Kiplingcotes Races 1

Farmer Norman Stephenson only had to pop out of his home of Arras Farm in the East Riding to witness, and film, the Kiplingcotes Derby which started and finished just a few yards away. As we come towards the end of winter some time in the 1950s, the oldest surviving flat race in the country gets underway, with both men and women jockeys getting weighed before setting off for the start of the 4 mile course.

This is one of seven short films showing the Kiplingcotes races in the East Riding in the 1950s filmed by Norman Stephenson, who also filmed various farming events in the area. The Kiplingcotes Derby in the Yorkshire Wolds is famous for being, reputably, the oldest surviving equestrian event in Britain, claiming to date back to 1519 (there are records from 1618). It takes place on the third Thursday in March, and tradition has it that if it ever misses a year it must come to an end, hence it never has. Even in the bleak winter of 1947 one horse completed the course, as also happened in 2001, the year of foot and mouth. Anyone can enter the race, which goes over a course which can change its route from one year to the next.