Southwell all-weather seller for Kevin Ryan back in 2007.
Another 15-year-old to take part was Start Me Up, who won three Irish bumpers when trained by Charlie Swan and ridden by Nina Carberry. He then won over hurdles and fences for Gigginstown, partnered each time by Davy Russell. His rider, Jason Carver, wearing racing silks of royal blue, yellow seam and sleeves, blue stars on sleeves, hooped cap, was in no mood for small talk. Having failed to finish on his one previous attempt in 2015, when riding Kai, he was in the zone, his eyes fixed firmly on the prize. His supporters included a toddler dressed in matching racing silks. Despite his advanced years, Start Me Up looked a serious contender. Considerably younger than Start Me Up was five-year-old Lily Fontana, the mount of Derby first-timer Jodie Lee. She was placed once from five starts for Richard Fahey at two and three. However, the step up in trip from seven furlongs to four miles looked sure to tax her stamina.
Among the best lookers was Red Panther. Whether this was the same Red Panther who finished fifth of six on her sole previous start in a one-mile fillies’ maiden at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2016 was not known. What was for sure was that her rider, Emma Sanderson, had finished third and second in the two most recent editions of the Kiplingcotes Derby on Trumpstoo, so she had to be taken seriously. Course experience is of great importance in the Kiplingcotes Derby, and they didn’t come more experienced than the aforementioned local farmer Stephen Crawford. This year he rode Ferrovierie, who had finished unplaced in two Pontefract maidens in 2011 when trained by Ollie Pears. Two riders were taking part under new names. Caroline Palmer, wearing racing silks of royal blue, white diamond and striped sleeves, rode an eight-year-old chestnut mare called The Duchess, which she described as a “riding club horse”. Under her previous name of Caroline Branton, she had ridden Rossini to finish eleventh in the 2007Derby. In a nice family-related twist, Rossini duly became the dam of The Duchess. Could the daughter achieve a higher placing than her mother? Time alone would tell. Heather Sparkes, rider of Murphy, an 11-year-old hunter cob, was among the most experienced. Under her maiden name of Heather Buck, she competed in six Derbies between 2005 (when only 13) and 2015, finishing fourth in 2009
Those, then, were the ones with known form. The majority, the ‘unknowns’ presented a potential headache for lone on-course bookmaker Chris Johnson. First to be ruled out were the two ladies riding side-saddle. Sharon O’Rourke was mounted on the 18-year-old Irish gypsy cob Iceford Two Tone, while Gill Greenwood partnered the 19-year-old Cleveland Bay/Thoroughbred cross Storming Norman. Johnson felt secure in offering 100-1 the pair, though 1,000-1 would have been more appropriate. Along with all the other riders, Hazel Burkhill, sporting an orange jersey bearing the legend ‘World’s Worst Racehorse’, made her way to the winning post to pay her £5 entry fee and be weighed out on the traditional set of1940s coal miner’s scales. (All riders must carry a minimum of 10 stone. Any shortage is made up of weights carried on the rider’s body rather than inserted in the horse’s saddle.)
When asked the name of her mount, Burkhill replied “He’s called World’s Worst Racehorse”. It hardly encouraged would-be backers to dash to the bookie and take a price. Next to be eliminated from calculations were the half-dozen assorted skewbalds, none of whom looked likely to become the first such coloured horse to win the Kiplingcotes Derby in modern times. They included Angel GG, the mount of Gaynor Nicholson, whose colours were black, pink ‘Angel GG’ on body, black cap, pink pom-pom; and Chrissy White on riding club pony George. Other varieties of horse in the Derby field included an Irish-cross hunter, a 14-year-old Clydesdale/Thoroughbred cross, an Irish sports horse, an Appaloosa, a Trotter/Welsh Cob cross, and a strapping18-hand hunter. All looked to have limited appeal for betting purposes.
