Unless a long spell of wet weather scuppers plans of the race trustees, the Kiplingcotes Derby will be back for the first time since 2019 on Thursday 17th March.
For the last two years, England’s oldest annual horse race, which first took place when Henry VIII was on the throne over 500 years ago, has been reduced to a two-horse canter as a result of restrictions put in place by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The job of keeping the race alive fell to Stephen Crawford and John Thirsk and their respective horses who completed the course in front of a handful of people, including race trustees on both occasions.
However, it’s anticipated there will be a healthy number of runners and riders and hundreds of spectators when the Derby makes its long-anticipated return to the linear course, along a roadside verge from Etton to Londesborough Wold, in its traditional third Thursday of March slot.
Speaking to Beverley Life, race trustee Philip Guest welcomed the return of the race, which hasn’t been held in its proper format since celebrating its 500th anniversary.
“It’s a welcome relief to be getting back to normal and hopefully we’ll have a good day and revive the Kiplingcotes Derby tradition,” he said.
“We’ve always had a healthy following and the main worry is often that we might get too many supporters and we’re unable to cope with the numbers at the course.
“Two years ago, it was touch and go as to whether we went ahead with the race.
“The Cheltenham Festival went ahead that year and we decided not to. But, of course after Cheltenham, there was a mass outbreak of COVID-19, so I think we made the right call.
“We were faced with the same decision last year, when we had no option but to cancel.
“On both occasions, Stephen Crawford and John Thirsk cantered the course just to ensure the tradition stayed alive.”
To enter, all jockeys need to do is turn up before 11am on the day of the race and in 2019, a record 36 entrants took part in the historic event.
All horses must then be led out between noon and 1pm and complete the course before 2pm.
Riders must weigh 10 stone and first past the post receives £50.
However, one of the quirks of the race sees second place given the remainder of the entry fees, which often totals more than £50.
Another oddity means it is impossible for spectators to see both the start and finish, with most congregating at the winning post.
With all COVID restrictions lifted towards the end of February, the only variable that could scupper the Derby is the weather.
However, after a reasonable start to 2022, Philip is hopeful that the going remains good on 17th March.
“We never quite know what the weather is going to be like,” said Philip. “We’ve had good days, rainy days, snowy days and foggy days and it’s a very unpredictable time of the year.
“Currently, it’s looking good, although there is still around a month to go before the race.
“The weather hasn’t been too bad since the start of the year, which has added to the excitement before the race and I am sure we will have a good turnout.
“Entries-wise, we would expect a good number but you never know until the day of the race.
“There has never been a requirement for people to pre-register and as long as they turn up and weigh in correctly by 11am, they can race.
“Anecdotally, we hear of people who would like to race, and we do get a small number of people who contact us too. But we are never entirely sure until the day.
“It’s a nice local occasion. When many people arrive, they find there isn’t actually much to see, as once the horses leave to go to the start, they disappear out of sight.
“You can see them again when they are coming into the final straight, which is one of the quirks of Kiplingcotes being a linear, rather than circular course.
“It’s the oldest horse race in England and we intend to keep it alive.
“Like the point-to-point racing, it’s a great meeting time for the local community and we’re all looking forward to it.”