Having observed the known unknowns, bookmaker Johnson and his assistants made sure to keep a wary eye out for any significant money on the unknown unknowns. When it comes to the Kiplingcotes Derby, ‘known form’ can often be usurped by ‘unknown form’. In accordance with ancient tradition, the runners were called up to the winning post where an abridged version of the rules was read out by clerk of the course Susan Hillaby, including the stipulation that any rider who “layeth hold of any of the other riders or striketh any of them shall win no prize.” The hardy three-dozen horses and riders then made their way to the start, marked by a stone post in the parish of Etton. Over the years, many people had asked for something more recognisable to indicate the starting point. With that in mind, a local blacksmith was recently commissioned to make a special horseshoe which is now affixed to the stone. Meanwhile, the record crowd waited eagerly for their return. Some twinkled off to place their bets, while others queued for tea, hot dogs or bacon rolls, sold from a temporary kiosk.
An exposed single-track road in the East Yorkshire Wolds is rarely the best place to hang around when Boreas, the god of the north wind, chills the air with his icy breath. This year, however, he relented and the weather conditions were as good as could be remembered –the area was designated the second warmest in the country on that day. The 500th anniversary race had attracted international interest as well as national. Indeed, some racegoers had flown from across the Atlantic to watch the spectacle, including one Canadian family whose distant ancestors were reputed to have been in the crowd to watch the first ever running. The Witty family, from Edmonton, Alberta, are descendants of Peter Witty, who, along with his brothers, may well have been present at that inaugural Kiplingcotes Derby five centuries ago. A more recent ancestor, Richard Witty, born in 1802, won the race twice in the 1830s and 1850s. Another group had come from Australia to witness the occasion. They all reckoned it was well worth the long trip. They, along with the hundreds of other spectators, waited for the first sign that the horses were on they way. And just like everyone else, they waited some more and then waited a bit longer. Eventually, the horses came into view, or rather, one did. Tracey Corrigan and Frog romped home some 25 lengths clear of Jason Carver on Start Me Up to claim her fourth Derby victory, all of them on different horses. There was a measure of compensation for Carver inasmuch that winner receives £50 and the runner-up receives £4 of the £5 entry fee for every horse entered to run. With 36 runners, Carver thus picked up £144, almost three times as much as the winner.
The Founders of Kibling Coats (sic), within the East Riding of the County of York, to be observed and Ridd (sic) yearly, the third Thursday of March, is shown below:-
| £ | £ | |||
| Earl of Burlington | 30 | Matthew Constable Esq | 5 | |
| Lord Dunbar | 10 | James Moyser Esq | 5 | |
| Lord Bellass | 10 | John Hearne Esq | 5 | |
| Lord Langdale | 10 | Edward Gower Esq | 5 | |
| Charles Lord Clifford | 10 | Lewis Gower Esq | 5 | |
| Michael Wharton | 20 | Sir William Carrer | 5 | |
| Thomas Grantham Esq | 10 | William Boynton Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Henry Bellas | 10 | Sir William Cobb | 5 | |
| Sir Francis Boynton | 10 | Thomas Strickland Esq | 5 | |
| Sir John Hotham | 10 | Samuel Nevill Esq | 5 | |
| Sir William Strickland | 10 | William Gee Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Marmaduke Constable | 15 | William Thompson Esq | 5 | |
| Sir John Wentworth | 10 | Barron Shorroy | 5 | |
| Sir John Legard | 10 | Richard Rammington Esq | 5 | |
| John Stapleton Esq | 10 | John Lister of Seaton Esq | 5 | |
| James Duroy Esq | 5 | John Dalton Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Henry Chomley | 5 | Thomas Stillington Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Christ Wivill | 5 | Robert Dolman Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Robert Hildyard | 5 | William Osbaldeston Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Francis Cobb | 5 | William Brockman Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Ralph Wharton | 5 | Philip Mickton Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Hugh Bethell Le Ryse | 5 | Cornelius Twizzleton Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Matthew Preston | 5 | Edward Barnard Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Barrington Bowther | 5 | Philip Constable Esq | 5 | |
| Sir Jerry Smith | 5 | £355 |
Articles of the race drawn up in 1519
1st Every man that is a Founder he is to put Twenty Shillings in Gold for his stake when he hath a horse, gelding or mare that runs for the prize, and every other person Four Pounds in Gold, and if any person that is a founder put in a horse that is not his own, he must put in Four Pounds in Gold for his stake or be adjudged not to run for the prize.
2nd Every horse, gelding or mare that runneth for the prize shall be led out between twelve and one of the clock, and shall run the course before two of the clock in the afternoon.
3rd Every horse, etc, that runneth for the Prize shall start bridled and saddled and shall run with rider weighing 10 st., fourteen pounds to the stone, according to ancient custom.
4th Every horse, etc., that runneth for the Prize shall have their Judge or Trier, and put their stakes into the clerk's hand at or before eleven of the clock, who will be at the weighing post ready to receive it, and set down the name of the owner of every horse, etc., his horse's name and colour, and his rider's name and Judge's name, and to take a record from the Judge every horse's place at the end of the course.
5th Whosoever doth stop or stay any of the running horses that rideth for this Prize, if he be either the owner of a horse that runs or his servant will be adjudged to hinder the horse, his horse shall win no prize.
6th Every rider that layeth hold of any of the other riders or striketh any of them shall win no prize.
7th Every rider that wanteth any more than one pound of his weight after he has run shall win no prize.
8th That the horse that runneth first by the Weighing Post set up at the end of the course observing the articles shall win the rize, and the second horse etc., shall have the stakes, only so muck yearly detained and taken out of the stakes as shall finish, support, repair and maintain the Rubbing Houses at the end of the course, and what be deemed necessary to be done about the said course in maintaining the weights, posts and levelling ground, etc., and any two or more of the Founders are authorised to direct and appoint yearly how much of the stakes shall be detained or taken out for the uses aforesaid.
9th George Plaxton, of Londesburgh, is declared to be clerk and to keep the weights, and is to receive fifteen shillings from him that winneth the Prize, that is ten shillings for keeping the weights and five shillings which he is to employ for mending the course every year, and likewise to receive twelve pence for every Trier's name that he enters in his book, and he is to appoint a man to start the horses, to whom the Master of the winning horse is to pay two shillings and sixpence, and he is to take care that there be not any horse, etc., do start within a quarter of a mile of the running horses, and the said Trustees or the major part of them is hereby declared from time to time to nominate and appoint who shall be their clerk at their will and pleasure.
10th All the Posts on the course to be left on the right hand, otherwise he shall win no Prize.
11th Every man that is a Founder and his heir's male are herby declared to be Founders to this course for ever, and that the eldest son of every Founder shall have the privilege of putting in a horse as a Founder during his father's life, and that the names of every Founder be fairly written on parchment to remain constantly with the clerk, and likewise on the same parchment to be set down in whose custody the writing or security shall remain which is taken for any part of the sums of money so contributed.
12th The master of those horses that run wherein there shall happen any difference, shall each of them name one Founder to determine this difference, and if they cannot agree, those two Founders are to name an Umpire.
13th Any of the riders being required by any of the Triers or Judges shall be weighed after the course, and in case of refusal or want of weight according to the Articles shall be adjudged the last horse.
14th That is any horse, etc., be brought to run under the name of a Founder and that there be any suspicion by any person that such a Founder is not really the owner of such horse etc. and that the said suspicion be declared to the clerk of the course, he is directed to acquaint the Judge or Trier of such horse etc., and such Founder, if he be on the course. is forthwith upon notice to repair to the said clerk, and engage to the Trier upon his honour that such horse etc., is really his own without any manner of equivocation, fraudulence, or deceit; or if such Founder be not upon the course himself, then some Gentlemen on his behalf is to clear the doubt in the same manner as aforesaid, and if there be no such clearing of the aforesaid doubt, then such Founder is either to put in Four Pounds towards the increase of the stakes or else to be adjudged not to be in a capacity to win the Plate, but shall be adjudged the last horse.
Much of the information about this race has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
British Newspaper Archive Online
Northern Turf History Volume 2 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Kiplingcotes Derby by Alison Ellerington
The Sporting Magazine
A List of Horse-Matches Run by Reginald Heber 1751-1772
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1773
